I am so sorry I bought an Americast kitchen sink. I chose it because, yes, it was cheaper, but also it was the shape I wanted. Now the enamel is wearing off -- dulling -- and I have had to repair two chips. (Ten years; two-person household.) My Kohler prep sink looks brand new. I have an airjet tub in the master bath. It has a heater to keep the water warm, but if you like long soaks I'd go for the Kohler. Is the Mendota the right size for you? I like the fast fill for my smaller airjet tub and I don't slide down to 'drown' in it. It's an Ultra Bain.

Thanks for your response. I've posted a picture of the drain and the area around it. You can see the pitting I am talking about to the left of the drain. Additionally, looking at it more closely I am wondering what is around the drain. At first I had thought it was just caulk, but now I am wondering if it is some sort of epoxy sealant. When we tried to clean it, the top layer just came off (lower right corner). I am particularly concerned about the black spot above the drain. I had thought that was mold, but I can't get it off, and now I think it may be very thin enamel revealing the iron beneath. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Be aware that the Bellwether has two types of tubs. At least last year they did. The original has a slanted front end as well as a back end. It looks great but reduces the bottom length of the tub. It also requires a longer spout to reach the drain hole. I imagine the plumbing would need reworked too to accommodate the atypical drain placement. Typical spout is something like 9" and the need for the original Bellwether is something like 11" to cl drain, if I remember correctly. The (new version) Bellwether is not a good height for soaking. Kohler considers the new Bellwether more of a builders model, as it can fit into a standard alcove setup, no special fixtures. I don't think it is as wide at the original version either. The 5' original Bellwether had one of the shortest lengths of any of ther 5' cast iron models. The new version, while shallow like the Villager, has one of the longest bottoms of the 5' lengths. I know you are looking at the 5.5' and so this may not matter to you. It would be best if you could sit in a tub or two to see how they fit. People regularly make a different decision once they sit in one and can get a feel for the dimensions. I have the (new version) Bellwether in the 5' length and love it, but it is not the primary bathroom. It is in a room that is more of a guest bathroom, and can be used for bathing small children and pets. It would also make a great tub for a tub/shower setup. I wanted a lower tub like the Villager. But I didn't like the looks of the Villager. I am very happy with my shallow Bellwether (new version)

I have the Bellwether. It is a close match in size to Kohlers Villager tub, except with a contemporary look. I've had mine for about 5 years now. There are 2 types of Bellwethers, I have the one that is 14" tall. It was made to fit into existing plumbing. It's not a great soaking tub, but it can be done. The water depth is 9" I believe, similar to the Villager. The original Bellwether is a bit taller and maybe wider. It has 2 sloped ends, making it actually shorter in the bottom. Because of the sloped front, the standard tub drain location doesn't line up and needs reply bed. It also requires an extra long spout to extend enough to pour into the drain and not onto the slope. I like my Bellwether and I took many baths in it while I remodeled my other bathroom. It would be a great tub to use in a tub/shower install. Here is my reveal: Reveal