In October 2008, Jandy ceased manufacture of its long-time popular Rayvac Pool Cleaners as part of the restructuring after Zodiac purchased Jandy Corp. and Polaris. The stock of those Rayvac cleaners is dwindling and will soon be no longer available. Ray-Vac parts will be available for at least 5 more years.

If you were planning on purchasing a new RayVac Desert Builders Model cleaner, you do have some great options.....

Poolvergnuegen (The Pool Cleaner) Pressure Pool Cleaner:
A unique feature of this Pressure Pool Cleaner is the patented 4-wheel drive, designed to overcome almost any obstacle in the pool. It also has an unusual tire tread system, with wear markers and one raised hump on the front tires, that make it the most maneuverable pressure cleaner on the market. A programmed steering system and self-adjusting turbine valves ensure that the Pressure Pool Cleaner will clean every spot of the pool and leave the pool spotless. There is a rugged extra-large dirt bag. A 34 foot hose kit enables the cleaner to reach any and every part of normal sized pools. A pressure relief valve regulates the pressure coming through the wall fitting to ensure optimum performance every time.

Polaris 360:
Polaris, the most well-known automatic cleaner manufacturer and now part of the Zodiac group with Jandy. manufacturers a pressure side cleaner that can be used in place of the Rayvac. The Polaris 360 works from a dedicated pressure line, just like the Rayvac, and does not require a booster pump. The Polaris 360 will plug in to the same wall connection that the Rayvac did (if you had the old ¾ inch connection, a screw-in adapter is available). No plumbing changes would be required. This Polaris 360 vacuums, sweeps and scrubs the bottom and walls of any size or shape pool and has a back-up valve (like the Rayvac Hydro Timer)  in the hose line to make sure the unit does not get stuck in corners and will clean continuously without interruption. Unlike the Rayvac, the Polaris 360 has a large debris bag that can be removed and emptied without opening the cleaner unit and which can hold a lot of debris, meaning less frequent emptying.  For those who have been using a Black Rayvac model, the Polaris 360 also comes in the very attractive Black Max version in addition to the standard blue and white.

Pentair Legend II:
Another option in an excellent pressure-side cleaner would be the Pentair Legend II. The Legend II is a powerful and durable cleaner from the former Letro brand that also works without a booster pump and will connect to the same 1.5 inch wall fitting as the Rayvac (no plumbing changes needed). One advantage to the Legend II is that it has 4 wheels to make it more stable and prevent tipping. The cleaner has front -wheel drive and dual thrust jets for more power, better traction when climbing walls and quick coverage of the entire pool. There is a large clip-on debris collection bag as well, with a wide throat opening to prevent clogging from leaves and trash. The 26 foot hose includes a back-up valve that prevents the unit from getting caught in corners or ladders and periodically backs it up to send it in another direction to ensure complete coverage of the pool. The Legend II cleaner was re-designed in 2008 for a cleaner, sleeker look in gray and white. In 2009, every Legend II buyer gets a rebate from Pentair that makes this cleaner available for a really great price.

If you are not sure which cleaner will work best for you, or for additional options, call or email Pool Plaza at 800-394-6131 (or 214-221-6900 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area).