How to chooses a cover lifter

What is a cover lifter?

In their simplest form, hot tub cover lifters comprise a tubular, metal frame that is permanently fixed to your hot tub with the horizontal part of the frame resting along the cover's hinge. Once installed, one side of the cover is folded back over the frame and the cover is then lifted off the hot tub by pulling the frame, with the cover attached, over the side of the tub.

Why should I have a cover lifter?

• Cover lifters extend the life of your cover by protecting it from physical damage
• Cover removal and and replacement becomes a one-man operation
• Potentially damaging condensation on the underside of the cover is allowed to drain away when the cover is open, thus reducing the potential for cover rot

What are the different types of hot tub cover lifter?

Cover lifters are generally one of two types:

• Lever/fulcrum type - these use a bracket that is either screwed to the side of the hot tub or fixed to a flat base plate.  The latter do not require screws to be used in the side of the tub, instead they rely on the weight of your hot tub to hold the cover lifter in place. With a one-handed operation, the cover lifter frame then pivots around the bracket with the cover attached to it. The cover then drops down behind the side of the tub. 
• Gas assisted type - these use a bracket that is screwed the side of the tub and utilise gas assisted struts (similar to a car's hatchback/tailgate) to assist with the one-handed lifting of the cover. This type of cover lifter places the cover upright along one edge of the spa, rather than dropping it down the side.

Some covers have a vinyl pouch above the hinge for the cover lifter bar to slot into.  This is not really necessary, but if your cover has one of these pouches that yiu want to re-use you'll have to choose a lifert with a bar that splits in the middle.  Be careful though because theese lifters tend to be a lot less robust.

Many HotSpring tubs are fitted with a cover cradle, as shown in the image.  These lifters are quite robust.  They can only be purchased from a HotSpring dealer.

Which lifter is right for me?

Here are some things to consider...

• The lever type lifter is the cheaper of the two types and is ideal where there is no constraint on storing the cover behind the spa side. The most populare and hard-wearling lever type lifter is the Covermate II which requires no drilling into the hot tub shell/
• The gas assisted lifter is ideal for hot tubs in a confined space and/or where the owners want the folded cover to be stored high up to restrict the view of any potential onlookers!  By far the best hydraulic cover lifter is the Covermate III.
• The less expensive lifters are, fairly obviously, lest robust and cabable of lifting less weight over an extended period of time so, if you have a big hot tub with a big cover it's worth spending a bit more on your cover lifter.
• If you have a round hot tub you have very little choice, you'll need the pneumatically assisted Covermate Freestyle.