lthough swim spas vary in application and even name, experts say there are three main markets:
1. Recreational. “This is for small backyards and deck spaces,” explains Carl R. Meyer, president of Rio Swim Spas in Brownsville, Texas. “Backyards are getting smaller all the time.”
These types of installations make up 95 percent of the business, says Joe Fleming, sales and marketing manager at Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools, a swim spa manufacturer in Largo, Fla.
“These pools are genuinely smaller and are for people who don’t care about a full-size pool,” he says. “They cut back on heating and chemical costs and are easier to maintain than a full-sized pool. It’s good for the retiree market.”
2. Exercise. Swim spas were invented for swimming in place against a resistant current. But users also can perform a low-impact aerobic session or jog in place. It’s the perfect remedy for the aching bones of the baby boomers who don’t want to give up on their health-conscious ways.
3. Therapy and rehabilitation. “These therapy and rehab centers are one of our faster-growing markets,” Meyer says. “Places like universities, where they need to rehab the injuries of a player [are becoming prominent customers].”
The resistant current provides isometric therapy for rehabilitating the players’ injuries. Then they can utilize the hot tub aspect of the swim spa for muscle relaxation.
Swim spas are not only diverse in the applications they perform, but also in how they how they operate and what they’re made of.
Traditionally, swim spas use plumbed jet systems that utilize 4-horsepower jets which move water as quickly as 400 mph, creating a resistance flow the bather can swim against.
Another method to create resistance includes using a 1/16th-inch hydraulically driven propeller to create a natural current for the swimmer to go up against. On a larger commercial level, one company uses a paddle-wheel device hidden beneath the deck to move the water.
Swim spas are created out of different material as well. Gel-coated fiberglass is one of most popular choices, but vacuum-formed acrylic and vinyl liner also are being used with great success.
