Hot tubs, they'er supposed to be relaxing, right?

So, I have chosen to do some major improvements to my home, that go above and beyond repairing the recent storm damage it sustained.  I have been wanting a hot tub for many years and am finally in a place (both room wise and financially) to do so.  First things first, I needed a "spot" to put it at.  After some thought I decided to put it next to my covered rear patio.  I marked off about a 13' x 13' area.  Called around and found a place that would deliver just over 4 tons of river rock for a reasonable price.  It took me hours to move by wheel barrel and shovel what took him only a min to unload from the dump truck.  Man, I needed the hot tub right then!  Ok, I got the area paved with rock, now I needed some privacy.  Now enters the wooden fence.  At this time I was not ready to replace my current chain link fence, so I installed the wooden privacy fence right next to the rock pad.  I started from the back of the house and went about 13 feet out and then over to the outer post of the rear patio.  Digging holes was never at the top of my "fun things" to do list, but never the less needed to be done.  Again, my thoughts kept returning to the relaxing time I would have in the hot tub.  Patients young grass hopper, work first, play latter.

So, I have the "spot" for the new tub, now I just need to find one.  I am someone who always tries to keep an eye out for a good deal.  Looking at the costs of a new vs used tub...I went with used.  I figured I could save a lot of money.  Craigslist, gotta love it.  Spent days cruising it on my cell phone waiting for the right time to strike.  Ding Ding!  Found a couple of possibilities.  First one was not quiet what it was made out to be (like that never happens).  The second one in my meager price range was pretty much what it said it was.  Large and in good looking condition but, non running.  I passed at first cause I could see the $$$ racking up in order to fix it, but kept coming back to it.  What finally sealed the deal was he dropped his asking price in half!  It seemed to good of a deal to pass up.  Large 6 person tub with rebuilt electric motors...just needs a new heater and control board.  No problem, I got this.

I talked him into delivering it to my home, said it would only take 4 people to move it.  Easy enough for him, he had a forklift at his ranch.  When they say 6 person tub, I now know that they mean not only does it seat 6, you need 6 to move it!  Oh my word that thing was heavy!  I had 4 people lined up and needed to call on a couple extra to help.  It hurt to move it every step of the way!  I also had to take down part of the fence to get it into the back yard, set it in place and prayed that I never have to move it again.

Now the wiring.  I called on another good friend of mine to help with the 220V wiring.  I wanted it done right and well, that's not my forte'.  Find out copper wiring has gone way up in price recently, but that's ok, it's going to a good cause.  In the mean time I find the part I need is almost $600!  Heck with that, so I looked on the net and found a place that makes aftermarket controllers and heater boards.  Got an upgraded heater and a better control board for almost half what they wanted for the stock one.  Long story short, got everything hooked up and ready to go runs for a few hours and get to use it once and the wet side of the pump explodes.  Crap!  All that work and now this.  End up finding a new one online and installed a couple days ago.  Everything is working great for now and I am finally able to enjoy it!  Still have way less $$$ in this than I would have in a new one.  Heck it's almost new with all the parts that have been  replaced.  Hoping it lasts for a while and I can get back to other projects around the house.