If it's depth of water you are looking for, the American Standard Evolutions tub is deeper by about 3.5" to the overflow.
I am debating between the Archer and the Evolution - for my children so I think the Archer will win as I like the look of it better. The Evolution 17.5 inches is a little much for an 8 yr old but I like the deeper tub to control splashes from the smaller ones.....decisions, decisions....

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Evolution Bathtub

Thanks, qt314b. I don't think that comes as a standard alcove tub, though, does it? I need one that doesn't need a surround. It's going to be tight enough trying to fit 32" inches in there and still meet code for the toilet clearance, but I think with one of the newer 15" toilets we can do it.

BTW, I've looked at the Evolutions and I wonder if it would be suitable for splashy kids, since the overflow is placed right up at the lip of the tub. If they really filled it up it seems like it would actually be splashier than the archer, which at least leaves an inch or so of tub wall above the possible water level.

Oh, I also forgot to mention that this will also be used some for showering, although there's another bath that's shower-only, so that's not so very important. But both the archer and the cambridge look okay for standing in.

I put an Archer in a client's house and have showered in it. It is fine for standing. I don't think that code is that strict about the required space adjacent to the toilet unless it is a wall (not the vanity or tub so much). At least that's how the IRC is interpreted in my area...you may live in zoning Nazi country.

Thanks, palimpsest. It's really hard to know how vigorously they'll be enforcing when I'm done. They used to be vicious here because permitting was a major source of income for them, then they really slacked off during the frenzy, but now they're tightening back up again. I've experienced everything from seeing a neighbor cited for not getting a permit to replace a leaking water heater, to, in my own case, when I was renting and they redid all the plumbing in the house, having the inspector come to the door and say, "If you're happy, I'm happy."

Well, to tell you the truth I was thinking more about my own early attempts to get the water in the tub deep enough to easily reach the toys I was floating in there than about being in the tub. :)

I'd still be interested in any thoughts on the relative durability of acrylic and americast, if anyone has any thoughts.

Hi! I am in the exact same spot.....Archer or Americast? May I ask which you chose and what advice you would give now? Thank you!!!

Well, with the crash in real estate prices that project got put on the back burner, but we're still planning to do it eventually.

We had finally decided on the archer, just for the marginally deeper water level.