Dennnis Posted September 18, 2006 Report Posted September 18, 2006 Looking for information on this spa. Its the Orion made by Hawkeye Manufacturing, Inc Richmond, VA. Looks like a loaded spa at an afordable price. Seating 7 adults Dimensions 96" x 96" x 38" Water Capacity 500 gallons Pumps 3, Jets 80, Stainless Steel Jet Covers, Waterfall, LED Accent Lights, Electrical 240v 50amp, CD Ozonator, Microban Surface Protection, S.R.S. Sony Stereo, UL Listed Safety Cover, Synthetic Cabinet, High-Density Insulation, Water-Resistant Undercarriage. Free shipping Cost was Under $6,000 Delivered PHOTOS OF MY HAWKEYE ORION (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0461.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0462.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0456.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0448.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0449.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0466.JPG) (IMG:http://pack7cranston.org/images/DSCN0455.JPG) Happy with my purchase Quote
Dennnis Posted September 19, 2006 Author Report Posted September 19, 2006 I found this spa being sold at this dealer on the internet, http://www.hotdirecttubs.com/ but I was not able to find any other internet sales sites. Anyone have any information on these spas? Quote
Dr. Spa Posted September 19, 2006 Report Posted September 19, 2006 Help me out here.......... It looks like the brand they offer is Deep Blue Spas? They also show a logo stating Best of Class from poolandspa.com. Besides this Best of Class rating being a completely paid for gimmick, Deep Blue Spas is in fact not listed on the Best of Class list. This would mean the website you mention is in violation of copyright laws (by using, stealing, another web sites graphics) and is falsely advertising. You be the judge I found this spa being sold at this dealer on the internet, http://www.hotdirecttubs.com/ but I was not able to find any other internet sales sites. Anyone have any information on these spas? Quote
Neil Posted September 19, 2006 Report Posted September 19, 2006 Dennnis, Keep in mind that what I will be describing is a Hawkeye tub that has been sitting for a couple of years and was purchased around the mid nineties. I clicked on the Hawkeye link at the bottom of the page you posted a link to and they seem to be similar to what was sold back then. When I went to look at this tub I initially thought it was an Artic Spa because of the cabinet construction. They have the wood lip under the top edge of the shell. Opened up the access panels to look inside. The cabinet is insulated with spray on foam in the same manner as Artic but Hawkeye insulates the underside of the shell. Sorry if you are unable to relate to the Artic Spa example, but picture "Great Stuff" type insulation on the cabinet and shell. The insulation method used by this tub is the thermal pane design. The other design is full foam. Typing full foam, thermal pane, or insulation into the search window on any forum will link you to hours of reading on the topic. A lot of manufactures will provide filtration of spa water by placing a filter(s) on the suction side of their pumps. Provided they are still constructed the same, Hawkeye places their filter on the discharge side. Total neglect of the filter may result in a difference in tub performance for suction or discharge arrangements unless a bypass option or seperate filter pump is used. But if the filter is maintained properly, you'll probably not notice. Don't try to access the filter until the housing is depressurized and you should be o.k. On the site you referred to, they talked about a totally enclosed ABS bottom. This is probably different from the tub I saw. I don't think the tub I looked at was designed like this because it was extremely wet. The pressed chip board used to mount the spa pac and other equipment was rotted and soaked. There were slugs everywhere and a spider made it's home in the control cabinet. They seemed to address this bug habitat problem with their totally enclosed ABS bottom and it also should keep the moisture and most of the critters out. Of course that means it keeps moisture in if there are any internal sources. The shell seemed to sag towards the middle but without seeing it brand new it could have been designed with a top edge that sloped towards the middle of the tub. For its age the acrylic seemed to look great and most of the stainless steel jet faces were in tact. Did not see the tub operate because the GFCI breaker was bad. That's what I know about it. Continue to do your research and I'd recommend a wet test to aid in your decision. Quote
Dennnis Posted September 19, 2006 Author Report Posted September 19, 2006 Thanks for your help. I tried a search in the Better Business Bureau web site. I found Hawkeye Manufacturing, Inc Richmond, VA. But could not find any listing for Hotdirecttubs or Deep Blue Spas on the BBB site. I see on ebay they sell these spas under " hottubsdirect " Quote
Dennnis Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 Found only one review on this spa at the following link: http://www.hottubsparatings.com/cgi-bin/re...frames/read/706 I also found lots of complaints searching at www.hottubsparatings.com Could not find any current reviews most were from 2005 Quote
Dennnis Posted September 29, 2006 Author Report Posted September 29, 2006 Went on ebay and checked the feedback for "hottubsdirect" they have 112 with only 1 negative and 1 neutral feedback all others were positive. I also sent and email to some of the buyers asking how they liked the tub and they were all very happy except the one neutral said only the finish could have been better. From what I can find Hawkeye is an Small East Coast Company . I have only seen two of there spas, but they appair to be built pretty good, and they give you a lot of spa for the money. I guess that the reason I could only find three or four complaints on the internet is because everyone who is happy with thier spa is to busy tubbing to type out a review Quote
wesj53 Posted September 29, 2006 Report Posted September 29, 2006 I had looked at a Hawkeye Mfg. Barefoot model #88MR at a dealer in suburban Chicago. My wife and I thought the overall product was designed well, especially the center footdome with 8 foot jets and a volcano in the middle of it. The most unique feature (the only one we've seen in the industry) is it's lounger which faces and slopes towards the middle of the spa, rather than along a side. It had a variety of jets (49) and jet patterns, all for a quoted price of $7300. This for a brand new unit which included steps, standard cover and lifter, ozonator, ABS bottom, waterfall, LED lights. It was our overall third choice behind the Arctic and the Artesian. I had checked with BBB and found their record to be OK, with a few complaints unresolved, but no big deal. The dealer here seemed to be highly reputable and personable; actually a great salesperson. Actually, I was sorry to not have a bought a spa from him. While Hawkeye is smaller, I think they would be ok for you. My understanding is that the owner is a former D1 executive. Quote
Dennnis Posted September 29, 2006 Author Report Posted September 29, 2006 I also looked at the Hawkeye Barefoot model #88MR at a dealer. I also like the center foot jet, the Orion Model also has this jet. Price for the #88MR with the same equipment was $8,200.00 I think they also had a sale that gave you a discount but I do not recall the amount. Sounds like you got a good price. I also like the neck rest jets on both of these spas. Not sure if I like the Orion or 88MR better. Hope you enjoy your spa, thanks for the information. Quote
Dennnis Posted October 24, 2006 Author Report Posted October 24, 2006 Well after looking at several brands of Hot Tubs I could not find any in the $6,000 price range that had the same equipment and seating/jets. I purchased my Hawkeye Spa from the factory. Spa arrived via North American Van Lines. Spa was on a pallet and wrapped with foam padding, and a plastic covering, the Spa Cover was in a seperate cardboard box strapped to the spa. The delivery men helped me get it on to my concrete pad which was just past the driveway. We just rolled it to the pad and then lowered it. Spa looks good and jets feel fine. Tub has three sta-rite pumps. Workmanship is in line with other spas I looked at. The control panel on my tub is not the same as the one in the sales ad or the manual, the control panel I have does not have all of the functions the manual has so far as I can tell. I will be writing them a letter to find out why the changed the control panel and did not even include any operating instructions. Control panel is easy to use but I was expecting I would be able to program filter schedule like in the manual. I do think they need to work on Quality Control, I found the Stereo System did not have a Ground Wire attached to the grounding lug, and it also blew the 5 AMP glass fuse in the Power supply, They installed the power supply with the fuse facing the corner of the tub so I had to remove it from it's mounted position to replace the fuse, wire was to short for me to remount it correctly so I had to put it back the way it was. If the fuse goes again I will take the time to rewire it for easy access to the fuse. They should have mounted this better as they had lots of room, maybe the installer cut the wire to short who knows. This missing ground got me looking harder at the other electrical componets to make sure they had a proper ground, they did. One of the 70 plus jets was not working due to silicone. After using a ruber jar opener I was able to break the silicone bond and get the jet working. Although both of these were an easy fix, they also should have been found at the factory prior to shipping. Spa did not arrive with the starter chemical kit I called factory and they said they would send one out via UPS, they said they do not ship the kits with the spa because they can get lost so they send them out seperate from the spa. I am still waiting for it to arrive. Spa has two large filters. Seating: two of the seats have a molded neck head rest that feels comfortable with three neck jets and several back jets in the seat, one seat fits me just fine I am 5' 10" the other is smaller and my shoulders do not allow water to come out of neck jets, but this is a better size seat for the wife and kids and jets are the same in both seats. Two seats have no jets, one seat has only one jet for your lower back, then you have a seat with like 12 jets, and the two other seats I mentioned first. I guess they also consider the waterfall with is over the filters to be a seat but you have to kneel and sit in the foot well. The foot well has a huge jet and eight small jets, this feels great on the feet and lower legs, foot well has lots of room even with this jet in the center. LED lights are nice addition,but two of the dirverter valve handles do not light up, will need to call and ask if they should as the other two dirverters do light up. Stereo sounds pretty good, it does not have speakers but transducers attached to the shell, sound is very good with jets off, but you need to crank it up with all hte pumps running. I also went with the plastic wood look sides, did not want to deal with coating the real wood every year. I live in the New England and the insulation is so so, the cover is like 4" tapered to 2", not sure of the "R" value. My Brother in law has same cover said it is fine. I would have liked a thicker cover, but seeing as I have read were the covers do not last many years down the road when it needs to be replaced I will look for a thicker foam. They offer spa with thermal insulation or full foam but no need to go there. I knew going into it that by not purchasing spa from a dealer I would be doing any repairs myself, so not buying from a dealer was no big deal. Any thing I buy that has a parts warrentry I fix myself never liked paying for service calls or delaing with a half trained employee who was learning on my appliance no matter how much or little I paid for it. Over all I am happy with my purchase, I like to seats are not open seating but are more like a bucket seat which holds you in place, in some tubs the jets blow you around the tub unless you hold on to something. For a family of four on a tight budjet its is a good size tub at a good price under $6,000 delivered. I have some photos posted at this link of my new Hawkeye Tub I'll repost after I have contacted Hawkeye about my control panel, maybe someone just installed the wrong panel, or maybe they changed thier design. Quote
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