Hot Tub

I'm trying to drain the hot tub in my gazebo today. I wish I saved that old hose I had. It would be a piece of cake to siphon the water with a shorter piece of hose. The "normal" drain is way too slow.

Also, I'm having this problem with the cover. My cover is a thick two-piece heat-saving affair. If I leave it on, it absorbs water. If I leave the tub open, it gets full of dust quickly. Is there a way to do it right? I guess it's the time to read a home improvement book.