Over a year ago, I picked up an 8 foot diameter satellite dish with plans to make a gazebo out of it. The plans of course only in my head. How I was going to do it, the location etc. constantly change since then. The other day I stopped at Home Depot and bought 6 steel fence posts I plan on using as legs for the structure.
We finally agreed on a location in the backyard. I've got it worked out in my head how to lay out the project so the legs are evenly spaced etc. So the project is starting to actually progress at least in that aspect. Raising the satellite dish and bolting it to the legs will be another issue. After that is done, I'll be pouring a concrete floor.
During the same period of time I've been mulling over what to use the gazebo for. The cook has expressed the request for a hot tub. I tend to agree. But my idea of a hot tub is a little different than what you might expect. I want to build a "green Hot tub".
Im thinking of using a oblong horse trough for the tub itself with insulation around it in a redwood frame. On the roof of the gazebo I'll coil some plastic tubing so it can use the sun to heat the water. Using gravity, it will be constantly be cycling the water slowly into the tank from the top, Using the pressure of the water in the tub and the negative pressure created by gravity fall of the water...it may just keep the water rather toasty on a hot day on into the evening.
For late night I'm thinking of passing the water that comes out of the tub through a copper coil of tubing mounted in the top of a wood fired fireplace. So the heat of the fireplace also can heat the circulateing water. Of course jet pumps would be out but I could hang a portable jacussi pump in the tank that's solar powered likely at least for short periods.
Anyway just an idea...check back in ten years when the hot tub actually works...I'll invite you over.