midlifer

Big cost, apart from labor, is the copper. I ran 80' of #2 times 3 and 80' of #6 times one. The #2 was about 1.75 per foot at home depot and about 1.25 for the #6. The math shows this at $520 just for the copper.

This thing ROCKS. A soak after work, after a hockey game, after a bike ride, it just stinkin rocks. Kids love it too, we must be in this thing at least once maybe even twice a day.

The kids and wiff really like the waterfall. Personally I was indifferent about it. All I can say is I'm glad it has an off switch.

5am first soak, that's what I'm talkin about! Now to backfill the trench, oh wait a minute, I mean the kids will have to backfill the trench while I soak in front of them!

Powered on and heating up, that's what I'm talkin about. Should be soaking this time tomorrow, ok maybe at breakfast!

I'm running 100 amp to my 125 amp spa panel. 50 amps will go to the spa breaker and I will have two additional 20 amp circuits. I plan to build an outdoor area with fridge, lighting, fans, and music. I am hoping that the #2 can handle it.

I just had no idea that I would be spending $650 in just wire. Arghhhhh. Most of the spa sales guys said that running the electrical shouldn't be more than $500 total. I guess that makes the digestion of spending 9k on a tub more acceptable.

The run for my new tub is 90 feet. Most of the supplies I purchased seemed reasonable, then the wire hit me. 80 feet of #2 copper x 3 plus 80 feet of #4. The #2 is almost $2 a foot and the #4 is about 1.25 a foot. The #6 and #8 from the spa box to the spa, all 20' of it, was a fraction of that. Does any of this seem unreasonable to you guys?

Ok, the foreplay is killing me and I'm ready for the honeymoon. I have been trenching and breaking up concrete since Saturday and really need to feel those jets. Most of the hard work is done now and the electrician will be starting his part this afternoon. If all goes well, and I doubt it will, we should have her filled with water by Friday and soaking by Saturday. Spa God, please save me.

Still, for 2,000 I would buy a some new patio furniture and a boom box with remote. But, if your willing to pay for it, go for it!

For 2,500 I can buy a really nice sound system and have it installed.

Wow, this is all happening to fast. Spa is being delivered tomorrow afternoon and I have not even begun to prepare. I went out and bought 32 pieces of cedar fencing to replace the old fencing that will be taken out to get the spa in, add another 100 to the ticket. And the electrical, OMG. My electrical guy came over today and it appears that we have come to a hold up, F**K. Apparently we do not have any available slots in the main panel. He will be coming up with solutions and getting back to me. The kids and I will be trenching and tunneling all weekend and hope that the electrical will be completed Sunday. If everything falls into place perfectly we should be soaking by mid week. I'll whine at you guys later as the saga continues. Another thing, I have received at least four spa pamphlets in the mail in the last week and a phone call. The only information we ever filled out was at the Marquis dealer two weeks ago. Would Marquis sell our info to their competitors?

Marquis Reward, made for the tall guy.

Ok, the wet test went great and the spa looks nice. We first went to the Marquis store and wet tested theirs and got prices. The dealer wanted 9k + tax for the usual stuff, $9700 with the tax. I'm sure we could have got them down a little, but spending 9-10k on a hot tub is just not for me as I have to many other toys to support and play with. The used 05 Marquis Reward asking price was 5,500 shipped by the Marquis dealer, we live 100 miles from the tub. We offered 4,500 and after several days they accepted. Half the price of new, I can live with that. I will also get the sub panel and other stuff that goes along with it. The Journey now begins, my God what have I done !

Exactly what I was thinking, more saved dollars! I max that out every year without the purchase of a spa, just color me a compulsive spender.