Navigator® V-Flex™ - Hayward Suction Side Automatic Cleaner Review

This is the NEW Navigator V-Flex by Hayward. The Navigator V-Flex is a substantial upgrade from the standard Navigator model. The V-Flex Turbine is a flexible turbine; the vanes collapse as water passes through the mouth of the cleaner allowing it to pick up larger debris.

Along with the upgraded V-Flex turbine the A-Frame has also been beefed up with a larger longer lasting bearing and a redesign that will give this part a much better lifespan. If your familiar with the old Navigator you know about swapping out the A-Frame and Turbine often as it wears down.

This design change is significant because it fixes two of the main issues with the Navigator, those being, the parts wear out fast, and small debris jams the cleaner. The old fixed turbine would just get jammed too often on debris. The V-Flex turbine won't have this issue.

I say in the video that the V-Flex turbine opens to allow larger debris to pass thru but technically the water passing thru will collapse the turbine down creating a larger opening for debris. It is easier to understand  in most cases by saying it opens to allow large debris to pass.

With all that said the V-Flex Navigator does an excellent job at picking up large debris now.  It will pick up dirt, small rocks, acorns, large leaves and much more.

The Navigator V-Flex is a geared type cleaner which means it has a pre-programmed steering cycle, called the SmartDrive in this cleaner, which will allow it to get full coverage of your pool. It also means that the cleaner won't get stuck on the step areas of the pool either.  I prefer geared cleaners over the bouncing type for that reason.

The Navigator V-Flex is a suction side pool cleaner so it works off of your existing pool equipment. When the pool pump is running the cleaner will also be running in the pool.

Note that this cleaner is part of Hayward's Expert Line Program which means that this cleaner is sold only at the Brick and Mortar pool stores and to service professionals at their local distributor - in my case at SCP and Superior Pool Products. It is not sold on the internet. So if you want the Hayward Navigator V-Flex you will have to drive down to your local pool store, I know, what a pain.

If you have a Navigator now and want to upgrade it to the V-Flex you can. You will just need to purchase an Upgrade kit which is also available at your local pool store and will not be sold online. If your Navigator is due for a rebuild this Upgrade Kit would be a great idea.

Bottom line, by redesigning the Turbine and A-Frame Hayward has given the Navigator new life. The Navigator V-Flex is a solid choice for a suction side cleaner.

Hayward PoolVac V-Flex: