Island Hot Tub

Insulating a metal stock tank with marine vinyl fabric over foam insulation works great! This photo was taken around 1995 and the whole setup is still in good shape in 2022. What I like most about the the combination of vinyl, foam, and metal tank is that it's very light so easy to move, it's easy to keep clean, and it's inexpensive and durable.

My cabin is in Southeast Alaska and I visit it several times a year for a several weeks at a time. When I depart it takes me about 30 minutes to disassemble the plumbing, remove the stovepipe and rinse out the tank. I flip the tank over and slide it into the cabin by myself no problem.

With the insulation, I can leave the tank hot at night and it's ready for a morning soak with little or no fire (depending on the outdoor temperature). That saves a lot of firewood.

If you go this way, I suggest following Island Hot Tub's "Instructions for Making a Soaking Tub Using a Metal Stock Tank". For the tub's drain I just use a tapered plug like you'd use in a sink rather than a valve, much simpler.

The metal tank/Chofu setup has been so much fun for my family and kept us all clean and happy off the grid for 20 years with zero problems. Can't ask for more than that.

We purchased a wood fired Chofu heater from Island Hot Tubs and set up a stock tank soaking tub more than ten years ago. Not only has the heater worked perfectly, but on the two occasions when we've needed parts over the years, Island Hot Tubs has provided speedy and friendly customer service. This is a first-rate company!

I bought this from you in 2013. Here it is in Nova Scotia firing up at 6:30 pm on September 26, 2020.

It has worked flawlessly since purchase and all plumbing you recommended for a 150 gallon RubberMaid stock tank is original - no leaks or problems.

This Chofu heater over-performs and if you can afford the quality don't hesitate to buy it.

We use a Honda pump to get water from the lake and next morning when it has cooled, back in the lake. No chemicals are required.

RubberMaid stock tank is perfect for two people and it works for horses & cattle too. The Chofu will handle a bigger tank but this works for us.

Island Hot Tub knows their product and this combination Chofu heater / RubberMaid stock tank works great.

Happy in Nova Scotia!

Island Hot Tub provided exceptional service. Frazer was very knowledgeable about the Chofu heater, installation and gave great advice for building your own soaking tubs. We greatly appreciate all the time he spent on the phone discussing our bathhouse project. The Chofu heater, stove pipe and connecting hardware are all great quality, come packaged well with no damaged or scratched parts. As for the Chofu heater, it is incredibly efficient and easy to operate. Works flawlessly every time. Thank you Island Hot Tub!!
Jason

I love my Chofu wood heater. The quality of construction, ease of use, and reasonable price makes this an easy choice for me. My unit has given me flawless service for over ten years, though I do caution to retire the hot tub system during the winter months if you live in a very cold environment as water does freeze and can damage the water jackets in the stove. Island Hot Tubs gives first rate customer service as well. Personal, friendly, and dedicated to supporting their products.