Doughboy or Esther Williams????

[gpshemi]

Newbie here. Had to chime in.
I just had an 18' EW installed this past weekend. Classic series like you're looking at. I looked at DB and thought the steel idea was a bad idea. So far the pool is filling, but I'm happy with the overall pool. It's nice looking and seems steeeerrty.

Good luck.

gpshemi

[traceyb]

if you don't mind me asking...what did you pay and what did you get for the $...................
Buy the way guys, the artisean pool is delt by the same dealer that we got the e/w quote from. So you really think $6711 is high for the pool etc and install w/ a hard plastic bottom?

By the way guys, thanks for following my post, I am leaning in the direction of decision I think soon

[gpshemi]

Our 18' round with skimmer and return was $2200.
Install was suppose to be $500, but we moved the pool at the last minute and that made for a slight slope and then costs us $600.
The rest of it I did.
Hayward C900 cartridge filter $200.
Hayward ProLX 1.5hp pump was a freebie from my uncle.
Pool steps and outside ladder $600ish.
Misc plumbing from HD was around $90.
Solar cover $45
Solar cover reel was another freebie.
Baracuda cleaner was another freebie.

gpshemi

[zephans]

This is a perfect thread. Thank you all for continuing to chime in!
I am on a similar and increasingly frantic quest to make an informed AG (Above Ground) 12'x24' oval pool purchase. Please help me move from research to decision.

QUESTIONS:

1. Is there a table listing all make/model specifications for easy shopping comparison?
   1.1 Anyone know of significant manufacturing differences or other reasons to choose DoughBoy instead of Lomart (beyond my partial answer below)?
   
2. Is there a table showing which dealers carry which brand and who has had a good (or bad) experience with them?
3. Equipment List - What else do I need to buy to start pool?

Partial answers to my questions (Thanks to PoolForum.com and seemlessly endless hours of reading):

1. Which pool make/models fit my criteria best?
   Boy would I love to find a table listing all make/model specifications including height, Top rail width and material (painted steel or resin), dimensions available, etc. Here are AG makers I've seen posts about regularly:
   DoughBoy (High-end sister to LowMart)
   Carried by www.AquaQuip.com
   Lomart (lesser known sister to DoughBoy)
   Carried by www.poolproducts.com
   Artesian - carried by www.sunenterprises.com
   Sharkline - carried by www.sunenterprises.com
   Esther Willliams (High-end sister to Johnny Weismuller)
   Johnny Weismuller (Lower end sister to Esther Williams)
   Belize (carried by www.lesliespool.com)
   Sunscape (carried by www.lesliespool.com)
   
   This thread is a great start but is in discussion form rather than summarized table.
   
   FYI: I'm building a subset of this table for my own evaluation. I'll post what I have in separate thread if anyone is interested and there isn't already something similar available (moderators please let me know).
   
   1.1. Even deciding between DoughBoy and Lomart is tough for me . From my research it appears Lowmart has following differences:
   • Limited warranty - 3yrs 100%, prorated to 20 years. DB doesn't mention pro-rating
   • Limited 5 liner selection
     1 bead, 1 variable depth (expandable),
     2 overlap print, 1 overlap blue
   • Less dealers and less name recognition (no dealers in Western Washington state)
2. Which dealers carry brand(s) I am interested in AND have solid service track record and reasonable prices?
   It's great to identify what you want. Now you need to know where to get it. Giving someone several thousands of dollars requires earning trust by having a verifiable reputation. Here's my super-short incomplete list of sites I've checked out so far:
   www.poolsupplies.com - Carries Lomart AG pools. Huge product list, easy to use. Referenced regularly in forum posts.
   www.lesliespool.com - Carries Balize and Sunscape. Web site is ok. Started price comparison. Pool manufacturing specs were limited so liked idea of Lowmart better and haven't finished researching this site or related brands.
   www.sunenterprises.com - This thread introduced me to sunenterprises. Just started reading but web site looks excellent. Packaging and pricing is really easy.
   www.aquaquip.com - Carries Doughboy. local dealer in Seattle Washingon area. No prices on web (call dealer ) but I have local quote to compare. Also links to several doughboy brochures were broken (but www.doughboy-pools.com has correct links.)
   
   I know there are a ton of other dealer web sites. I just can't keep them all in my head, let alone explore and review each one. AARG !
   
   
3. Equipment List - What else do I need to buy to start pool?
   I haven't seen a good new pool shoping list yet. Best I have is pool proposal from local dealer (which took some term translation for me to understand). I'm sure an excellent list exists. Please post pointer to the list or if moderators on this board don't know of one I'll be happy to post a starter list. Here's a subset of my list to give an idea.
   Pool Frame - See #1 & #2 for make/model and purchase locations
   Bottom accessories - foam roll (HappyBottom, etc.), cove molding, etc. are all optional but have advantages worth considering BEFORE YOU INSTALL your pool :-D.
   Liner - Overlap, beaded, expandable bottom, solid/pattern
   Pump - Common brands and pointer to sizing discussions
   Filter - Sand, DE (Diatomatious Earth), or Cartridge
   Skimmer -
   Chemicals - BBB (Bleach, Borax, Baking Soda), Chlorine, SWG (Salt Water Generator), Chlorine alternatives. Each links to separate thorough discussion or entire discussion area on this forum.
   Ladder - Most AG pools require 52" high jump skills or this handy accessory.
   Safety Barrier - Gates, pool nets, etc.
   Cover - Solar cover sheet, solor cover discs, reel, winter cover
   Heater - Solar, gas, etc. Optional (unless you live north of Seattle, Washington State ).
   
   Note Each accessory can should have 1 or more full discussion threads on it's own. In fact I've been researching each item separately and have about 7 pages of notes based on poolforum.com posts, AquaQuip (local dealer) proposal, www.LesliesPool.com, and www.poolproducts.com

I have spent the last 5+ days researching poolforum.com postings and it is consuming every precious spare minute I have. Worse still I am only a little closer to coming to a final decision and I keep bumping into new information that sends me back to do more research. Don't get me wrong, this is far better than being completely ignorant. I'm just having a heck of a time getting to a comfortable conclusion. I should probably just pull the trigger and buy with the info I have but I hate aiming at a fuzzy target in the dark with a small gun that could be a nasty bear that I don't want.

I've come to see this process much like buying a completely custom built car from frame metal (steel or aluminum) down to tire size and tread without even knowing which dealers are available. PoolForum.com has been invaluable resource and has gotten me considerably closer.


Here are my current purchase criteria and constraints:

1. 12'x24'x52" AG w/compact buttresses (yard constraint)
2. Happy bottom (or similar) and probably cove molding
3. Nice print liner - Aquarium if available, otherwise stony creek or similar. No deep area planned at this time
4. Pump and skimmer (whatever middle line comes with package)
5. Sand filter with zeobrite (maintenance and lifetime cost are my prime considerations)
6. Two 4'x20' solar panels (likely install only one this year)
7. One cake staircase on deck end.
   Thinking about also having ladder on lawn side but solar cover reel might complicate this configuration.
8. Solar cover with reel
   mounted 3/4 or in middle and swivel over to deck.
   NOTE: There is no access to other side of pool (near fence)
   I can't see how reel could mount on either end without having to remove ladder. (More research/thinking I guess )

My goal is to buy and get delivered ASAP so I can get installed by Mid-July. Pool is for family of four with 8 year old fish and 6 year old starting swimmer.
---------
Zephan
soon to own 12'x24'x52" AG w/compact buttresses, ~18" Sand filter w/zeobrite, 2 solar panels (Seattle requirement)

[hoffmans]

2 other good places to research Artesian pools are:

http://www.poolplaceonline.com/pools.asp
and the Artesian website:
http://www.swimartesian.com/about.asp

[roxy]

I purchased a 28' x 54" deep Sharkline "oceanic" for under $5,000 installed with all the basic startup goodies. Love the pool and receive many compliments from the neighbors. My only regret is the money I paid on my water bill for filling it....with all this rain I have to keep pumping it out. Good luck with your decision, I can bet whatever pool you choose......it'll make for a great summer!

[traceyb]

zephans.
I have myself done alot of research this past month.I feel like i have spent alot of time myself on here trying to fine tune my decision. I originally thought I would buy the pool this fall ready for next spring, however they said they could get it in w/in 2 wks. However, I want to be prepared and ready for the installers, electrical, trees moved, some trees trimmed prior to, etc.
So, I am going w/ my orig. thought to research and study and go for the right thing.
What I have found that I like about esther w better than the "well known doughboy" and other models is the aluminum lifetime waranty walls vs. steel. Don't care what you do to steel, it won't out live aluminum.
Consider that.
Glad I started this post, started out boomin, for being a newbie.
Thanks ALL OF YOU.

[gpshemi]

I'm gonna get hammered here...but...frankly I wasn't impressed with the Doughboy line in the slightlest. They were steel pools and looked a little cheap. The designs weren't as modern, and the design and colors looked like something my grandparents put up 20 some years ago. Admittedly though the dealer I went to didn't seem to know about other pools on the market, and didn't have every Doughboy there to show me. When I asked about something nicer then the bottom line versions she looked at me like I had two heads. I said what about the Tuscany and it's resin parts, and she said sure if you want a $10,000 pool I can order you one, but it's just like these, steel and no one uses plastic in a pool.

Bottom line was, I was looking for something with a little more flare. My Classic series EW pool has fluted side pillars that really stand out nice, yet are suttle too and don't over power the shape. Oh...and it's Aluminum and should be here a long long time.

gpshemi

[traceyb]

GPSHEMI......

two thumbs up on your thread, that's why I am 98% decided on the EW 27" .....You said it in a nut shell...
for the $ ....you get more w/ EW plus lifetime warr. on the aluminum walls.
Sorry doughboy.............kick it up a notch ( have had a few beers in me )