Help deciding on a swim current generating system

[billross]

Live in southern NJ. I am looking at having an inground pool installed (most likely gunite). Want a small pool (10 x 20) with a swim current system. The endless pool fast lane wouldn't look that nice and I am told has issues with salt water, which I am looking to have. Swim jets (either badu/speck or waterways/viper old faithful) don't seem like the right choice. The source would be very narrow. The waterways riverjet with viper pumps looks wider but it seems like they are not very adjustable due to the fact that it needs 350 gpm per jet and the largest fully variable 56 frame pump is about 250 gpm for a 2.5 inch pipe. I have come across the riverflow system by current-systems. It looks like it moves a great deal of water through huge pipes (10 and 12 inch) (2500 gpm) but isn't cheap (about 10k). I am sure others have done this same research and I am looking to learn from their experience. We looked at the pre-assembled swim spas and they have the same issues. The propeller ones (H2x and leisure fitness swimmers edge 18) which should be better at current generation are not cheap and with the shipping, crane, slab, decking might be comparable to an inground which the wife would like much better. We are hoping to use it from May through September. Any help would be appreciated. Have talked to a few local PB and they haven't impressed me with their knowledge on this subject.

[PoolDoc]

No recommendations really . . . except to note that I've seen several of those pools a year or so after installation, and none of them were being used any longer. I would *strongly* recommend trying a unit before you buy one -- it seems to be one of those items that sounds better than it is, at least for most people.

I'm sure there are some people who like their swim spas after a year, but I don't recall encountering one.

[CarlD]

There's a far cheaper alternative of a pair of bungee-tethers that go on your ankles and allow you to swim in place. Haven't seen it around for a few years, though.

Carl

[PoolDoc]

Those are available through competition swimming outlets . . . . but swimmers don't like using them very much.