SwimEx · 400 Series

SwimEx 480 S

18′ 3″ long
Paddlewheel current
One temperature

SwimEx 480 S swim spa from above, showing the lane and seats

Photography © SwimEx, shown for identification

Price on request

No manufacturer pays us. How we make money

Updated September 2026By the HotTubFinder research desk

Room to swim. The lane, and the current you swim against.

How tall are you?

Outside of the cabinet: 18′ 3″
Open water to swim in: 11′ 9″
You, arms overhead: 7′

The lane leaves you 4′ 9″ to kick.

Paddlewheel current
A paddlewheel moves a wide, even column of water with no air in it, the kind of current we rate best for swimming in place. 100 speed settings.
How currents compare →
One zone, one temperature
Lap swimmers like 78 to 82°F and a hot tub runs 100 to 104, so you pick a compromise or change the setting and wait.
Is dual temperature worth it →
48″ of water
At the dealer, stand where you’d swim and ask where the water line would come on you.

How much room a swimmer needs

What it costs. To buy, and to keep warm.

The swim spa: Price on requestGet the price range →
Keeping it warm: No measured figure for the 480 S. A typical swim spa costs about $57 a month to keep warm.
On top: A concrete pad, a dedicated circuit, delivery and sometimes a crane. What those cost

Energy detail

No California listing we could match

California lists what a spa draws on standby, with the cover on. We found no listing that matches this model. No SwimEx swim spa has one.

What decides running cost →

What owners say. About SwimEx swim spas.

What they like

Durable shell and a straight, even current
In a Houzz thread asking for unbiased swim spa reviews (a reply from roughly 2022), a participant who wasn't an owner named the durability of SwimEx's fiberglass shells and the straight-line flow of its current as its real strengths. One voice, and not an owner. Search-engine summaries of the same thread (seen September 27, 2026) put a remark that the SwimEx current is too loud and turbulent at moderate to high speeds right beside this praise, apparently from the same reply. We couldn't confirm it at the source, so it isn't counted as a complaint.

What they complain about

Expensive once installed
A participant on Houzz said SwimEx may be too pricey for many buyers, and SwimEx leaves the slab, pit, decking and wiring to the owner.
No finished sides for above-ground installs
A Houzz participant who appeared to work in the trade said SwimEx pools don't come with the exterior siding other brands include, because most are installed in-ground, so an above-ground install needs custom skirting and steps built to code. The same person said an above-ground install is still worth it for later access to the machinery. One voice, about 2022.

Everything owners report about SwimEx

How it’s built. In plain words.

Warranty: 10-year structure warranty. That's the median across the 161 swim spas that publish one.
Frame and shellYes: Every SwimEx is a free-standing fiberglass shell with a balsa-wood core, built like a boat hull, with no frame or cabinet. Our checklist rates a fiberglass composite vessel best. Why it matters
Getting at the equipmentPartly: SwimEx designs for access: in-ground pools need a 3 x 3 ft hatch (or panels above ground) and a ladder down to the pump, filter and heater in the pit, and the drive sits at the back under the decking. That is a recessed install with a way in, which our checklist rates acceptable rather than best. Why it matters
Cover and lifterPartly: The standard cover is a light floating thermal blanket (R 3.2), not a safety cover; a four-section hard-top safety cover or a manual security cover costs extra, and no lifter is needed or offered. Why it matters

These findings cover the SwimEx swim spa line; each names the models it applies to.

The details

Every specification48 figures, each linked to where we read it

Outside size: 18′ 3″ × 7′ 8″; 68.5" tall
Open swim length: 11′ 9″; 6′ 3″ wide, in a 18′ 3″ cabinet
Current: Paddlewheel
Drive: Electric motor; 5 HP · Current only
Water: 3,200 gal; 48" of water
Weight: 31,000 lb; Full
Electrical: 240V / 105A; Across three circuits
Seats: Not published

Size

Length: 219" (18′ 3″)
Width: 92" (7′ 8″)
Height: 68.5"
Water depth: 48"
Open swim length: 141" (11′ 9″)
Open swim width: 75" (6′ 3″)

Swim current

Current type: Paddlewheel
Driven by: Electric motor
Drive units: 1
Drive runs only the current: Yes
Drive power: 5 HP
Speed settings: 100

Zones and seating

Dual zone: No
Dual temperature: No
Seats: Not published

Water and weight

Water capacity: 3,200 gal
Dry weight: 3,500 lb
Filled weight: 31,000 lb

Heat and water care

Heater: 5.5 kW
Circulation pump: Yes
Filters: 1
Filter area: 100 sq ft
App or Wi-Fi: Optional

Electrical

Voltage: 240 V
Minimum breaker: 50 A
Circuits needed: 3
Total amperage: 105 A

Construction

Shell: Fiberglass with gelcoat
Shell backing: Fiberglass and resin on each side of a balsa-wood core
Frame: Fiberglass structure
In-ground install allowed: Yes
Built in: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA

Cover and extras

Cover included: Yes
Fitness gear included: Swim arrow

Doesn’t have: cover lifter.

Speed control · Fast and slow air buttons at the front of the pool (tap for small steps, hold 5-6 seconds…

Fast and slow air buttons at the front of the pool (tap for small steps, hold 5-6 seconds for large ones), a stop button and a stop bar at the rear; variable-speed controller; EDGE touchscreen tablet optional

Controls · Paddlewheel Econodrive variable-speed controller with air-button controls at the pool…

Paddlewheel Econodrive variable-speed controller with air-button controls at the pool (EDGE touchscreen optional)

Electrical notes · Three GFCI breakers in an owner-supplied sub-panel, wired by the owner's electrician…

Three GFCI breakers in an owner-supplied sub-panel, wired by the owner's electrician: drive controller 50 A, 208-240 V single phase (38 FLA); heater 30 A, 240 V (5.5 kW Coates 12406ST, FLA 23); filtration pump 20 A at 115 V or 15 A at 208-240 V (Pentair SuperFlo VST 1.5 HP). SwimEx prints a 105 A total; the three breakers it itemizes add to 95 A with the pump on 240 V (100 A on 115 V). Its Swim Spa Installation page gives '115 Amps' on average instead, itemized as 70 A for the paddlewheel (54 FLA), 30 A heater and 15 A pump; 70 A is what the guide gives for the optional EDGE Tablet Drive with the integrated treadmill. Options: EDGE Tablet Drive in place of the Econodrive controller (50 A feed, GFCI in its box); treadmill adds 20 A (70 A total); jet pump 2 HP at 230 V; ozonator hardwired at 240 V on the pump circuit; underwater lights plug into 110 V. On 208 V service the heater becomes an 8 kW unit on a 50 A breaker. SwimEx recommends an 11 kW heater for some outdoor installs. Pump and heater can run on an 8-hour timer.

Cover · Custom-fit floating thermal blanket: 5 lb, 3/16 in closed-cell foam with vinyl on both…

Custom-fit floating thermal blanket: 5 lb, 3/16 in closed-cell foam with vinyl on both sides, R 3.2

Where SwimEx’s own figures disagree (5) · filter area, length, height…

SwimEx’s own documents give two answers. Check yours against the quote before you sign.

Filter area

100 sq ft

swimex.com ↗

75 sq ft

swimex.com ↗

Length

219" (18′ 3″)

swimex.com ↗

211" (17′ 7″)

swimex.com ↗

Height

68.5"

swimex.com ↗

70.5"

swimex.com ↗

Total amperage

105 A

swimex.com ↗

115 A

swimex.com ↗

Minimum breaker

50 A

swimex.com ↗

70 A

swimex.com ↗

Where these figures come from (5 SwimEx documents)

SwimEx on the ten things we checkCurrent, room, frame, site, running cost, service, warranty and more

Ten things that decide whether a swim spa works for you and lasts, answered for SwimEx’s swim spas. Tap any for the detail.

Swim currentA paddlewheel current on seven of eight models and a propeller on the Triton, both…Yes

The paddlewheel sits at the rear, pulls water back and pushes it forward again through tunnels (under a false bottom floor on the 400 Series), so the flow comes at you across the whole width of the pool. SwimEx puts the current's depth at 18 in (400 OS, 500 Series), 28 in (480 S, 600 S) and 30 in (800 S, 1000 S). A 5 hp motor is standard, 7.5 hp on the 800 S and 1000 S and optional on the 400, 500 and 600 models; the Triton lists no 7.5 hp option. You change speed with air buttons at the front and stop it with a bar at the back. On the 1000 S the current runs down one side only. The Triton's propeller feeds two return channels outside the swim area. SwimEx's 'up to 25,000 gallons per minute' has no test method behind it.

Applies to: Pass rests on the paddlewheel models: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S. The Triton uses a propeller that SwimEx doesn't describe as sitting behind a flow grate, so the checklist's best rating isn't confirmed for it.

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Room to swimSwimEx publishes the water surface and water depth for every model, which few…Partly

Six models share an 11'9" x 6'3" water surface inside an 18 to 19 foot shell; the paddlewheel housing and return tunnels take the rest. The Triton's water is 14'4" x 6'7" with two seats at the rear, and the 1000 S's is 14' x 10' with the current down one side. Depth is published separately: 42 in (400 OS), 48 in (480 S), 50 in (500 Series, Triton), 60 in (600 S), 66 in (800 S), and sections of 48, 60 and 72 in on the 1000 S. Deep wells (up to 84 in) and 2 ft extensions are options. The 500 Series seats sit in side channels, out of the lane.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Frame and shellEvery SwimEx is a free-standing fiberglass shell with a balsa-wood core, built like…Yes

SwimEx lays fiberglass and resin on both sides of a balsa-wood core under a gelcoat surface and says the shell stands and supports itself, so pit walls around an in-ground install only hold back soil. There's no acrylic skin, no steel or wood frame to rust or rot, and no liner. Five models come in four pieces, assembled on site or at the factory (eight-piece versions of the 480 S, 500 S and 600 S suit tight access); the 400 OS, 500 OS and Triton are one piece. SwimEx doesn't publish laminate thickness or core thickness, and a balsa core depends on staying dry, so ask how the core is sealed at fittings.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Site prepSwimEx publishes a full site guide for each model: a level concrete slab rated for…Yes

Filled weights run from 25,000 lb (400 OS, 500 Series) to 70,000 lb (1000 S), and the slab has to be level within 1/4 in under the pool. In-ground pits are 20 x 12 ft on most models and 25 x 18 ft for the 1000 S, from 56 to 92.5 in deep, with a sump or floor drain. Indoors above ground you need 10 ft of clear ceiling (12 ft for the 1000 S). The pool comes on a flatbed or 18-wheeler and the owner arranges the forklift, crane or lull. Power is three GFCI breakers (drive, heater, filter pump) in a sub-panel you supply: 105 A on most models by SwimEx's figures, 130 A on the 800 S by adding up its listed breakers, and 180 A on the 1000 S. Decking, pit, slab, electrical and plumbing are all yours to build.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Running costHeat is held by the balsa-cored shell and a thin floating blanket rather than foam…Partly

SwimEx sells the cored shell as insulated but publishes no R-value for it. The standard cover is a 3/16 in floating foam blanket rated R 3.2, and it's an option on the Triton. For typical use (filter pump 8 hours a day, an hour of swimming) SwimEx estimates about 809 kWh a month, brand-wide. There's no California standby listing, because SwimEx pools aren't portable spas. Indoors, SwimEx says keep the room within 2 to 5 degrees of the water and exhaust the air outside; it quotes 4 to 5 lb of evaporation an hour. Heaters are 5.5 kW on most models (11 kW recommended for some outdoor installs), 11 kW on the 800 S and 18 kW on the 1000 S; gas and propane heaters are options.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Dual zoneNo SwimEx is dual-zone or dual-temperature: every model is one body of water with…Partly

The flat-floor 400 OS, 480 S and 800 S and the 600 S are swim-only; the 500 Series adds four molded side seats and the Triton two rear seats, all in the same water. The heater can reach 104°F, but SwimEx recommends 78 to 82°F for exercise and the low 90s for arthritis, so you pick one temperature. Optional jets (up to 12 on a 2 hp pump) add massage, not a separate hot tub. SwimEx sells plunge pools separately.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Service accessSwimEx designs for access: in-ground pools need a 3 x 3 ft hatch (or panels above…Partly

The filter pump, cartridge filter and heater are standard Pentair and Coates pool parts any pool technician can source. The paddlewheel, its gearmotor and the controller are SwimEx parts, ordered from SwimEx's customer service. Upkeep is light and published: grease the paddlewheel bearings once a year, clean and wax the gelcoat, replace the filter cartridge; gearbox oil changes aren't needed on units shipped after February 2011, and the Triton's propeller has a shear pin. SwimEx says owners still run 30-year-old motors. Plan the pit with lights, a GFCI outlet, a sump and a small dehumidifier, as SwimEx asks.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Warranty termsSwimEx lists 10 years on structure, 5 on the gelcoat and the paddlewheel or…Partly

These three terms appear on SwimEx's Our Difference and Construction pages and in its 2021 comparison sheet, and they apply to the whole line. Nothing says whether labor or travel is covered, whether the warranty moves with the house, or who pays to dig out or crane a pool whose structure fails. Heater, filter pump and filter are Pentair and Coates parts with no SwimEx term published. Ask SwimEx for the written warranty before you sign.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Cover and lifterThe standard cover is a light floating thermal blanket (R 3.2), not a safety cover…Partly

The 5 lb blanket floats on the water and keeps heat and evaporation down, but it won't keep a child or pet out. For that SwimEx sells a rigid vinyl hard-top cover in four sections and a manual security cover; it doesn't sell automatic covers but will point you to a dealer who fits track-mounted ones, and its features page shows a lockable End 2 End cover. On the Triton even the blanket is an option. The 1000 S options list no hard-top cover.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton. The Triton lists the blanket as an option.

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

Service and originEvery SwimEx is built in Fall River, Massachusetts, and sold factory direct with no…Partly

SwimEx has been making pools in Fall River since 1986 and is privately held and run by the founder's family. It sells direct: no showrooms, though it can often arrange a visit to a nearby owner's pool. Customer support is live Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Eastern. Installation is by your own contractors or SwimEx's partner installation company, and repairs likely fall to a local pool technician using SwimEx parts, since SwimEx names no service network. The common equipment is stock Pentair and Coates hardware; the paddlewheel drive parts ship from Massachusetts.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S, Triton

What this means, and how to check it →swimex.com ↗swimex.com ↗

What SwimEx says about itEach claim, what the documents show, and any catch

What SwimEx leads with, where it covers the 480 S, and what the documents show.

Only SwimExA paddlewheel current, not jets or a propellerSwimEx sells its paddlewheel as the smoothest, deepest and widest current on the market: water drawn to the rear and pushed back…The flow and width claims are untested, and the current is shallow on some models

What they saySwimEx sells its paddlewheel as the smoothest, deepest and widest current on the market: water drawn to the rear and pushed back through tunnels as a pool-width 'wall of water' up to 30 in deep, at up to 25,000 gallons a minute, with 100 speeds.

What the documents showThe mechanism, the 18-30 in current depths and the 100 speeds are published per model. 'Smoothest' and 'widest' are SwimEx's words with no measurement, the 25,000 gpm figure has no test method, and no current width is printed. One Houzz participant who researched swim spas (not an owner) called the current's straight-line flow a real strength; the same reply is also quoted as calling the current loud and turbulent at moderate to high speeds, though we couldn't confirm that part at the source.

Who else does itSwimEx calls it industry-exclusive, and no other brand in our research describes a paddlewheel; the rest use jets or a propeller, or don't name the mechanism. SwimEx's own Triton uses a propeller.

Applies to: 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S, 800 S, 1000 S (the Triton uses a propeller)

The catch

The flow and width claims are untested, and the current is shallow on some models. SwimEx gives no test for 25,000 gpm and no width figure beyond 'pool-width'. The current is only 18 in deep on the 400 OS and 500 Series against 28-30 in on the bigger models, and on the 1000 S it runs down one side of the pool only. SwimEx has no showrooms but can often arrange a visit to an owner's pool.

Few othersA boat-built fiberglass shell with no linerEvery SwimEx is a free-standing shell of fiberglass and resin on both sides of a balsa-wood core, finished in gelcoat, which SwimEx…A 30-year claim on a 10-year warranty

What they sayEvery SwimEx is a free-standing shell of fiberglass and resin on both sides of a balsa-wood core, finished in gelcoat, which SwimEx says is built like a luxury yacht, needs no liner and lasts 30 years or more.

What the documents showThe construction is described on the Construction page and 2021 comparison sheet, and the installation guides confirm the pool carries itself (pit walls take no load). SwimEx posts owner stories of pools from 1987, 1990 and 2005 still in use, though those are its own selections.

Who else does itEvery other brand we researched that names its shell uses acrylic, on steel, wood or composite frames where a frame is published; a cored fiberglass vessel is SwimEx-only among them.

The catch

A 30-year claim on a 10-year warranty. The structural warranty is 10 years and the gelcoat 5, and SwimEx posts only a three-line summary, with nothing on labor, removal or transfer. Laminate and core thickness aren't published, and a balsa core depends on staying dry.

Few othersDeep water and depths you can chooseStandard water runs 42 to 66 in (72 inches in the 1000 S's deepest standard section), with 12 or 24 in deep wells (to 84 in on the…Deep, but the water is short: 11'9" on six models

What they sayStandard water runs 42 to 66 in (72 inches in the 1000 S's deepest standard section), with 12 or 24 in deep wells (to 84 in on the 600 S), a second floor level on the 800 S and three depths on the 1000 S, plus running pads, step-up areas and an optional underwater treadmill for non-weight-bearing exercise.

What the documents showEvery depth is printed as water depth on the 2026 sheets and pages, separately from shell height.

Who else does itMost swim spas hold water in the 40s to about 51 in (Master Spas' own range); SwimEx's 60-66 in standard depths and deep wells go well past that.

The catch

Deep, but the water is short: 11'9" on six models. The 400 OS, 480 S, 500 OS, 500 S, 600 S and 800 S all have an 11'9" x 6'3" water surface inside an 18-19 ft shell, and on the 500 Series and 600 S the running pad and front step sit inside it. Only the 1000 S (14 x 10 ft) and Triton (14'4" x 6'7", with two rear seats) are longer. Lie out with your arms overhead before you buy.

Few othersA direct electric drive, no hydraulicsAn industrial electric gearmotor turns the paddlewheel (or the Triton's propeller) on a variable-speed controller, and SwimEx says…The motor itself is covered for 2 years

What they sayAn industrial electric gearmotor turns the paddlewheel (or the Triton's propeller) on a variable-speed controller, and SwimEx says its motors run for decades, unlike a hydraulic drive whose underwater motor needs replacing.

What the documents showThe drive design and upkeep are published: yearly bearing grease, and no gearbox oil changes on units shipped after February 2011. 'Motors over 30 years old' is SwimEx's anecdote, and the 7.5 hp option is the upgrade path for faster water.

Who else does itEndless Pools' propeller models use a hydraulic power unit; SwimEx's drive is an electric gearmotor mounted at the rear under the decking.

The catch

The motor itself is covered for 2 years. SwimEx warrants the motor for 2 years and the paddlewheel or propeller for 5. The gearmotor, controller and paddlewheel are ordered through SwimEx's customer service in Massachusetts, and the Triton's own sheet and 2026 guide disagree on its motor (5 hp against 7.5 hp).

3 more SwimEx selling points

Few othersGoes indoors, outdoors, in the ground or on a roofSwimEx says its free-standing pools can go indoors or out, above ground, partly or fully in-ground, even on a rooftop by crane, and…

What they saySwimEx says its free-standing pools can go indoors or out, above ground, partly or fully in-ground, even on a rooftop by crane, and five models come in four sections (eight on the 480 S, 500 S and 600 S) to get through tight access.

What the documents showThe 2026 installation guides give pit sizes, slab loads, ceiling heights and delivery rules model by model.

Who else does itNo other brand we researched describes a sectional shell; SwimEx builds four- and eight-piece versions for tight access.

Common, done wellBuilt in Massachusetts, sold factory directEvery pool is made in Fall River, Massachusetts, by a privately held company founded in 1986 and sold direct, with design engineers…No showrooms and no published service network

What they sayEvery pool is made in Fall River, Massachusetts, by a privately held company founded in 1986 and sold direct, with design engineers helping on layouts and CAD drawings.

What the documents showThe origin and direct sales are stated plainly. What factory direct means for repairs in your yard isn't: SwimEx names no local service network.

Who else does itSeveral swim spa makers build in the US; selling residential pools factory direct with in-house design support is less common.

The catch

No showrooms and no published service network. SwimEx has no local showrooms, offers phone support weekdays 9 to 5 Eastern, and routes parts through its customer service. Who fixes a pool in Colorado or California isn't published, so ask before you buy.

CommonCheap to heat and easy to house indoorsSwimEx says the insulated shell holds water temperature, cutting costs and doing away with big dehumidification systems, and…A thin blanket on a big body of water

What they saySwimEx says the insulated shell holds water temperature, cutting costs and doing away with big dehumidification systems, and estimates about 809 kWh a month for typical home use.

What the documents showThe 809 kWh figure is SwimEx's own estimate with assumptions but no test, there is no standby energy listing, the shell's R-value isn't published, and the standard cover is an R 3.2 floating blanket.

Who else does itEvery swim spa maker sells efficiency; SwimEx argues it from a small water surface and a cored shell rather than foam.

The catch

A thin blanket on a big body of water. The standard cover is a 5 lb, 3/16 in floating blanket rated R 3.2 (an option on the Triton), and it isn't a safety cover. The pools hold 2,600 to 7,700 gallons, and heaters run 5.5 to 18 kW.

Warranty10 yr structure

Years of cover as SwimEx publishes them. Who pays labor, travel and removal matters as much as the years, so read the card before you sign.

Structure: 10 years
Shell surface: 5 years
Swim system: 5 years

What the card saysSwimEx publishes only a three-line summary (10 years structure, 5 years gelcoat surface and paddlewheel or propeller, 2 years motor) on its Our…

SwimEx publishes only a three-line summary (10 years structure, 5 years gelcoat surface and paddlewheel or propeller, 2 years motor) on its Our Difference and Construction pages; no warranty document, exclusions, labor terms or transfer rules are posted. Decking is never included, and pits, slabs, sub-panels and plumbing are the owner's contractors' work, so removal or reinstallation costs are an open question. Get the written warranty before signing.

Read SwimEx’s warranty document ↗