Skimmer, Gaskets and 18 inch thick plywood wall

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AquaticQuests

Member
Feb 3, 2021
9
Africa
Hello,
I am building an above ground pool with the walls being 18 inch plywood with a pvc liner!
Most of the instructions regarding skimmer installation involve thin metal or vinyl wall pools.
What happens in our case where instead of a thin pool wall, the wall is 3/4 of an inch thick?
How to protect the 3/4 inch 'tunnel' section of plywood wall that is not protected by the liner in the space between the inner gasket and the outer gasket?
How to waterproof the plywood?
 
Also, to answer your question, I would cut out a section of plywood large enough to get the entire skimmer through, then make a flange out of sheet metal and screw that to the plywood. Install the liner and cut the hole. Attach the skimmer to the flange. That way you can use a standard butterfly gasket. In theory that doesn't leak because the skimmer is sealed to the flange, and the liner is covering where the flange is attached to the plywood.
 
I’m intrigued. Can you use this as a build thread, and post photos along the way?
 
crokett said:
Also, to answer your question, I would cut out a section of plywood large enough to get the entire skimmer through, then make a flange out of sheet metal and screw that to the plywood. Install the liner and cut the hole. Attach the skimmer to the flange. That way you can use a standard butterfly gasket. In theory that doesn't leak because the skimmer is sealed to the flange, and the liner is covering where the flange is attached to the plywood.
Click to expand...
This sounds like a great idea and glad you understand my predicament. To just put the skimmer all the way through the wall.
I didn't quite understand the part about attaching the skimmer to the flange though?
 

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AquaticQuests said:
Sorry 3/4 inch plywood!
Click to expand...
If it is 3/4 ply you should do some math to figure out how much pressure the water is exerting outwards on the wall. You may need some framing on the outside to keep the plywood from bowing. Unlike plywood, the steel is a continuous ring on a circular or oval pool. Once the ends are bolted together, for it to be pushed outward it would have to stretch. It won't want to do that. Since it is 3/4 ply then it's back to what I said earlier. Cut a hole in the plywood that is big enough for the entire skimmer to fit through, including the gasket and flange. Take a piece of steel and cut a hole in it that is the correct size for installing a skimmer. Screw that to the plywood. Tape the edges and screws well. Install the liner. cut the hole in the liner and then install the skimmer in the steel. You can use the standard butterfly gaskets.
 
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