Hot stuff: hot tub manufacturers rolled out a raft of new products at the International Pool & Spa Expo. Here's an overview of what's available and what to watch for to help you plan for the coming year

Pool & Spa News, Jan 25, 2002 by Zanne Miller

Editor's Note: Pool and Spa News contacted all spa manufacturers who exhibited at the International Pool & Spa Expo in Phoenix for information and photos about their products. The following manufacturers did not respond before press time: Hot Spring Spas/Watkins Manufacturing, Hydrospa and Santa Barbara Spas.

Deciding which hot tubs to feature in your showroom, as well as becoming educated on those products, is crucial to the success of your retail operation.

To help you, we formed this guide based on the newest products shown by hot tub manufacturers who exhibited at the 2001 International Pool & Spa Expo.

Beachcomber Hot Tubs:

Beachcomber has completely overhauled its model 730 for 2002.

"We redid the whole kit and caboodle," says Chris Finlayson, marketing manager of the company based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The new model includes major interior changes, such as three deep-bucket swing seats so two people can lounge in two directions, and a loveseat.

All of the models include a wide-mouthed, top-hinged microfilter and Enerjets, which are full-sized jets developed by Beachcomber in conjunction with Waterway Plastics. The models include software improvements across the entire system that prevent both tampering and temperature creep--so that filter cycles no longer have to be reset seasonally. Also, the hot tubs now offer an extended temperature range, from 60 to 104 degrees.

The company is presenting a new Everlight, a three-color LED light that is retrofittable into a standard plug socket. "Anyone with a 12-volt bulb can plug one in, and it operates with any kind of switch," Finlayson says. "We're happy we can create a product with servicepeople in mind, as well as the consumer."

Other noteworthy things to look out for include the mechanical pack, which has been redesigned for North American customers only, with heating/plumbing components similar to the digital pack. Now the Enviroskirt, a plastic cabinet option, is available in twilight (gray). The firm also introduced three new exclusive Aristech Acrylics finishes this year, including mahogany, midnight and sandstone.

Bullfrog Spas:

In keeping with the industry trend of energy efficiency, Bullfrog has gone to a 100-percent filtration system in all of its models. The optional Automatic PowerDrain reduces the time required to drain a spa from two or three hours to "six minutes, max," says Rusty Owen, marketing vice president of the Sandy, Utah, firm. Owen says all models have been fully insulated and now incorporate an air-return system in which the hot air from the equipment compartment is injected into the hot tub water. This system provides maximum energy efficiency as well as a longer life for the heating equipment, Owen says.

The company's Jetpak now features a collapsible manifold for ease in interchanging and upgrading. "The beauty of a Bullfrog is that the jets are interchangeable," Owen says. "Now anyone can do it."

The spa-maker also is introducing Eternastone, an exclusive stone-look finish/available for any of its models. The company is working on a retrofitted stereo system, due out in the first quarter of 2002.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cal Spas:

The new Adjustable Therapy System seats have jets that can be customized in 30 different directions. The New Dually Filtration System, exclusively built by GE for the company, filters 70 gallons per minute through two heads. A new Purewater system protects the spa cover and pillows. And a new bromine dispenser, standard on all models, means the machine can maintain and produce bromine at a preset level. Finally, SpaSaver Jets include a built-in filter to grab debris. Each jet can be removed individually, a feature exclusive to the company, according to Shiva Noble of Cal Spas.

Catalina Spas:

Catalina Spas is introducing an 8-by-10-foot rectangular spa, the Maui, which has a mist system, fiberoptic lighting and stereo system as standard features, says Boyd Cargill, president of the Tucson-Ariz., company. The spa-maker also is working on energy-efficiency measures, including a 1.5-amp pump by Magnatech that is designed to keep both energy and maintenance costs low.

Coast Spas:

Based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, this manufacturer introduced its "Extreme" spa at the expo. According to company President Don Elkington, customers can "go to extremes" with a Sony stereo system or the ultimate package. The latter consists of a 15-inch LCD screen, television, DVD player, AM/FM Stereo CD player with four water-resistant speakers, and a workstation with a computer hookup, waterproof rubber keyboard, and mouse. The spa includes the Aquaphone, a waterproof telephone--and the spa shuts down automatically when the phone rings. Also, the spa comes with a pop-up bar and built-in towel/robe warmer, and fiberoptic lighting throughout. Fiberoptic jets and a 24-inch waterfall round out the features. The "Ultimate Extreme" seats eight and has 80 jets.

The spa is powered by Extreme VF Series, twin seven-horsepower pumps with settings of 1.4 amp on low speed. "All of us are taking a hard look at energy efficiency," Elkington says. The extreme VF technology is available on all of the company's 58 models.