Waste: BRILLIANT! Y Straps (who would have "thunk" it). Searched online and found exactly what you're talking about. That was what my fear was - I thought to myself: "with my luck each strap on that stock cover would probably land exactly in the middle of one of my 60 something anchors." What a nightmare surprise that would be because a stock cover is going to cost just over $1,000 anyway and you can't return it if you take it out of the box. I'm gonna search for other prices today. I wonder if they have extendable straps too just in case I'm short of my anchors. At least the "Y" straps would take care of any potential strap misalignment to my anchors. At this point I'm just trying to anticipate any potential problems that might arise before I shell out that money and then don't have a plan B, C, D, etc.
Also, Spishex, thanks for all your x-pert advice. The installation instructions for Looploc says the anchors need to be installed exactly 18" off of cover edge to get proper spring tension. The only stock covers I can order to cover my pool are either 18' or 20' wide (my pool is 16' wide).
1. If I order the 18' wide cover it will only overlap each side by 1' which leaves another 2' on each side to reach the currently installed anchors; so instead of the anchors being offset 18" from cover edge, the anchors would be offset 24" from cover edge and the springs and/or straps would have to adjust another 6" per LoopLoc's instructions (my anchors are 3' off pool edge). I have seen from installation videos that the straps themselves are adjustable on a buckle, I just don't know if there is an extra 6" on the strap or if the springs could extend another 6" (or a combination of both).
2. If I order the 20' wide cover it would overlap pool edge 2' onto decking on either side and then the anchors would be inset only 12" from cover edge (6" off Looploc's recommended 18"); don't know if there would be proper tension on springs or if you can take 6" more off of strap so the springs would have proper tension.
I really appreciate all your help and I understand if you may be tired of this thread but maybe someone else out there has had or will have a similar problem and will benefit from this discussion. Again, thank you all so much and thank you for the welcome. I have actually lurked on this board for a long time and learned BBB from poolsolutions (Ben). I just haven't posted a lot. You all are SUPER and have given me many ideas to pursue.
Kate