We had a 16x41 rectangular Fiberglass pool installed late last Fall which we have yet to swim in --- however, with the weather starting to turn, we are hoping to open by April at the latest. Sorry to start such a similar thread when there are others with activity on this same board... but while a some of the recommendations and feedback on that those are helpful, I am not sure how much carry over there is for a fiberglass pool.
I have been reading as much as possible about pool robots and gathering as much feedback as I can from TFP/elsewhere --- while a lot of this information has been helpful, I have not been able to get a good sense for what type(s) of robot works best in a FG pool. I have an auto-cover installed and my backyard is not in an area where I expect a lot of leaves - I am mostly concerned about keeping the floor clean and, if possible, getting something that does a solid job on the walls too.
My PB had an older Dolphin dx model that we ran over a 2 week period when the pool was being installed that was only 'ok' in my book --- I'd give it a C-. It was unable to climb our walls (but spent a fair amount of time struggling to do so) and, while it did an OK job on the pool floor, I wasn't crazy about the hassle associated with emptying and cleaning the bag (in this model, the bag was on the bottom of the unit).
I had read some really good reviews on the Polaris 9300 and have heard positive information on the 'new' Polaris 9400 4wd unit which is coming out this spring. However, once more, most of these reviews/feedback/youtube videos/etc. are from folks with gunite pools. The lack of porousness of the fiberglass walls I think would have a significant impact on the ability of some/all of these units to do an effective/efficient job --- I am further sensitive to this as a result of watching the Dolphin dx model flounder around --- wasting a ton of time trying unsuccessfully to climb the pool walls instead of cleaning the pool.
For owners of FG pools who have used robots, can you please comment on your experiences before I drop $1k+ on a unit based on 'mostly' the experience of gunite pool owners? Thanks for any information/insight you are able to share!
I have been reading as much as possible about pool robots and gathering as much feedback as I can from TFP/elsewhere --- while a lot of this information has been helpful, I have not been able to get a good sense for what type(s) of robot works best in a FG pool. I have an auto-cover installed and my backyard is not in an area where I expect a lot of leaves - I am mostly concerned about keeping the floor clean and, if possible, getting something that does a solid job on the walls too.
My PB had an older Dolphin dx model that we ran over a 2 week period when the pool was being installed that was only 'ok' in my book --- I'd give it a C-. It was unable to climb our walls (but spent a fair amount of time struggling to do so) and, while it did an OK job on the pool floor, I wasn't crazy about the hassle associated with emptying and cleaning the bag (in this model, the bag was on the bottom of the unit).
I had read some really good reviews on the Polaris 9300 and have heard positive information on the 'new' Polaris 9400 4wd unit which is coming out this spring. However, once more, most of these reviews/feedback/youtube videos/etc. are from folks with gunite pools. The lack of porousness of the fiberglass walls I think would have a significant impact on the ability of some/all of these units to do an effective/efficient job --- I am further sensitive to this as a result of watching the Dolphin dx model flounder around --- wasting a ton of time trying unsuccessfully to climb the pool walls instead of cleaning the pool.
For owners of FG pools who have used robots, can you please comment on your experiences before I drop $1k+ on a unit based on 'mostly' the experience of gunite pool owners? Thanks for any information/insight you are able to share!