I've never owned a spa before. I've owned and maintained the 24' diameter above ground pool since we bought our house 5 years ago. I even had to replace the pump.

First thing first is to ID it so I can perhaps get an owner's manual.

As I said in the subject it's a Leisure Bay. There's a number stamped into one corner of the shell: D-54001

Here are some pics:
Basic pics:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/526 ... 712b_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/526 ... 28ba_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/526 ... 8ded_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/526 ... 6bef_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/526 ... 0202_o.jpg

Control panel:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/526 ... 7854_o.jpg

Mechanicals:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/526 ... e37b_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/5269 ... d8b2_o.jpg

Info inside of control panel:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1051/526 ... 3f62_o.jpg

Info on front of above panel:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/526 ... ae6a_o.jpg

Showing most of the surface cracks up around the rim. Not any I can see down inside the tub and none appear to leak:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/5270 ... 0b80_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1185/527 ... 01dd_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/527 ... ca84_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/527 ... ad15_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/5270 ... 54a2_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/527 ... bf06_o.jpg

Thanks for any help anyone can give. Like I said I don't know where to start. I want the manual so I can figure out what all the valves are for and how all the controls work.

The only power I have out on my deck is 110 so I'll have to run a new circuit. Problem is my breaker box is about full so unless it shares a circuit with the oven or stove I'm going to have to buy a bigger box.

I'm also going to have to shore up my deck. It's 2X6 joists 24" on center and it lag bolted to the sill plate of the house but I think I need a few 4X4 posts under the spa.

I'm anxious to get it running quickly. Can I let those cracks I took pictures of slide for awhile? they all seem to just be surface cracks.

I was under the impression I need special spa cleaner to clean it up but I get the impression from browsing this forum I could use bleach & water or Windex.

The last of my initial questions are about sanitizer. There's a plastic piece that runs down through the cartridge filter. It says "Brominator" on the end. Does that mean I cannot use Trichlor like I do for the pool?

Yes, the cracks can be ignored. This is what happens to a spa that has had the cover off and exposed to the sun. Acrylic expands/contacts differently than the fiberglas backing. Hence the cracks.

Owners manual doesn't really exist unless you can find one for that specific tub that someone has uploaded to the internet somewhere.

You'll need to get power input to the spa somehow though to move forward.

Adding a couple (or more) of decent 4x4 supports under the deck will help to keep your deck from sagging, so it's highly recommended prior to filling it up with water for sure.

Clean it with water and a sponge and that's all you need to do to the shell. Don't use anything abrasive, and you definitely shouldn't need any cleaning compound. Anybody tells you otherwise is full of crap - warning keep your credit card and money in your wallet and walk out.

Yes you can use dichlor/trichlor whatever, I do not recommend ever using the built in brominator that you're talking about, simply because repeated removal/installation of the filter top with that tablet holding thing, will eventually result in a cracked filter housing, somewhere you don't want or need to go. A floater is better for long term use on a tub that doesn't have a built in ozonator.

PS: Hmm, you got this one free - I'll trade you for mine since yours is a deep well spa. Nice tub to work with. You'll enjoy it a lot.

Heh, if yours works and you have the equipment for moving I'd go for it

This thing isn't all that deep IMO. Maybe hip high when standing next to it on the deck.

I hope to pick up the stuff to shore up the deck this weekend and a little 6/4 cable to run temporary power off my generator untill I can get it properly wired.

Main goal is a leak and function test at this point.

Obviously, you don't have a reference - otherwise, you'd know what a crappy shallow well spa is like. There's a million duds out there, and you did not get one.

It's a winner.

I haven't made much progress on this thing. I did get the skirt patched up and painted with water seal.

I've discovered another crack in the acrylic below what would be the normal water line next to one of the jets (need to get a pic).

Do I need to tend to that one since it would be under water when the tub is full?

I've scooted the tub into what will be its home on my deck. Now I just need to find the time to put the 9 4X4 posts under it I want to.