The Complete Handbook of Pool Floats & Loungers

This is a solid reference book that covers the fundamentals of float and lounger specs and maintenance in a way I can actually use. My main complaint is that the business chapter (6) feels a bit rushed compared to the technical sections — I wanted more detail on rental economics and pricing models. Still, it's the most practical resource I've found for someone actually running a pool operation rather than just buying one float for home use.

Finally — a handbook that treats floats and loungers like actual products instead of commodity items. The material science breakdown in Chapter 1 was exactly what I needed to understand why some of our rental stock was failing while others lasted years. The troubleshooting chapter alone has saved me hundreds in unnecessary replacements. Highly recommend for anyone managing pool inventory.

I've been consulting on aquatics facility design for 15 years and I wish I'd had this handbook for the last decade. It fills gaps that you can't find in manufacturer specs or safety guidelines. The chapter on float types and specifications is particularly strong — clear, specific, and grounded in actual failure modes rather than marketing claims. Invaluable for my practice.

The book delivers on what it promises — practical reference material without hype. That said, some chapters assume you already have basic knowledge of pool chemistry and operations. If you're brand new to this, you might want to pair it with a general aquatics fundamentals book. For mid-level professionals and business operators, though, this is solid.

Exactly what a facility manager needs. The diagnostic flowchart in Chapter 5 and the specs comparison guidance in Chapter 2 have already paid for the book in time saved. The business chapter is particularly useful — it breaks down rental, resale, and repair models with enough specificity that you can actually forecast margins. Highly recommended.

I was skeptical about a whole handbook on floats and loungers until I actually read Chapter 1 and understood the engineering differences. The neutral brand approach and focus on specifications, not marketing, is refreshing. This is the kind of reference book a professional actually reaches for instead of scrolling through forum posts and conflicting Amazon reviews.

Strong technical foundation and useful for operations. My only note is that some of the standards and regulations referenced are fairly broad — I would have appreciated pointers to specific current certifications and compliance documents for my region. Otherwise, a well-organized reference that justified its cost quickly in my business.