I am building a backyard pool. It won’t be long enough for laps (15’ x 36’). I wanted to install a Fastlane swim current generator, but my wife doesn’t like the way it looks.
2 questions:
Is there any way to hide the Fastlane metal box?
Is there a good alternative, like Swim jets that are built into the side of the pool?
Thanks for any thoughts/helpful comments
Paul
its not a direct answer to your question, but have you ever used a vasa swim trainer? it may be a good alternative to look at if you cant seem to find something that will work for your pool.
I have thought about the Vasa trainer, but I live in Phoenix, so swimming outside works most of the year. There are nearby pools as well, but being able to just jump in the pool and swim is appealing.
Four years ago we had an in the ground pool built and had the Fastlane installed at that time. The current generator is obvious but you get used to it. I guess that you could put something over the top of it such as the coping stones but I think it would look awkward.
If you look through this forum you will see a few posts comparing the swim jets vs fastlane/endless pool. I think the general consensus is the Fastlane wins.
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I’m also planning a new pool and I’ve had this same exact discussion with my architect. I love the idea of having a Fastlane, but quite frankly the thing looks like a BBQ fell into the pool. However, I think we’ve come up with a solution that at least partly hides the Fastlane. It was initially inspired by the diagram showing minimum clearance guidelines for the Fastlane, as well as a photo I found in their photo gallery. We’re basically going to build a little niche in the wall of the pool (same size and shape as the diagram of the minimum required clearances) and then build the pool coping over the top of it, so the end result will be that it doesn’t stick out into the pool like most of the installs you see. I’m also going to order the Fastlane in cobalt rather than the stainless finish, as the pool will be a dark PebbleTec finish, so that should further conceal the unit.
In the end, I think the Fastlane is by far the best solution for swimming, so I’m OK with some ‘less than ideal’ aesthetics, but if we can hide it a bit, so much the better.
While it’s admittedly not ideal, you could settle for my poor-man’s method when traveling and doing laps in a hotel pool. I just bring a nylon belt (a heavy duty one like cops or paramedics wear) and attach rubber stretch cords to each hip and secure them to a ladder or something outside of the pool. Then I just swim against the cords for as long as I want. Cheap, easy to travel, and gives a good strength workout. I definitely wouldn’t want that to be my only source of swimming as it feels different than swimming in a pool and it tends to change your body position a little, but if you just want to be able to do a workout in your backyard a few times a week without annoying your wife it might work.
“looks like a BBQ fell into the poolâ€
My wife says, “Exactly!â€
I like your idea…something like that might work for me. Thanks!
Paul
That’s really nice!
The Fastlane wasn’t available when I redid my pool in 2004; I went with the BaduJet system, which is well hidden. But it’s not sufficient to keep me from swimming into it, and I’m a 1:10 IM swimmer. It’s only really sufficient for kick sets, since I have a weak-ass kick.
Ian