Aurora vs Doughboy Question

[syd42]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone can weigh in on a couple of pools.

I currently have a 30ft round pool with resin components from Family Leisure. I switched from their permasalt system after one season and went to a SWG. The pool is only 6 years old and has a rust spot all the way through it where I can poke the liner. (I'd previously put rust converter and repainted it). It's on the wall closest to the stainless steel panel where any overflow from the skimmer splashes down, about 3 inches from the bottom. I thought about trying to mostly drain and pull the overlap liner back a little (and have a couple of people hold it up) and slide a piece of sheet metal down to the ground over the hole, but I'm not sure if that would work or if I'd be able to get the liner back in. There's more rust around the rest of the bottom of the pool where it meets the ground.

So the combination of saltwater, the pea gravel around the perimeter which I assume scratched the wall coating, and poor drainage near the skimmer side all contributed to this rust.

So with that in mind, I'm looking at a new pool because I don't want to keep fighting corrosion.

I like the idea of an all resin pool: the Aurora from the pool factory. I think I found a company that will install for $3500, but I don't know if they offer any support if something goes wrong since they are installing a 3rd party pool.
That same company offers the desert spring Doughboy which looks to be a hybrid pool and still has a coated steel wall, but I imagine they offer more support since they sell the pool. I know Doughboy has a great reputation so their coating might be better, but I'm still afraid something will scratch the walls and start the corrosion process all over again.

Can someone with the Aurora pool weigh in if they've had any issues with it? Can I still put rocks around the perimeter to prevent weeds? I'm going to try to address the poor drainage at the spot with the skimmer/pump/filter, but will a little standing water hurt the outside of the pool? Is it pretty straightforward/similar to other Above ground pools as far as installing?

Thanks for any insight!

 

[Bperry]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone can weigh in on a couple of pools.

I currently have a 30ft round pool with resin components from Family Leisure. I switched from their permasalt system after one season and went to a SWG. The pool is only 6 years old and has a rust spot all the way through it where I can poke the liner. (I'd previously put rust converter and repainted it). It's on the wall closest to the stainless steel panel where any overflow from the skimmer splashes down, about 3 inches from the bottom. I thought about trying to mostly drain and pull the overlap liner back a little (and have a couple of people hold it up) and slide a piece of sheet metal down to the ground over the hole, but I'm not sure if that would work or if I'd be able to get the liner back in. There's more rust around the rest of the bottom of the pool where it meets the ground.

So the combination of saltwater, the pea gravel around the perimeter which I assume scratched the wall coating, and poor drainage near the skimmer side all contributed to this rust.

So with that in mind, I'm looking at a new pool because I don't want to keep fighting corrosion.

I like the idea of an all resin pool: the Aurora from the pool factory. I think I found a company that will install for $3500, but I don't know if they offer any support if something goes wrong since they are installing a 3rd party pool.
That same company offers the desert spring Doughboy which looks to be a hybrid pool and still has a coated steel wall, but I imagine they offer more support since they sell the pool. I know Doughboy has a great reputation so their coating might be better, but I'm still afraid something will scratch the walls and start the corrosion process all over again.

Can someone with the Aurora pool weigh in if they've had any issues with it? Can I still put rocks around the perimeter to prevent weeds? I'm going to try to address the poor drainage at the spot with the skimmer/pump/filter, but will a little standing water hurt the outside of the pool? Is it pretty straightforward/similar to other Above ground pools as far as installing?

Thanks for any insight!

Any metal will rust eventually if it gets wet (salt or no salt). The coatings just slow the process down a bit.

 

[phonedave]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone can weigh in on a couple of pools.

I currently have a 30ft round pool with resin components from Family Leisure. I switched from their permasalt system after one season and went to a SWG. The pool is only 6 years old and has a rust spot all the way through it where I can poke the liner. (I'd previously put rust converter and repainted it). It's on the wall closest to the stainless steel panel where any overflow from the skimmer splashes down, about 3 inches from the bottom. I thought about trying to mostly drain and pull the overlap liner back a little (and have a couple of people hold it up) and slide a piece of sheet metal down to the ground over the hole, but I'm not sure if that would work or if I'd be able to get the liner back in. There's more rust around the rest of the bottom of the pool where it meets the ground.

So the combination of saltwater, the pea gravel around the perimeter which I assume scratched the wall coating, and poor drainage near the skimmer side all contributed to this rust.

So with that in mind, I'm looking at a new pool because I don't want to keep fighting corrosion.

I like the idea of an all resin pool: the Aurora from the pool factory. I think I found a company that will install for $3500, but I don't know if they offer any support if something goes wrong since they are installing a 3rd party pool.
That same company offers the desert spring Doughboy which looks to be a hybrid pool and still has a coated steel wall, but I imagine they offer more support since they sell the pool. I know Doughboy has a great reputation so their coating might be better, but I'm still afraid something will scratch the walls and start the corrosion process all over again.

Can someone with the Aurora pool weigh in if they've had any issues with it? Can I still put rocks around the perimeter to prevent weeds? I'm going to try to address the poor drainage at the spot with the skimmer/pump/filter, but will a little standing water hurt the outside of the pool? Is it pretty straightforward/similar to other Above ground pools as far as installing?

Thanks for any insight!

I put in a new pool in the fall of 2023, to replace my older rusting pool. I went back and forth, looking at a lot of different pools. I really liked the Aurora and also really, really liked the Radiant pools.

However what made me decide on a semi-resin (Resin rails, resin top caps, metal legs and walls) was cost / benefit.

We don't plan on being in this house for more than another 10-15 years, tops. Kids are all older, some have moved out, nearing retirement, etc.

The pool I bought (Saliwater 8000 - 27'x54) is going to last me 10 years, just fine. There is no benefit to me in getting an all resin, or radiant pool that makes it worth the extra cost. A pool is also a strange thing when selling a house. Some people love them, for some it is a deal breaker. So having a "better" pool when selling the house is not necessarily a benefit.

As far as install goes, the Raidant pools are very different. The others are all basically the same process. Is your installer quoting you $3,500 for the install and you provide the pool, or does that include the pool. That is either extremely expensive or dirt cheap, I'm not sure which.

 

[syd42]

I put in a new pool in the fall of 2023, to replace my older rusting pool. I went back and forth, looking at a lot of different pools. I really liked the Aurora and also really, really liked the Radiant pools.

However what made me decide on a semi-resin (Resin rails, resin top caps, metal legs and walls) was cost / benefit.

We don't plan on being in this house for more than another 10-15 years, tops. Kids are all older, some have moved out, nearing retirement, etc.

The pool I bought (Saliwater 8000 - 27'x54) is going to last me 10 years, just fine. There is no benefit to me in getting an all resin, or radiant pool that makes it worth the extra cost. A pool is also a strange thing when selling a house. Some people love them, for some it is a deal breaker. So having a "better" pool when selling the house is not necessarily a benefit.

As far as install goes, the Raidant pools are very different. The others are all basically the same process. Is your installer quoting you $3,500 for the install and you provide the pool, or does that include the pool. That is either extremely expensive or dirt cheap, I'm not sure which.

This is my forever home (built on family land, etc) so I was looking for a long lasting pool. Got a quote for an inground vinyl lined for 60k, but don't think I can swing that.
The $3500 quote was just for the install, not including sand and the pool. I can't remember what my previous install cost because it included the pool and accessories.
I don't know if once the old pool is removed, if the ground will need to be reworked or not which is why I'm leery of trying to install it myself. I got a couple of recommendations for "handymen" type people so I'll reach out to them to get estimates I guess.

 

[phonedave]

This is my forever home (built on family land, etc) so I was looking for a long lasting pool. Got a quote for an inground vinyl lined for 60k, but don't think I can swing that.
The $3500 quote was just for the install, not including sand and the pool. I can't remember what my previous install cost because it included the pool and accessories.
I don't know if once the old pool is removed, if the ground will need to be reworked or not which is why I'm leery of trying to install it myself. I got a couple of recommendations for "handymen" type people so I'll reach out to them to get estimates I guess.

I can look when I get home, but I think I paid somewhere in the ballpark of $700 - $1000 for somebody to remove my old 27' pool and install a new one. That included a "load" of extra sand. He had a small masons dump, so maybe 1/2 a yard on it. If he needed more sand, he said it would be cost + $20 a load. He ended up not needing any.

$700 sounds right, but I could be way off. But $3,500 seems REALLY high. He and a helper had the whole thing done in a 8 - 9 hour day. He did say wall foam (if I wanted it installed) was an extra $100, because it is a royal pain to install (which I agree with)

 

[phonedave]

I can look when I get home, but I think I paid somewhere in the ballpark of $700 - $1000 for somebody to remove my old 27' pool and install a new one. That included a "load" of extra sand. He had a small masons dump, so maybe 1/2 a yard on it. If he needed more sand, he said it would be cost + $20 a load. He ended up not needing any.

$700 sounds right, but I could be way off. But $3,500 seems REALLY high. He and a helper had the whole thing done in a 8 - 9 hour day. He did say wall foam (if I wanted it installed) was an extra $100, because it is a royal pain to install (which I agree with)

OK, apparently I have no memory. It was $1,480 to remove the old 27', fix up the ground, and put in a new 27'. A bit more than $700 but still not $3,500. This was from a pool guy too. He installs ABG's and maintains pools. Not two guys, a truck, and an awesome set of tools.

 

[syd42]

OK, apparently I have no memory. It was $1,480 to remove the old 27', fix up the ground, and put in a new 27'. A bit more than $700 but still not $3,500. This was from a pool guy too. He installs ABG's and maintains pools. Not two guys, a truck, and an awesome set of tools.

Lol, the quote was from a pool place that also sells pools, they could be up charging to make sure they get some money (since they aren't selling a pool) before giving the work to a crew. I'm getting another quote from a company that does odds and ends jobs this morning. So I guess we'll see.