Everett2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I think I'll buy a Cal Spa Tropical (7' x 7') from a person I know for a few hundred dollars. Since I'm saving a ton, and since I know it may eventually need a little repair work, I want to know what can be done and roughly what I would expect to pay to have it done. Here are some things I COULD get. What do you think each would cost? Do you think that certain things are wasteful? What add-ons have you enjoyed? Here's my list so far... feel free to add to it: New motor(s) New Ozonator Refinish wood siding New heating element Additional jets (can this be done?) Internal tub lighting/LED Lighting kit External tub lighting TV Sound system Stairs High-end cover (is a middle-of-the-road cover just as good?) Cover lift Drink tray Anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I think I'll buy a Cal Spa Tropical (7' x 7') from a person I know for a few hundred dollars. Since I'm saving a ton, and since I know it may eventually need a little repair work, I want to know what can be done and roughly what I would expect to pay to have it done. Here are some things I COULD get. What do you think each would cost? Do you think that certain things are wasteful? What add-ons have you enjoyed? Here's my list so far... feel free to add to it: New ES Balboa digital spa pack(heater and topside control included)$1200 New motor(s)$1200 (Vico or ultrajet pumps so you dont have to replumb) New Ozonator(cartridge $49) Refinish wood siding New heating element Included in spa pack Additional jets (can this be done?) Can be done from online parts dealer about $200 Internal tub lighting/LED Lighting kit$75 or $125 External tub lighting$250 or $500 if you get one that can plug into the Balboa pack TV Sound system Stairs$250 for good steps High-end cover (is a middle-of-the-road cover just as good?)$500 from rhtubs.com Cover lift $299 Covermate 3 Drink tray $30 get the floating kind Spa Monitor (Controls and monitors temp from inside house) Balboa Balboa Dolphin remote (controls spa and can be programmed to run stereo Tv etc) Anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spatech (the unreal one) Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I would get it running and if it runs fine I'd look to paint/stain it and get a set of cheap steps and a basic cover lifter (Covermate I). I would not touch anything else unless it specifically needed service. You had said in an earlier post that this was an older spa in working order you were getting for $400. If that's the case take it and run it AS IS. If you can get a couple years out of it then be happy and then get a new state of the art spa. Many people get a used spa to find out if they are really a "spa person" and then later get a new one. Its a great way to go about it but I wouldn't take an old working spa and plunge a bunch of money into it to "bling" it up (buts that just me). I think I'll buy a Cal Spa Tropical (7' x 7') from a person I know for a few hundred dollars. Since I'm saving a ton, and since I know it may eventually need a little repair work, I want to know what can be done and roughly what I would expect to pay to have it done. Here are some things I COULD get. What do you think each would cost? Do you think that certain things are wasteful? What add-ons have you enjoyed? Here's my list so far... feel free to add to it: New motor(s) New Ozonator Refinish wood siding New heating element Additional jets (can this be done?) Internal tub lighting/LED Lighting kit External tub lighting TV Sound system Stairs High-end cover (is a middle-of-the-road cover just as good?) Cover lift Drink tray Anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I would get it running and if it runs fine I'd look to paint/stain it and get a set of cheap steps and a basic cover lifter (Covermate I). I would not touch anything else unless it specifically needed service. You had said in an earlier post that this was an older spa in working order you were getting for $400. If that's the case take it and run it AS IS. If you can get a couple years out of it then be happy and then get a new state of the art spa. Many people get a used spa to find out if they are really a "spa person" and then later get a new one. Its a great way to go about it but I wouldn't take an old working spa and plunge a bunch of money into it to "bling" it up (buts that just me). I agree, a turd is still a turd (if it turns out to be after a year or so) no matter how you bling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkproject2 Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 if these actually worked like in the pic this would be pretty pimping... if they worked ebay item number 120214283024 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adudinsk Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Install a water proof Clark Synthesis Transduceer (Arctic uses them to the bottom of their tubs as an option) It needs about 300w to drive it, and it will vibrate your tub causing some sort of relaxation effect if the right tones are played in the right order.. I think Arctic calls it the AquaTremor ®.. and provides special CDs to play with the right tones etc.. althogh.. I use them for my home theater to shake the heck out of my seating, I wonder how a tub would handle it.. would it shake the tub to bits.. they really pack a punch, depending on the model.. I often have people say "What the H@LL was that" when a loud bang goes off in the home theater.. and pounds their chair.. It will launch a bowl of popcorn off the chair, about 12" in the air... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 I would look a the cover and the insulation to be sure you can run this thing without costing a fortune. the Disco ball above is an easy way to get some life inside the tub for very little money. Here is another one on Ebay Item number - 230216203989 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernmel1st Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 Believe it or not, you can buy the Disco Ball at K-M@rt!! I know, crazy! I am a former pool store manager and we were selling them for like $60 or something like that.....then later that summer I saw them at W-Mart and K-M@rt for around $20!! SHOCKED! I'm currently in the same boat as you! I bought a LARGE older spa with Spa Pac (which I can't find a manual for ANYWHERE on the internet.) I want to PIMP MY SPA too with alot more jets then I currently have. Right now much husband is trying real hard to fix the pipe that he broke going to the blower. After that, we can fill, crank the Spa Pac and CROSS OUR FINGERS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxic Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Additional jets (can this be done?) Apparently so. I helped retrofit what our wives lovingly refer to as a the boyfriend jet in my friends new "free" tub. Got a used 1.5 hp motor, two intakes, hoses and fitting, glue, hole saw, the jet and some silicone (about $300) - hooked the motor to the aux button on the spa guts. About three days of dinking around with the tub, his wife is just as excited about the tub as he was when they got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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