DYNASTY SWIM SPAS ARE JUNK!!!! Anyone in the hot tub or swim spa market, STAY AWAY FROM DYNASTY! I can tell you a horror story about my 4 year old, $18k, 16', Dynasty swim spa. It's been working enough to use it 4 times in 4 years, yes you read that correctly. I built my home over top of the spa, it's in my home forever. The man who sold it to me said dynasty was the best and he never has customer complaints about them. BULLSHIT! It had an issue within the first 5 hours of operation causing 100's of gallons of water to leak into my basement. Since then It has had 3 of the 4 pump motors expire only after 2 or 3 uses. The main power supply died and circulation stinks on the spa end of the tub. Dynasty's customer service is NON-EXISTENT! They build spas using inferior pumps and motors and do not back up the product they sell. The dealer who sold me this POS had the audacity to shrug his shoulders and say, "Dynasty just uses junky motors" and I'll have to pay $750 fro each bad motor plus labor at $79 per hour to repair it. Wait a minute, during the sales speech he said they were the best. He said " I guess you got a tub when there was a bad batch of pumps/motors" Please save yourself lots of aggravation, don't throw your money away, DO NOT BUY A DYNASTY SPA!
Hi Randy, I need you to verify who you are and that you really have this spa. I cant have my youtube page with unverified content especially reviews. Just want to make sure you are not an industry person. so email me chris@hottubuniversity.com send me pics of the tub and the serial number. thanks!
Chris some how I fell down the UA-cam rabbit hole and I came across your video. I have to say I like your style and your very informative. If I’m ever in the market to buy a spa I’m checking with you first! Thank you
I really hope you start making more videos. You being so knowledgeable makes this interesting to watch even though I really am not even that interested in hot tubs.
both those things would help for sure. unfortunately thats about all you can do the other issues are fundamental issues that just cant be easily addressed
Chris, we are definitely looking at getting a hot tub. We are considering Jacuzzi, Marquis or Thermospas (also owned by Jacuzzi). Would like to consider Calspas, however, they are located in California, and no local dealer (or even close to us). We are going to wet test Jacuzzi and Marquis. Since Themospas is direct to consumer, can't wet test. Any concerns with Jacuzzi or Marquis? We will check out what kind of control all three companies use, because after watching this video, we definitely want to stick with Balboa. SO GLAD we watched your detailed video, as we went to the dealer to buy a Dynasty Bahamas spa yesterday, and I felt a little uneasy, so I told them we wanted to think about it over the weekend! Thank you for saving us $$$ and headaches! But your thoughts on Jacuzzi, Marquis or Thermospas would be greatly appreciated
Hi Tina Sorry for the late reply! Jacuzzi is an awesome marketing company and arguably has the best program for corporate profits I have seen in a long time. The tubs themselves are middle of the road with good shells and insulation but a goofy proprietary parts list. They then take these mid-level products and apply their specialty which consists of really high-end expensive branding campaigns, mouth-watering advertising, and flawless marketing to make people think these mid-level tubs are worth 1/3rd more than they really are... a great recipe for corporate profit, not so great for the end-user. hottubuniversity.com/hot-tub-parts-game-affects-long-term-satisfaction/ Marquis read well on paper but mixed reviews and the one I looked at had a lot of serious issues... hottubuniversity.com/marquis-brand-review/
I have a question, are dynasty spas poor spas even if you buy them from a reputable dealer or are you saying Dynasty spas are garbage and you really need to think about the dealer if they are carrying Dynasty? By the way I ask because I have a 2016 Dynasty spa that I bought from a dealer in Florida. I have had the spa for a year and use it about 3 to 4 times a week and haven't had any issues. Just wondering......
Thank Chris for showing the short cuts on this spa. I purchased my 8.3 twilight series from Master Spa and loved it ! Performance is powerful and I am one happy camper
We lived near the Dynasty factory in Tennessee. Got a 84" tub and what a disaster. Leaks, leaks, leaks. We RV'ed to Florida in the winter and left the tub on winter mode. Came back and it was empty. Customer Service doesn't answer the phone. We used to drive over to the factory and sit and wait for somebody, anybody to come out of hiding. Finally, they decided to come and get it, take it back to the factory, and put in all new pipes and pumps. About 6 months later, it leaked. Ended up trading for a Master dynasty and never had a problem with the Master. We gave the Dynasty to our neighbor for free. He likes to tinker. He'll be happy for a long time. We ended up moving to Florida and left the Master behind. Out shopping for a new Master tub as we speak.
Just bought this exact tub a month ago for 8400$...hope it lasts. this info would have been useful, but still Feel we got a good deal. great info. I'll watch for leaks and stay on the company while my warranty is good
You will be fine, Ive had mine for 9 years now and no issue. BTW, The fiberglass is hand rolled. I toured the facility and saw it being rolled with my own eyes.
Almost afraid to ask this question. What do you think of OC, Evolution, and Aquaterra distributed by Costco? What brands do you recommend. Thanks for the video., I was looking at a used Dynasty.
The same stuff man, mass merchants suck at these complex products because they have no idea... here is the evolution and trust me the other ones are the same junk... ua-cam.com/video/vVpuTxjXq2o/v-deo.html
Yah I bought a used one that froze. They are a horrible company to deal with. Couldn’t get parts. So i switched all the parts to Jacuzzi. Wasn’t that hard
Hot tubs that you are recommended which use Balboa, how much do those normally cost new? I can't find which models associated with your recommended brands that use Balboa parts.
Hi Matt. I do like Balboa it's reliable and easy to find parts for and easy to find service guys for. I also want 3 other things... A good hand rolled fiberglass self-supporting shell, they will last forever, Glued and clamped plumbing lines, and full Icyened foam systems for cold climates.. forget the pitch look at your local building code, your hot tub needs to meet or exceed the local code for homes or it's just not good enough. ua-cam.com/video/PQ0Kkf-MKQs/v-deo.html
I got one like this for free. No issues with leaks tho. Pump 2 had blown a capacitor. Besides that can’t complain about hot tub. Plus my insulation is a lot better.
Looking at a Maax Joli, do you have any thoughts or recommendations? Shopping local dealers for the after sale support and several have been around since I was very young. Some friends have a Dr. Wellness unit with a wholesale connection but seeing they are on the lower end.... Can't really find too much on any given brand except opinions.
Hey Ross It's a jungle out there man, go to Hot Tub University, click on the buyer's assistance page and ill look at the local area and see what good brands and dealers you have. www.hottubuniversity.com/buyers-assistance/ I opened a Maxx in January and was not overly impressed, middle of the road, cradle supported shell, no clamps on the plumbing and a couple inches of batton type insualtion with a radient barrier... def not on my recomended list.
Hey just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos and guides! I recently started working for a Dynasty Spa company in 2019 and I like to be transparent with my customers ( I am not commission based sales) So I actually had a question for you, Dynasty Spas has upgraded from Icynene spray foam insulation to R-Max Perimeter Heatshield -- very similar to Artic Spas. Have you seen any of these newer models come back to you with similar issues as this tub in the video? What are the advantages or disadvantages of a perimeter wrap vs spray foamed cavity?
I haven't. I also have heard rumors that the son has taken over the reins of the manufacturing from the father and is working to clean the brand up, I would be interested in talking for sure, I really want good information out there :-)
@@ChrisWheatley That is interesting to know. We genuinely don't see many issues with our Dynasty Spas having leaks or complaints about bad manufacturing. We see issues with the Spa Packs by Gecko from time to time. Rust on the stainless steal speaker covers (Due to customers poor balancing of chemicals). And being in Canada, these spas fair relatively well in the climate.
@@GermsieGal Yeah the Gecko stuff we see a lot of problems on as well. Dynasty we have definitely heard and seen first-hand issues, but maybe they are turning the corner, if they are they should get in touch, we are all about keeping good brands in front of consumers, www.hottubuniversity.com will see around 180,000 hot tub buyer come for advice its a powerful tool for brands doing good things.
@@ChrisWheatley I have sold Dynasty Spas for over 24 years now out of over 32 years in the industry, please don't take it in a bad way but have to disagree that the Balboa controls are much better. Dynasty switched because they had a 25% failure rate with Balboa. We have seen very little problems with Gecko. As far as the salt systems, the first generation in.clear salt system had some issues which was surprising to us, it is a phenomenal system that works almost flawlessly once dialed in. Dino
@@hotshotsliny We will have to agree to disagree, the patent on M7 moves away from pressure switches and that's the number one failure. The inability to replace heaters on the high-end units is crap, right to repair is critical and its a total scam to make people buy a whole pack when all you need is an easily replaceable part. plus we had and still see high board failure rates.
I am researching swim spas in the hopes of purchasing one this summer 2018. I would be very interested in your thoughts about the Dynasty Pro 17" Aquex Series vs similiar 17" swim spa products sold by Marquis or Artesian. We are searching for reputable dealers near our area of Brandywine, Maryland which has become a challenge in itself.. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I am obsessed with your review/analysis videos on hot tubs but I'm looking for guidance on swim spas and dealers. Please help if you can. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hey man! thanks for the ping, the reality is I would not have the Dynasty in this mix, for all the reasons listed in this video. the reality is if a company is putting out stuff like the tub in this video then there are some serious issues. both the other brands you mention are good but The H2X deserves your time. This swimmers depth alone puts it miles ahead, the only reason no one else does 60" depth is you need the latest $10milllion equipment to make them this deep but for the end user, it's a massive difference. I have had over 5 swim spas in my backyard overt he years I bought my first one in 2003 and through all of them, the most dramatic difference was depth. I have an H2X Trainer 19 deep now and man its just a great swimmer, they pattened this Velocity Injector Plate a few years back it is sound science that back feeds air into the vacuum created when we force water through a volute thereby reducing the drag on the flow exiting the swim jet... Its dramatic, when I changed out my regular trainer 19 for the new one i went from not being challenged at 100% flow with turbo on to training at about 60% of max flow with the turbo off which is great because the air needed to accelerate the water in most swimmers makes the water less dense and much more turbulent, if you swim in all these swimmers there is just no comparison, the current is clean smooth and powerful. also, it comes with a great set of workout gear and a 5-year warranty, its built right, outperforms almost everything is deeper and a great overall swimmer, I looked around the area and there is a guy right near you check out these guys. Hot Tubs Inc Status HTU All-Star I spent 4 days with these guys and talked a lot about tubs, and customer care, these guys have the right attitude and as a HTU All-Star if you by from these guys and Get Hot Tub University Approved on your original invoice you can always fall back on us if you have any issues that the dealer cant solve for you. Remove Details from Google Maps 1925 Norfolk Dr, Owings, MD 20736 www.hottubsinc.com +1 410-257-6513 3.7View in Google Maps
I have to say that this is one of the most informative videos and series of comments that I’ve seen on spas. I’ve been researching my first spa purchase for over a month and have come away with more questions and headaches than answers. I really think this industry is haunted. :) With that said my needs are a 92” tub and I’m torn between a Catalina (LPI), Bahama (Dynasty) and Vita (Maxx). I live in North Florida and the tube will be outside on a slab without a covered structure over it. Any feedback from you @Allie Germs, @ Chris Wheatley or anyone else would be appreciated. I’m exhausted.
Hi Troy and thanks for the comment. None of them are great options, Vita is a cradle supported shell and no clamps on the plumbing and low r-value insulation which won't matter as much to Florida peeps :-) whats yer zip code?
I agree, try Splash pools and spas in Jacksonville they Do Artesian Spas which is solid. You can also buy master spas and PDC from wholesalers and factory direct I have a great guy called Jeffs pools and spa service in Jeff's Pool and Spa Service in Fernandina Beach and about 8 other independent service guys near you registered with me and if you run the SpaStar app it has most of what you need from a local dealer right on your phone. Honestly dude Try my private buyer's service... I run about one a day and they are highly successful. ua-cam.com/video/8p2wol-fVw4/v-deo.html
Thanks Chris. Really appreciate this with follow up. Interestingly enough, the Bahama spas but I was ready to jump on got sold from up under us. May be a blessing in disguise. I haven’t considered artesian but I’ve been researching them today. I’ll give splash call thanks again
I'm in Canada and just put a deposit down for a Dynasty Caspian today. Should I be worried about the possibility of leaks and poor quality? Thanks Chris
I am going to look at a 3-5 year old dynasty hot tub ECCO DL 580 with sound system. They are asking $1000 because it was left at a house they just bought and they dont use it. Is this worth it since the price point is so low?
depends a lot on how it is working, got to be running, take sides off look for leaks or signs of past leaks like foam that is different color, also look for signs of water damage from past leaks. this might be ok if ti works, the cover is good and you are a handiman or have one you can use.
Chris Wheatley How does a Dynasty hot tub compare to Jacuzzi, Viking or Bull frog? These were the new models we were considering. You mentioned good models but none of these brands.
all very different and not a big fan of any of them for different reasons, Jacuzzi uses a proprietary parts list instead of the proven reliable competitively priced parts, guys do this to trap you into buying overpriced crap parts from them only forever, I always want a proven reliable easy to buy parts list, its critical. I also have huge issues getting independent guys to work on these goofy brands so you really need a solid reliable dealer who has carried the goofy brand for a decade or more. Viking is American whirlpools, I pulled one apart and no clamps on the plumbing, inexpensive reflective foil with batt insulation and pedestal supported shells, nothing to get excited about but at least they have a Balboa control system. Bullfrog, on the other hand, has good parts and insulation but the shell is an ABS plastic and needs these big pedestals to keep it from falling apart. and the claims of high flow rates are not based on sound science. www.hottubuniversity.com/bullfrog/
Hey Ya Salts 20-year-old tech. Its ok but really just takes salt and makes bromine or chlorine... sort of :-) hottubuniversity.com/salt-systems-on-hot-tubs/ The newer onboard systems that show promise are UV (not ozone generating UV, but passing water by a UV source) and even AOP which combine UV and Ozone show promise the reality is there is nothing better than the aftermarket stuff right now... Don't buy any of the hot tub water purification bullshit, use Spa marvel or Aquafinesse, or minerlux they are all way easier, lower safe chem levels, and cheaper :-) hottubuniversity.com/chemical-free-hot-tubs/
@@ChrisWheatley All of those use chlorine as the disinfectant and as we know chlorine is unstable after 95 degrees and loses its disinfecting properties.
That's even worse... They use sodium bromide to make bromine, that system and all bromine generators were banned in Canada about 6 months ago because Health Canada found that they also make a toxin... And the marketing is simply misleading claptrap. They say and I quote... "Free of harsh chemicals!" meanwhile it generates bromine which by definition is a harsh chemical... the is a shitty scam to try and fool people into believing they are going to bathe in some healthy saltwater when the reality is it's just taking a highly corrosive salt and making bromine... www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/decisions-updates/reevaluation-decision/2018/sodium-bromide.html#a2 No Matter what brand you buy don't buy any of the miracle chemical reduction systems like salt or UV or AOP or Ozone, just buy this stuff... its lower chemical easier to manage healthier and less expensive, plus it extends the life of the tub and gives you a lifetime guarantee ion the jets. hottubuniversity.com/spa-marvel-us/ Also, download this app It lets you Manage your hot tub chemistry without hassle, diagnose and fix water issues, troubleshoot any problems, and even request service on your tub. Spa Star will do all that and more and best of all IT’S FREE! www.spa-star.net/
Crappy tubs sold anywhere by any method are not fine... There is no disconnect. I endorse a way of building sustainable products, I endorse 5 brands strongly and another 5 as good options and 2 of those brands compete in my local market if I was being biased then obviously I would not be endorsing brands i have to compete with... kind of shooting myself in the foot but my integrity is solid if its good for the consumer its good... These guys did a dump and run with cheap spas... And then never came back, the tubs failed again and again and these customers got screwed...
A good hot Tub is any brand that follows the 5 golden rules... A good dealer, Hand rolled self-supporting fibreglass shell with vinyl ester resin core. Glued and clamped plumbing lines, Full foam insulation, and Balboa and Waterways parts... Master, marquis, artesian, even Beachcomber if you stay away from that stupid Hybrid old tech...
Hello! With Beachcomber are you saying that the models with the pumps and bulk of the parts on the outside of the tub should be avoided? Just looking for some insight as we are considering Beachcomber (Canadian) Thanks!
Yes. Stay away from that stupid “hybrid” system. this is a classic example of old technology being dragged out of the closet after the whole industry has moved away from it in favour of better technology and one meat head rebranding it as innovation… No one puts the pumps outside the spa anymore because you can not reclaim the motor waste heat, you pump your hot water outside of the insulation envelope in the middle of the winter and in power outages your equipment is prone to freeze up 10x quicker than pumps that are under the spa… All for a tiny insignificant amount of insulation in the area that already has 4-5 times more insulation than anywhere else on a hot tub. It is bad outdated tech being recycled to give a unique selling point.
Man, artesian don’t have pumps on the outside of their tubs. I looked at their flagship elite series and all of them have a pump for each seat where you can use one seat or two or all seats or any combination. The dove canyon is six seats with a lounger and it has six pumps and one circulation pump. The sound system is incredible and the waterfalls are excellent and lights on the inside and especially on the outside are second to none. The lights on the outside are so good it’s like looking at a spaceship or a ufo. Artesian elite series are literally and arguably the very best flagship top of line hot tub on the market rivalling or bettering the caldera utopia series, hot spring high life series or jacuzzi 400 hundred series. It may be better than any of them including bullfrog and sundance
Clearly you are a bought and paid for Master Spas spokesman. You talk about Dynasty doing traveling shows when Master Spas is the king of the traveling dog and pony show.
Lol I support several brands that do things the way I know is sustainable. Artesian, master, marquis, beachcomber, coast. I like hand rolled self supporting shells, Balboa, glued and clamped plumbing and full foam icynene insulation systems... easy really and 3 of those brands I compete against in my local market... so forget the bullshit about me being bought an paid for dude. That tub I reviewed is a poorly built tub and every word I said is true. Nor do I endorse these events where they dump tubs into markets with no support. In this case that's what happened. In some cases like west coast and other areas where there are big groups of independant service guys they can be ok, but they are never the miracle super low price they are played out as being. Dont get mad man. Get smart educate yourself and buy and supply sustainable product that is built it right...
Bullfrogs a funny one, I would almost put them on my recommended list except for the ABS shell. These thermal plastic shells were going to be the big revolution in late 80's when it came out but they just were not that great. there were all kinds of issues and most guys went away from the tech 10-15 years ago. It's cheaper to build than a good hand rolled Vinyl ester resin cored self-supporting shell but it's not even strong enough to hold together so you need to put props and supports under the shell. As for the goofy packs... I'm not convinced there is any real advantage. Get a tub with lots of the big hi flow jets and you can totally customise it already just by moving jets around or swapping them for different jets.
Chris Wheatley I have been buying and refurbishing and reselling hot tubs for over ten years I also do maintenance on all brands.i would diffantlly have to disagree with u on your Bull frog tub assiment.u are totaly wrong sorry...
Oh really? ok... I think I said the equipment is good and the plumbing and insulation and that it has a pedestal supported ABS shell... Exactly where am I wrong???
DYNASTY SWIM SPAS ARE JUNK!!!!
Anyone in the hot tub or swim spa market, STAY AWAY FROM DYNASTY! I can tell you a horror story about my 4 year old, $18k, 16', Dynasty swim spa. It's been working enough to use it 4 times in 4 years, yes you read that correctly. I built my home over top of the spa, it's in my home forever. The man who sold it to me said dynasty was the best and he never has customer complaints about them. BULLSHIT! It had an issue within the first 5 hours of operation causing 100's of gallons of water to leak into my basement. Since then It has had 3 of the 4 pump motors expire only after 2 or 3 uses. The main power supply died and circulation stinks on the spa end of the tub. Dynasty's customer service is NON-EXISTENT! They build spas using inferior pumps and motors and do not back up the product they sell. The dealer who sold me this POS had the audacity to shrug his shoulders and say, "Dynasty just uses junky motors" and I'll have to pay $750 fro each bad motor plus labor at $79 per hour to repair it. Wait a minute, during the sales speech he said they were the best. He said " I guess you got a tub when there was a bad batch of pumps/motors"
Please save yourself lots of aggravation, don't throw your money away, DO NOT BUY A DYNASTY SPA!
Hi Randy, I need you to verify who you are and that you really have this spa. I cant have my youtube page with unverified content especially reviews. Just want to make sure you are not an industry person. so email me chris@hottubuniversity.com send me pics of the tub and the serial number. thanks!
Swim Spas are for stupid people, if you want a swimming pool you might as well build a Real one , ya D*psh*t!
Ive had my Dynasty Spa for 9 years now. No issues
That's awesome!
Chris some how I fell down the UA-cam rabbit hole and I came across your video. I have to say I like your style and your very informative. If I’m ever in the market to buy a spa I’m checking with you first! Thank you
Thanks dude
More bling than mine.....still love mine big time....MASTER SPA. Great educational videos. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
I really hope you start making more videos. You being so knowledgeable makes this interesting to watch even though I really am not even that interested in hot tubs.
I have this same tub and is there any advise you could give to increase the reliability? Add clamps? Ad more insulation? etc
both those things would help for sure. unfortunately thats about all you can do the other issues are fundamental issues that just cant be easily addressed
Chris, we are definitely looking at getting a hot tub. We are considering Jacuzzi, Marquis or Thermospas (also owned by Jacuzzi). Would like to consider Calspas, however, they are located in California, and no local dealer (or even close to us). We are going to wet test Jacuzzi and Marquis. Since Themospas is direct to consumer, can't wet test. Any concerns with Jacuzzi or Marquis? We will check out what kind of control all three companies use, because after watching this video, we definitely want to stick with Balboa. SO GLAD we watched your detailed video, as we went to the dealer to buy a Dynasty Bahamas spa yesterday, and I felt a little uneasy, so I told them we wanted to think about it over the weekend! Thank you for saving us $$$ and headaches! But your thoughts on Jacuzzi, Marquis or Thermospas would be greatly appreciated
Hi Tina
Sorry for the late reply!
Jacuzzi is an awesome marketing company and arguably has the best program for corporate profits I have seen in a long time. The tubs themselves are middle of the road with good shells and insulation but a goofy proprietary parts list. They then take these mid-level products and apply their specialty which consists of really high-end expensive branding campaigns, mouth-watering advertising, and flawless marketing to make people think these mid-level tubs are worth 1/3rd more than they really are... a great recipe for corporate profit, not so great for the end-user. hottubuniversity.com/hot-tub-parts-game-affects-long-term-satisfaction/
Marquis read well on paper but mixed reviews and the one I looked at had a lot of serious issues... hottubuniversity.com/marquis-brand-review/
hey Chris what are your thoughts on passion spas they use the balboa controls I heard you talk about have you any comments on the build quality
I have a question, are dynasty spas poor spas even if you buy them from a reputable dealer or are you saying Dynasty spas are garbage and you really need to think about the dealer if they are carrying Dynasty? By the way I ask because I have a 2016 Dynasty spa that I bought from a dealer in Florida. I have had the spa for a year and use it about 3 to 4 times a week and haven't had any issues. Just wondering......
A great dealer with a mid grade spa is better than a great spa with a crap dealer.
Thank Chris for showing the short cuts on this spa. I purchased my 8.3 twilight series from Master Spa and loved it ! Performance is powerful and I am one happy camper
We lived near the Dynasty factory in Tennessee. Got a 84" tub and what a disaster. Leaks, leaks, leaks. We RV'ed to Florida in the winter and left the tub on winter mode. Came back and it was empty. Customer Service doesn't answer the phone. We used to drive over to the factory and sit and wait for somebody, anybody to come out of hiding. Finally, they decided to come and get it, take it back to the factory, and put in all new pipes and pumps. About 6 months later, it leaked. Ended up trading for a Master dynasty and never had a problem with the Master. We gave the Dynasty to our neighbor for free. He likes to tinker. He'll be happy for a long time.
We ended up moving to Florida and left the Master behind. Out shopping for a new Master tub as we speak.
Dennis L. Unbelievable....... literally!
@@davidmorad4405 ??? You don't believe? I think the problem lies in the choices made in pumps, seals, and insulation methods. Too may places to fail.
Just bought this exact tub a month ago for 8400$...hope it lasts. this info would have been useful, but still Feel we got a good deal. great info. I'll watch for leaks and stay on the company while my warranty is good
You will be fine, Ive had mine for 9 years now and no issue. BTW, The fiberglass is hand rolled. I toured the facility and saw it being rolled with my own eyes.
bosshog 104 what is the model name of this tub?
Almost afraid to ask this question. What do you think of OC, Evolution, and Aquaterra distributed by Costco? What brands do you recommend. Thanks for the video., I was looking at a used Dynasty.
The same stuff man, mass merchants suck at these complex products because they have no idea... here is the evolution and trust me the other ones are the same junk... ua-cam.com/video/vVpuTxjXq2o/v-deo.html
Yah I bought a used one that froze. They are a horrible company to deal with. Couldn’t get parts. So i switched all the parts to Jacuzzi. Wasn’t that hard
you did this video in 2017 but where is gecko controls on your list now I am getting a free-flow spa it uses gecko
Gecko is not the end of the world, the Balboa system is preferable but gecko is a lot better then the propritary crap for sure.
Hot tubs that you are recommended which use Balboa, how much do those normally cost new? I can't find which models associated with your recommended brands that use Balboa parts.
Hi Matt. I do like Balboa it's reliable and easy to find parts for and easy to find service guys for. I also want 3 other things... A good hand rolled fiberglass self-supporting shell, they will last forever, Glued and clamped plumbing lines, and full Icyened foam systems for cold climates.. forget the pitch look at your local building code, your hot tub needs to meet or exceed the local code for homes or it's just not good enough. ua-cam.com/video/PQ0Kkf-MKQs/v-deo.html
I got one like this for free. No issues with leaks tho. Pump 2 had blown a capacitor. Besides that can’t complain about hot tub. Plus my insulation is a lot better.
Can't beat that price!
Looking at a Maax Joli, do you have any thoughts or recommendations? Shopping local dealers for the after sale support and several have been around since I was very young. Some friends have a Dr. Wellness unit with a wholesale connection but seeing they are on the lower end....
Can't really find too much on any given brand except opinions.
Hey Ross
It's a jungle out there man, go to Hot Tub University, click on the buyer's assistance page and ill look at the local area and see what good brands and dealers you have. www.hottubuniversity.com/buyers-assistance/
I opened a Maxx in January and was not overly impressed, middle of the road, cradle supported shell, no clamps on the plumbing and a couple inches of batton type insualtion with a radient barrier... def not on my recomended list.
Hey just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos and guides! I recently started working for a Dynasty Spa company in 2019 and I like to be transparent with my customers ( I am not commission based sales) So I actually had a question for you, Dynasty Spas has upgraded from Icynene spray foam insulation to R-Max Perimeter Heatshield -- very similar to Artic Spas. Have you seen any of these newer models come back to you with similar issues as this tub in the video? What are the advantages or disadvantages of a perimeter wrap vs spray foamed cavity?
I haven't. I also have heard rumors that the son has taken over the reins of the manufacturing from the father and is working to clean the brand up, I would be interested in talking for sure, I really want good information out there :-)
@@ChrisWheatley That is interesting to know. We genuinely don't see many issues with our Dynasty Spas having leaks or complaints about bad manufacturing. We see issues with the Spa Packs by Gecko from time to time. Rust on the stainless steal speaker covers (Due to customers poor balancing of chemicals). And being in Canada, these spas fair relatively well in the climate.
@@GermsieGal Yeah the Gecko stuff we see a lot of problems on as well. Dynasty we have definitely heard and seen first-hand issues, but maybe they are turning the corner, if they are they should get in touch, we are all about keeping good brands in front of consumers, www.hottubuniversity.com will see around 180,000 hot tub buyer come for advice its a powerful tool for brands doing good things.
@@ChrisWheatley I have sold Dynasty Spas for over 24 years now out of over 32 years in the industry, please don't take it in a bad way but have to disagree that the Balboa controls are much better. Dynasty switched because they had a 25% failure rate with Balboa. We have seen very little problems with Gecko. As far as the salt systems, the first generation in.clear salt system had some issues which was surprising to us, it is a phenomenal system that works almost flawlessly once dialed in.
Dino
@@hotshotsliny We will have to agree to disagree, the patent on M7 moves away from pressure switches and that's the number one failure.
The inability to replace heaters on the high-end units is crap, right to repair is critical and its a total scam to make people buy a whole pack when all you need is an easily replaceable part. plus we had and still see high board failure rates.
I am researching swim spas in the hopes of purchasing one this summer 2018. I would be very interested in your thoughts about the Dynasty Pro 17" Aquex Series vs similiar 17" swim spa products sold by Marquis or Artesian. We are searching for reputable dealers near our area of Brandywine, Maryland which has become a challenge in itself.. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I am obsessed with your review/analysis videos on hot tubs but I'm looking for guidance on swim spas and dealers. Please help if you can. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hey man! thanks for the ping, the reality is I would not have the Dynasty in this mix, for all the reasons listed in this video. the reality is if a company is putting out stuff like the tub in this video then there are some serious issues. both the other brands you mention are good but The H2X deserves your time. This swimmers depth alone puts it miles ahead, the only reason no one else does 60" depth is you need the latest $10milllion equipment to make them this deep but for the end user, it's a massive difference. I have had over 5 swim spas in my backyard overt he years I bought my first one in 2003 and through all of them, the most dramatic difference was depth. I have an H2X Trainer 19 deep now and man its just a great swimmer, they pattened this Velocity Injector Plate a few years back it is sound science that back feeds air into the vacuum created when we force water through a volute thereby reducing the drag on the flow exiting the swim jet... Its dramatic, when I changed out my regular trainer 19 for the new one i went from not being challenged at 100% flow with turbo on to training at about 60% of max flow with the turbo off which is great because the air needed to accelerate the water in most swimmers makes the water less dense and much more turbulent, if you swim in all these swimmers there is just no comparison, the current is clean smooth and powerful. also, it comes with a great set of workout gear and a 5-year warranty, its built right, outperforms almost everything is deeper and a great overall swimmer, I looked around the area and there is a guy right near you check out these guys.
Hot Tubs Inc
Status HTU All-Star
I spent 4 days with these guys and talked a lot about tubs, and customer care, these guys have the right attitude and as a HTU All-Star if you by from these guys and Get Hot Tub University Approved on your original invoice you can always fall back on us if you have any issues that the dealer cant solve for you.
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1925 Norfolk Dr, Owings, MD 20736
www.hottubsinc.com
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I have to say that this is one of the most informative videos and series of comments that I’ve seen on spas. I’ve been researching my first spa purchase for over a month and have come away with more questions and headaches than answers. I really think this industry is haunted. :)
With that said my needs are a 92” tub and I’m torn between a Catalina (LPI), Bahama (Dynasty) and Vita (Maxx). I live in North Florida and the tube will be outside on a slab without a covered structure over it. Any feedback from you @Allie Germs, @ Chris Wheatley or anyone else would be appreciated. I’m exhausted.
Hi Troy and thanks for the comment.
None of them are great options, Vita is a cradle supported shell and no clamps on the plumbing and low r-value insulation which won't matter as much to Florida peeps :-)
whats yer zip code?
Chris Wheatley I’m 32034
We really like the Bahama Palm Island from Dynasty, but I think $8800 is steep for a middle of middle to lower spa.
I agree, try Splash pools and spas in Jacksonville they Do Artesian Spas which is solid. You can also buy master spas and PDC from wholesalers and factory direct I have a great guy called Jeffs pools and spa service in Jeff's Pool and Spa Service
in Fernandina Beach and about 8 other independent service guys near you registered with me and if you run the SpaStar app it has most of what you need from a local dealer right on your phone.
Honestly dude Try my private buyer's service... I run about one a day and they are highly successful. ua-cam.com/video/8p2wol-fVw4/v-deo.html
Thanks Chris. Really appreciate this with follow up. Interestingly enough, the Bahama spas but I was ready to jump on got sold from up under us. May be a blessing in disguise. I haven’t considered artesian but I’ve been researching them today. I’ll give splash call thanks again
I'm in Canada and just put a deposit down for a Dynasty Caspian today. Should I be worried about the possibility of leaks and poor quality? Thanks Chris
Yes you should. Leaks and there repair are inevitable with Dynasty products. They are consistently poor quality.
Ive had mine for 9 years with no issues.
I am going to look at a 3-5 year old dynasty hot tub ECCO DL 580 with sound system. They are asking $1000 because it was left at a house they just bought and they dont use it. Is this worth it since the price point is so low?
depends a lot on how it is working, got to be running, take sides off look for leaks or signs of past leaks like foam that is different color, also look for signs of water damage from past leaks.
this might be ok if ti works, the cover is good and you are a handiman or have one you can use.
Chris Wheatley How does a Dynasty hot tub compare to Jacuzzi, Viking or Bull frog? These were the new models we were considering. You mentioned good models but none of these brands.
all very different and not a big fan of any of them for different reasons, Jacuzzi uses a proprietary parts list instead of the proven reliable competitively priced parts, guys do this to trap you into buying overpriced crap parts from them only forever, I always want a proven reliable easy to buy parts list, its critical. I also have huge issues getting independent guys to work on these goofy brands so you really need a solid reliable dealer who has carried the goofy brand for a decade or more. Viking is American whirlpools, I pulled one apart and no clamps on the plumbing, inexpensive reflective foil with batt insulation and pedestal supported shells, nothing to get excited about but at least they have a Balboa control system. Bullfrog, on the other hand, has good parts and insulation but the shell is an ABS plastic and needs these big pedestals to keep it from falling apart. and the claims of high flow rates are not based on sound science. www.hottubuniversity.com/bullfrog/
So any Artesian Spa would be good to buy? They sell different models.
I was looking at the South Seas Spas, is that ok?
Performance wise the entry level is going to be limited but build wide it should be reliable and easy to fix when it does go wrong.
Landscape recording! Woot!
I just had my first day. They pump them out after lunch.
You work at dynasty? What are you saying? After lunch they don't care about quality
Anyone familiar with Gecko inClear salt system?
Hey Ya
Salts 20-year-old tech. Its ok but really just takes salt and makes bromine or chlorine... sort of :-) hottubuniversity.com/salt-systems-on-hot-tubs/
The newer onboard systems that show promise are UV (not ozone generating UV, but passing water by a UV source) and even AOP which combine UV and Ozone show promise the reality is there is nothing better than the aftermarket stuff right now...
Don't buy any of the hot tub water purification bullshit, use Spa marvel or Aquafinesse, or minerlux they are all way easier, lower safe chem levels, and cheaper :-) hottubuniversity.com/chemical-free-hot-tubs/
@@ChrisWheatley All of those use chlorine as the disinfectant and as we know chlorine is unstable after 95 degrees and loses its disinfecting properties.
that's why they use cyanuric acid to help stabilize at higher temps, something you do not get when you make chlorine with a salt generator...
@@ChrisWheatley In.clear does not make salt, it makes pure bromine.
That's even worse... They use sodium bromide to make bromine, that system and all bromine generators were banned in Canada about 6 months ago because Health Canada found that they also make a toxin... And the marketing is simply misleading claptrap. They say and I quote... "Free of harsh chemicals!" meanwhile it generates bromine which by definition is a harsh chemical... the is a shitty scam to try and fool people into believing they are going to bathe in some healthy saltwater when the reality is it's just taking a highly corrosive salt and making bromine... www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/decisions-updates/reevaluation-decision/2018/sodium-bromide.html#a2
No Matter what brand you buy don't buy any of the miracle chemical reduction systems like salt or UV or AOP or Ozone, just buy this stuff... its lower chemical easier to manage healthier and less expensive, plus it extends the life of the tub and gives you a lifetime guarantee ion the jets.
hottubuniversity.com/spa-marvel-us/
Also, download this app It lets you Manage your hot tub chemistry without hassle, diagnose and fix water issues, troubleshoot any problems, and even request service on your tub. Spa Star will do all that and more and best of all IT’S FREE!
www.spa-star.net/
Excalibur series
He defended the traveling shows in another video because they sell the brand he carries now hes attacking this traveling show He has no integrity
Crappy tubs sold anywhere by any method are not fine... There is no disconnect. I endorse a way of building sustainable products, I endorse 5 brands strongly and another 5 as good options and 2 of those brands compete in my local market if I was being biased then obviously I would not be endorsing brands i have to compete with... kind of shooting myself in the foot but my integrity is solid if its good for the consumer its good... These guys did a dump and run with cheap spas... And then never came back, the tubs failed again and again and these customers got screwed...
@@ChrisWheatley I'm curious, who was the dealer that sold them at a roadshow because Dynasty only sells in their local area.
@@hotshotsliny No Ideas who but they did a dump and run in Halifax at the forum a few years back.
Hi just bought A Dynasty spa hydrotherapy. Do anyone have anything to say about that particular spa?. Do they lick easily?
A good hot Tub is any brand that follows the 5 golden rules... A good dealer, Hand rolled self-supporting fibreglass shell with vinyl ester resin core. Glued and clamped plumbing lines, Full foam insulation, and Balboa and Waterways parts... Master, marquis, artesian, even Beachcomber if you stay away from that stupid Hybrid old tech...
Hello!
With Beachcomber are you saying that the models with the pumps and bulk of the parts on the outside of the tub should be avoided?
Just looking for some insight as we are considering Beachcomber (Canadian)
Thanks!
Yes. Stay away from that stupid “hybrid” system. this is a classic example of old technology being dragged out of the closet after the whole industry has moved away from it in favour of better technology and one meat head rebranding it as innovation… No one puts the pumps outside the spa anymore because you can not reclaim the motor waste heat, you pump your hot water outside of the insulation envelope in the middle of the winter and in power outages your equipment is prone to freeze up 10x quicker than pumps that are under the spa… All for a tiny insignificant amount of insulation in the area that already has 4-5 times more insulation than anywhere else on a hot tub.
It is bad outdated tech being recycled to give a unique selling point.
Perfect, thank you!
Man, artesian don’t have pumps on the outside of their tubs. I looked at their flagship elite series and all of them have a pump for each seat where you can use one seat or two or all seats or any combination. The dove canyon is six seats with a lounger and it has six pumps and one circulation pump. The sound system is incredible and the waterfalls are excellent and lights on the inside and especially on the outside are second to none. The lights on the outside are so good it’s like looking at a spaceship or a ufo. Artesian elite series are literally and arguably the very best flagship top of line hot tub on the market rivalling or bettering the caldera utopia series, hot spring high life series or jacuzzi 400 hundred series. It may be better than any of them including bullfrog and sundance
Clearly you are a bought and paid for Master Spas spokesman. You talk about Dynasty doing traveling shows when Master Spas is the king of the traveling dog and pony show.
Lol I support several brands that do things the way I know is sustainable. Artesian, master, marquis, beachcomber, coast. I like hand rolled self supporting shells, Balboa, glued and clamped plumbing and full foam icynene insulation systems... easy really and 3 of those brands I compete against in my local market... so forget the bullshit about me being bought an paid for dude.
That tub I reviewed is a poorly built tub and every word I said is true.
Nor do I endorse these events where they dump tubs into markets with no support.
In this case that's what happened. In some cases like west coast and other areas where there are big groups of independant service guys they can be ok, but they are never the miracle super low price they are played out as being.
Dont get mad man. Get smart educate yourself and buy and supply sustainable product that is built it right...
@@ChrisWheatley Like a Jacuzzi J-315.
Bull frog is at the top of my list...
Bullfrogs a funny one, I would almost put them on my recommended list except for the ABS shell. These thermal plastic shells were going to be the big revolution in late 80's when it came out but they just were not that great. there were all kinds of issues and most guys went away from the tech 10-15 years ago. It's cheaper to build than a good hand rolled Vinyl ester resin cored self-supporting shell but it's not even strong enough to hold together so you need to put props and supports under the shell. As for the goofy packs... I'm not convinced there is any real advantage. Get a tub with lots of the big hi flow jets and you can totally customise it already just by moving jets around or swapping them for different jets.
Chris Wheatley I have been buying and refurbishing and reselling hot tubs for over ten years I also do maintenance on all brands.i would diffantlly have to disagree with u on your Bull frog tub assiment.u are totaly wrong sorry...
Oh really? ok... I think I said the equipment is good and the plumbing and insulation and that it has a pedestal supported ABS shell... Exactly where am I wrong???
Greg Nettles can you elaborate why Chris is wrong?
marcin97 why don't you do some research for your self.