Tiger River Caspian, Bengal, Sumatran Owner's Instructions Manual

Tiger River Spa Pre-Delivery Instructions

2005 Pre-Delivery Instructions

Please take the time to read this booklet carefully, as it will provide you with the information you will need to ensure
the safe, secure, and timely installation of your new spa. The following sections are guidelines on how to prepare for
delivery and set-up of your new spa. Specifically covered are site selection, delivery access, ground preparation,
and electrical requirements.

Remember to carefully read the Owner’s Manual that accompanies your spa, and to complete the warranty card
within 10 days of delivery. These items, along with other valuable information, will be found in the Owner’s Package
which has been placed in the equipment compartment of your spa, where you will also find its serial number.

Watkins Manufacturing Corporation reserves the right to change features, specifications and design without
notification and without incurring any obligation.

DATE PURCHASED: __________________________________________________________________________

DATE INSTALLED:______________________________________________________________________________

DEALER: ______________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE:__________________________________________________________________________________

In most cities and counties, permits will be required for the installation of electrical circuits or the construction of
exterior surfaces (decks and gazebos). In addition, some communities have adopted residential barrier codes which
may require fencing and/or self-closing gates on the property to prevent unsupervised access to a pool (or spa) by
children under 5 years of age. Your Tiger River spa is equipped with a locking cover that meets the ASTM F1346-91
Standard for Safety Covers and as a result, is usually exempt from most barrier requirements. As a general practice,
your local Building Department will inform you of any applicable barrier requirements at the time a permit is
obtained for the installation of an electrical circuit. Your Tiger River dealer can provide information on which permits
may be required.

Congratulations on your decision to
enjoy the finest spa available...

Welcome to the growing family of
Tiger River

®

spa owners.

Site Selection and Preparation

IMPORTANT: Site selection and preparation are your responsibility. Carefully read these instructions and consult
your authorized Tiger River®dealer if you have any questions.

You probably have a spot picked out for your new spa, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, on a patio or on a deck.
Just make sure you check the following:

• Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level surface. A filled spa can weigh a great deal. Make
certain that the location you choose can support the weight of your filled spa.

• Don’t forget to level your spa before filling it. (See Spa Leveling Instructions included in Owner’s Manual.)

• Locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the electrical components, in a place where
water will drain away from it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the
electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker.

• Leave yourself easy access to the circuit breakers in the subpanel (230 volt models), or to the interrupter
switch on the end of the power cord (115 volt models).

• Never let water get into the subpanel (230 volt models), into the interrupter switch (115 volt models), or
into the electrical outlet that your spa is plugged into. Your 115 volt Tiger River spa will come with a
protective box designed to keep out rain and water from sprinkler systems. Your 230 volt spa’s subpanel
is raintight when installed correctly with the door closed.

• Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care and maintenance.

OUTDOOR AND PATIO INSTALLATION

No matter where you install your new spa, it’s important that you have a solid foundation to support it. Structural
damage to the spa resulting from incorrect installation or placement on an inadequate foundation is not covered
under the spa’s limited warranty.

If you install the spa outdoors, a reinforced concrete pad at least four inches thick is recommended for the
Caspian

™

, Bengal®and Sumatran®spas. The reinforcing rod or mesh in the pad should be attached to a bond
wire (see your Owner’s Manual). All Tiger River spas may be installed onto a deck, provided that the load
capacity of the deck is greater than the dead weight of the spa (see Deck Installation).

If you place the spa on the ground, even temporarily, place stepping stones under the leveling areas (see Spa
Leveling Instructions in your Owner’s Manual). The stones should be at least two inches thick and twelve inches
square. Even with stones in place, the spa will inevitably settle and become unlevel. Plus, a spa surrounded by
dirt or grass will soon be filled with dirt or grass from users’ feet; therefore, it is important to get it onto a solid
foundation as soon as possible.

NOTE: The Caspian spa has a drainage hole directly below each speaker between the bottom of the wood siding
and the black base of the spa. Should water get into the speaker area it will drain through these holes.

DECK INSTALLATION

To be certain your deck can support your spa, you must know the deck’s maximum load capacity. Consult a
qualified building contractor or structural engineer before you place the spa on an elevated deck or
indoors. To find the weight of your spa, its contents and occupants, refer to the Spa Specification chart on page

12. This weight per square foot must not exceed the structure’s rated capacity, or serious structural damage could result.

INDOOR INSTALLATION

Be aware of some special requirements if you place your spa indoors. Water will accumulate around the spa, so
flooring materials must provide a good grip when wet. Proper drainage is essential to prevent a build-up of water
around the spa. When building a new room for the spa, it is recommended that a floor drain be installed. The
humidity will naturally increase with the spa installed. Water may get into woodwork and produce dryrot, mildew,
or other problems. Check for airborne moisture’s effects on exposed wood, paper, etc. in the room. To minimize
these effects, it is best to provide plenty of ventilation to the spa area. An architect can help to determine if more
ventilation must be installed.

Your Tiger River dealer can help you with local information such as zoning regulations and building codes.

Pre-Delivery Instructions Page 2

Page 3 Pre-Delivery Instructions

DELIVERY ACCESS

First, locate the dimensions of your spa on the following
chart. The dimensions shown are the measurements of the
spa in the vertical position, laid on its side.

Next, contact your dealer to find the height and width added
by the delivery cart which the dealer will use to deliver your
new spa. Use the height of the cart plus the dimension
shown as H to determine the vertical clearance required to
pass the spa and cart. Use the width of the cart, or
dimension W, whichever is greater, to determine the
maximum width of clearance necessary.

NOTE: It may be necessary to allow for additional over-head
clearance if the spa will be rolled up or down an incline or
moved up or down a short flight of stairs.

Use the information on previous page to determine the
requirements for access to your desired location.

Model Width W Length L Height H

Caspian™(CHP) 36” 7’ 0” 7’ 0”

Bengal

®

(M & MM) 33” 7’ 2 1/2” 6’ 7”

Sumatran

®

(N) 33” 6’ 6” 6’ 6”

How is your width clearance?

Check all gates

Protruding electric meters

Gas meters

A/C units

BACK YARD

Do you have sufficient
overhead clearance?

Check low roof eaves,
overhanging branches,
rain gutters

Is the path clear?

Move away branches, dog

houses, firewood, etc.

If there is a 90 turn, can we
clear it? (The spa will not bend)

No more than 6 consecutive
stairs without a landing

HOUSE

STREET

Pre-Delivery Instructions Page 4

It may be necessary to remove a gate, part of a fence, or other movable obstructions in order to roll the spa to its
installation site. About ten percent of the time, a crane is the only way to install the spa by lifting it to its final destination.

If the spa has to be taken off of the cart to go over a wall (either because the entry area is too narrow, the eaves are
too low, the corner is too tight, or the stairway is too steep), a crane will be required. Don’t be alarmed!

The crane has a truck-mounted boom which can fit right in your driveway. It is run by a licensed and insured
operator. For a charge, the crane operator will lift your spa over walls, buildings, or any other obstruction and place
it as close to the installation site as possible. The Tiger River

®

spa delivery personnel will supervise the crane

delivery and complete the spa installation. Crane delivery typically takes an average of 30 minutes to complete.

NOTE: If your spa delivery requires the use of a crane, you may be required to pay for its services at the completion
of the delivery.

GROUND PREPARATION

Your Tiger River spa has been engineered to perform on all kinds of common yard surfaces. While a concrete slab
is best for long-term use*, other foundations are acceptable so long
as a level base is prepared prior to delivery. Three foundation base
pictures, shown at right, represent examples of alternatives to a
concrete slab for spas installed without gazebos or other
accessories.

*NOTE: A reinforced concrete pad at least four inches thick or a
deck that is able to withstand more than 115lbs. per square foot is
recommended for the Caspian

™

, Bengal®and Sumatran®spas.

INSTALLATION NOTES:

•

If stepping stones or railroad ties are selected for the spa
foundation, they should be placed at the designated leveling
areas of your spa to maintain even distribution of the spa
weight.

•

It is important to note that soft surfaces, even when stepping
stones are used to distribute the weight of the spa as evenly
as possible, will still have a tendency to settle unevenly,
resulting in an unlevel spa.

•

Remember, placing the spa on grass or dirt may increase the
amount of debris which is inadvertently brought into the spa
water on the user’s feet.

If you are purchasing a deck package or a gazebo with your spa, a
solid foundation becomes mandatory. Placing them on any surface
other than a single level pad could create problems with their
installation. Pictured at right are a few of the recommended surfaces.

As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to provide a suitable, level
foundation for your spa. Keep in mind that most delivery crews are
not equipped to level and prepare spa sites.

If you are interested in having a concrete slab, brick surface, or wood
deck installed, your Tiger River dealer should be able to suggest a
qualified, licensed contractor.

NOTE: In order for the spa to operate properly and the internal
plumbing to drain completely, you must ensure that the spa is
leveled after it has been installed. The diagrams on the following
pages indicate the recommended shimming points on your spa’s
base support system. Your Tiger River spa delivery crew can help
you perform the procedure.

ELECTRICAL

FOUNDATIONS FOR SPAS ONLY

(No accessories such as cover or gazebo)

FOUNDATIONS FOR SPAS

PEA GRAVEL

OR CRUSHED ROCK

RAILROAD TIES

PRE-CAST

STEPPING STONES

WITH ACCESSORIES

CONCRETE PADS

BRICK SURFACES

WOOD DECKING

x Page 5 x

Page 5 Pre-Delivery Instructions

Caspian™(Model CHP)

Dimensions

NOTE: All dimensions are approximate; measure your spa

before making critical design or pathway decisions.

(Bottom view)

(Front view)

• 15 Leveling Points (place shims approx. 18” in from edge, then center middle shims)

SECONDARY DRAIN

1 3/4" (3.8 cm) ELECTRICAL CUTOUT

(location may vary 1/2" (1.3 cm) )

MAIN DRAIN

59" (149.9 cm)

65 1/2" (166.4 cm)

12 1/2" (31.8 cm)

21" (53.3 cm)

49 1/2" (125.7 cm)

32 1/2" 82.6 cm)

3 1/2" (8.9 cm)

27 1/2" (69.8 cm)

36" (91.4 cm)

18" (46 cm) 18" (46 cm)

UPSIDE DOWN VIEW OF SPA

80" (203.2 cm)

CENTER MIDDLE SHIMS

84" (213.4 cm)

DOOR SIDE

84" (213.4 cm)

21 1/2" (54.6 cm)

18 1/2" (47 cm) 21 1/2" (54.6 cm) 17 1/2" (44.5 cm)