I've scoured the forum and am still struggling on a reel. I've got a 16'x40' rectangular inground that recently had a Hayward Summit XL added to (yay) so I am looking to add a solar cover to improve the heat retention. Any recommendations on a reel? I like the longevity of the Rockys but not sure I want to spend that much. Having said that the cheaper ones ($200 and less) seem to not last and I don't like the idea of being wasteful. I plan on tucking the cover away into the garage which is next to the pool deck when having company over so I like the idea of "portability." I did look at the Solar Roller (sold out) and the DIY version, but the DIY post is 8 years outdated now so wondering if it has not held up? Any suggestions? For reference I was planning on getting the Sun2Solar 1200 series cover.
- Suck it up and get the Rockys (how long will it last?)
- Go cheap and just replace parts?
- DIY Solar Roller (any updated guide?)
- Cut into sections (2 or 4 sections?)