Top 50 Products of 2003: the new products that readers are most interested in and where you can get them

Pool & Spa News, April 11, 2003

Products are nothing new to the pages of Pool & Spa News. You see them in our magazine every issue.

What you don't see are the products that you, our readers, have selected as the most promising new products available--the products you asked for. * That's what this special section, the "Top 50 Products of 2003," is all about. These 50 products--everything from automatic cleaners and controls to portable spas and waterfeatures--represent the items that generated the most interest from readers of our New Product Supplement. That supplement includes a card readers can send in for more information about the products. The 50 products that get the most reader requests end up on the following pages. It's that simple. * Why such a big focus on products? Because we know that whether you're a builder, retailer or service technician, new products are as important to you as a pump is to a pool. Without them everything, including profits, stagnates. So turn the page and get ready to breathe new life into your retail shelves, your service trucks, and your pool and spa presentations. After all, when it comes to these products, you asked for it.

1 AquaJet offers the AquaJet Plus pool cleaner for 2003. Vacuum features scuff-resistant wheels; a lightweight, durable body; and a jet-drive propulsion system using a single motor to filter and drive the vacuum, per maker. Special HydroJet Directional Guidance System is made to eliminate costly, complicated computer chips with a simple, effective mechanical system that ensures total cleaning coverage in less than two hours. Designed for gunite and other hard-surfaced pools. AquaJet, Cedar Grove, NJ.; (800) 221-1750, ext. 114.

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2 Aquamatic Cover Systems presents the HydraLux, a trackless floating cover design made to go over any converging pool shape. The fully automatic system is ideal for commercial applications and can be installed either deck-mounted, recessed or in-floor, according to manufacturer. The pool cover consists of extruded rigid PVC-profiles, floating on the water. Aquamatic Cover Systems, Gilroy, Calif.; (800) 262-4044; www.aquamatic.com.

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3 Artesian Spas offers the new Platinum Class spa line. This spa line features patent-pending DirectFlow technology that makes use of small, efficient pumps and motors to run the jets for each seat and feature. This new method of operating the spa jets eliminates the network of plumbing lines needed in the traditional spa and also allows each seat to have its own control in addition to the master topside control, per maker.

Additional benefits include a reduction in operational costs and noise. Artesian Spas, Victorville, Calif.; (800) 817-7727; www.artesianspas.com.

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4 Avecia Pool & Spa Products offers the Baquacil AD Automated Dosing System. Programmable system ensures precise daily dosing of pool chemicals in pools up to 40,000 gallons, according to maker. System is designed to be easy to install and operate. Two-year product warranty included. Avecia Pool & Spa Products, Wilmington, Del.; (800) 248-7665; www.baquacil.com or www.baquaspa.com.

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5 Avex Industries offers its Peacock WrapAround Tanning System. Product can be vertically mounted and used while standing up, and folds flat to the wall when not in use. Compact-sized product uses minimal floor space and features door panels capable of blending into any room or decor, per manufacturer. Avex Industries, Glen Falls, N.Y.; (800) 950-2839; avex@peacocktan.com.

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6 Balboa Instruments presents SpaConnect software for service technicians. Real-time, interactive diagnostics may be obtained using a cell phone, driven by the proprietary software. Also, the Balboa Dolphin Remote (shown), a waterproof universal remote, is designed to control onboard spa and entertainment systems from anywhere in the home. For spa controls, the new EL System Series often interchangeable compatibility across the entire line of ML topside panels and internal EL systems. Balboa Instruments Inc., Tustin, Calif.; (888) 434-1940; www.balboa-instruments.com.

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7 CCSI International presents Garden Prairie/Atria pool enclosures. The products now are available with a battery backup for areas with frequent power outages. Dealer benefits include factory installation and delivery by company trucks, design assistance and more. CCSI International Inc., Los Angeles; (800) 537-8231.

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8 Coast Spas presents its Serenity Spa, with a patent-pending design that features a vanishing-edge waterfall. The Gold Series model provides 28-jet action; a 20-amp, 7hp pump with an additional 2hp pump; fiberoptic lighting; Gecko controls; and more. Coast Spas, Langley, British Columbia, Canada; (604) 514-8111; www.coastspas.com.

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9 Confer Plastics presents the Evolution Inpool and A-Frame Ladders and New Handi-Spa Pads. Economical, full-featured ladders offer quick, easy assembly with snap-lock treads and minimal hardware, per maker. Ladders are available in gray or white. All-plastic Handi-Spa Pads measure 32-by-48-inches and connect together to form a 2-inch-thick, flat platform for spa placement. Confer Plastics Inc., North Tonawanda, N.Y.; (800) 635-3213; www.conferladders.com.