To help keep the spa clean with less chemicals, manufactures have added a 24
hour circulation pump and Ozonator. For a few models you also have an air
blower that blows air bubbles up from the seats of the spa.
GATSBY Specific SPA DESIGN:
Most electronic spas built by Gatsby division have the following configuration:
a. Main electronic control box.
b. Separate canister heater.
c. Small 24hr circulation pump
d. One of two large jet pumps.
e. Jet pumps can be one or two speed.
Less common configuration is:
a. Main electronic control box with heater attached.
b. NO circulation pump.
c. One or two large jet pump.
d. #1 jet pump is two speed. Low speed also operates to heat and filter.
SPA SHELL
Spa shells are typically acrylic. A sheet of acrylic is heated and dropped into a
mold and vacuumed to form the shell. Then it’s flipped over and sprayed with a
fiberglass solution that gives it strength. Holes are drilled into the spa and jets
installed. Then the plumbing is finished and insulation is now sprayed. Finally the
equipment is installed. The construction of the spa is mostly performed with the
spa upside down. Finally the spa is flipped upright and final tests including water
testing is done.
The spa frame was made a wide variety of ways over the years but basically it
was on either a wood bracing, solid plywood base, or fiberglass base. Often the
spa shell has part of the frame molded into the actual spa shell or glued to it to
create strength.
Paneling
The paneling of spas has changed over the years. Initially redwood slates were
the common siding. In an attempt to economize the cost of panels, Gatsby built
panels with various stained wood. Some of the late production was synthetic
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