Hayward Tigershark/AquaVac Replacement Options

Sacman11 · Aug 16, 2018

I have a Hayward AquaVac (9726 model) about 5 years old. Started to give me problems this week and I have diagnosed it down to being the motor unit part # RCX40000DC. After pricing the replacement part and looking into replacing the whole robot I thought I would ask a couple of questions to forum members who may have felt my HAYWARD TIGERSHARK pains in a similar fashion in the past.

1. Do I just replace the motor unit (approx. $570 CDN)
2. Do I buy a new TIGERSHARK QC and use old as spare parts or sell off as spare parts (new unit cost approx. $1150 CDN delivered)
3. Do I buy something completely different?
a. Forum members seem to favor Dolphin products - S300i, Active 30i - how do these compare to the TigerShark motor strength and general pool navigation, how are these newer lighter smaller units holding up over time
b. The consensus is if you have the $$$ buy either the Dolphin M400 or M500 (not sure I want to spend $2000+ CDN). are these units worth it are they that much better and more advanced than the old Tiger Shark
c. What about the newer Dolphin Natualis Plus CC 2018 model... comparatively priced with the Tiger shark, does it compete in terms of motor and navigation.
d. best place to buy or source DOLPHIN products in Canada???

I am hesitant to buy another Hayward product and it sounds like motor failure is pretty common on these units post 3 year warranty period. The idea of spend $1000 every 3-5 years on a robot is maddening.

So I am looking to the forum for suggestions, experiences, those that have had the Tiger Shark and have either replaced the motor or have retired the unit and went a different direction what are your thoughts.

Thanks

Sacman11 · Aug 17, 2018

laprjns · Aug 18, 2018

I got my Tiger Shark before Hayward acquired AquaVac in 2007. I finally replaced it this summer because it started throwing ball bearings and i frankly got tired of replacing the various bearing wheels. The Tigershark served me well over the 12 seasons, with no major failures (i.e power supply, motor) but did replace several minor (although still rather expensive) parts like impellers, roller brushes, belts and filters. I did also have to replace the main housings a fews years ago so that's why the logo say's "Tiger Shark by Hayward". I didn't go with another Tiger Shark because i wanted a top loading basket and the reviews of the Hayward version of the TS was not as good as what I was seeing on the Maytronics S and Active series. The Active 30(i)/ S300(i) was the most appealing to me because of the longer cycle time, the additional filter basket insert, and the inclusion of the caddy.

After a couple of months using the Active 30i it does seem to clean as good as my Tiger Shark, but I do need to run the cycle a couple of times since it only runs for 2.5 hours, compared to the 6 or 7 hour cycle of the TS. Removing and cleaning the top loading basket is much easier than removing and cleaning the bottom loading filter cartridge of the TS. I didn't think that it would be much of a difference, but I definitely appreciate the ease of the top loading basket now. Although the Active 30i still gets stuck on my main drain it does free itself within 30 seconds or so every time where my TS would, more often than not, get hung up and I would need to pull on the cord to free it.
As for the bluetooth and MyMaytonic app, I really don't use it. I'm a throw it in (now you know why I needed a new housing for my TS) once or twice a week and let it run kind of guy, so I have no use for most of the advance functions like timers, weekly scheduling, special cleaning functions (floor only, walls only) etc. I probably could have gotten away with a Maytronics Active 30. Bottom line is that I am happy with the Active 30i and have my fingers crossed that it will be prove to be as reliable as my Tiger Shark.

Sacman11 · Aug 18, 2018

Laprjns - thx for the info. It’s nice to here from someone who owned the same unit.

I am considering the new Dolphin T45 which I can buy from an online store in Canada. Dolphin retailers are very sparse in Canada it seems. It think the t45 has the same specs as the 30 or S300 or in between them and the 30i S300i version.

Not happy that my TS only lasted 4 season but what can you do. Pools are a expensive luxuary i suppose.

You description of how you use it it the same as how I intend to use it as well. Throw it in and let it clean. I can’t see myself messing with timers and schedules or the bluetooth. In my mind kinda defeats the purpose of a cleaner if you have to stand by the pool and manually control it!

Does the s200 have the same brains and motor and strength of the S300 just without all the bells and wistles or do you compromise some other important features?

Thx

laprjns · Aug 18, 2018

Well it looks like the S, Active and T series are the same cleaner, just differences in the available functions and accessories. The M series are different machines. Looking at this, if I were to do it over again, I would go with the S200.
The following infomation was complied from the available data on Maytronics USA website (maytronicsus.com)

	Dolphin S200 Advanced Class	Dolphin Active 20 Advanced Class	Dolphin T35 Advanced Class	Dolphin S300 Deluxe Class	Dolphin Active 30 Deluxe Class	Dolphin T45 Deluxe Class	Dolphin S300i Premium Class	Dolphin Active 30i Premium Class	Dolphin T55i Premium Class	Dolphin M400 Deluxe Class	Dolphin M500 Premium Class
Pool Attributes
Pool Size	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft	Up to 50 Ft
Pool Shape	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform	Oval or Rectangle, Freeform
Obstacles	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups	Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups
Surface	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass	Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass
Cleaning
Enhanced Cleaning Cycles	None	None	None	None	None	None	Yes	Yes	Yes	None
Filter Cleaning	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine	Multi-Layer	Multi-Layer	Multi-Layer	Fine, Ultra Fine	Fine, Ultra Fine
Filter Type	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load	Top Load
Cleaning Coverage	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline	Floors, Walls, Waterline
Cleaning Mode(s)	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard, Quick Clean	Standard, Quick Clean	Standard, Quick Clean	Standard, Quick Clean, Enhanced	Standard, Quick Clean, Enhanced	Standard, Quick Clean, Enhanced	Standard	Standard, Quick Clean, Enhanced
Cleaning Cycle(s)	2 Hours	2 Hours	2 Hours	1 and 2 Hours	1 and 2 Hours	1 and 2 Hours	1.5 / 2 / 2.5 Hours	1.5 / 2 / 2.5 Hours	1.5 / 2 / 2.5 Hours	2.5 Hours	1.5, 2.5, 3.5 Hours
Mobility	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	PowerStream	CleverClean	CleverClean
Number of Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	2 Brushes	3 Brushes	3 Brushes
Active Brushes	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active	1 Active
Connectivity & Automation
Remote Operation	None	None	None	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App	MyDolphin Smartphone App
BlueTooth	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MyDolphin App	No	No	No	Yes, Navigation Only	Yes, Navigation Only	Yes, Navigation Only	Yes, Full-Featured	Yes, Full-Featured	Yes, Full-Featured	Yes, Navigation Only	Yes, Full-Featured
Automated Weekly Timer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Delay	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Automation Mode	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other
Full Bag Indicator	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Cable Length	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft	60 Ft
Anti-Tangling Swivel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	2 Year Limited	2 Year Limited	2 Year Limited	2 Year Limited	2 Year Limited	2 Year Limited	2 Year Full	2 Year Full	2 Year Full	3 Year Full	3 Year Full
Quick Water Release	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Caddy Included	Not Included	Not Included	Not Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included

Sacman11 · Aug 18, 2018

Thx this is great info.

The 30/300/t45 appears to be the same unit. The weired spec to me is the 1/2 hour clean cycle only option. Almost all other units are either standard 2 hour or multiple 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 options.

How can say the t45 ors300 only have one cleaning cycle that is 1/2 hour only.

Am I reading this wrong?

laprjns · Aug 19, 2018

They have two cycles, 1 hour and 2 hours. That threw me at first to. ( i edited the table to clarify it)

So to summaries,

Maytronics Advance Class
S200 = Active 20 = T35

Maytronics Deluxe Class
S300 = Active 30 = T45

Maytronics Premium Class
S300i = Active 30i = T55i