Solar Cover Woes - any other ideas?

[Kenerator]

The ways I put on my solar cover

#1 The kite method
I get my kids,wife,neighbor,dog, neighbors dog or whoever and we each take an end and run like heck towards the pool. If we get it right and with just the right amount of wind it may land on top of the pool!

#2 The push and pull
Get the giant bubble wrap and roll it onto the water then everyone pushes and pulls on it from the sides to try and spread it out nicely.

#3 The jump in (this one is the easiest if you feel like going in)
Toss that plastic blob on top of the water jump in spread it around swim underneath it like a trapped seal under ice and get out.

 

[JohnT]

A reel!

 

[NWMNMom]

Yah, I'm guessing you don't have a reel. They make life easier by far.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

This is how I get it off by myself: I roll it up like a giant eggroll, folding it in as I roll. It ends up about 4 x 2 or so...and I shove it into the shady area of the deck. To get it on, I set it in the pool, holding on to fat rolled portion, with the unfolded edge towards the pool. My husband (or another set of hands... stands at the opposite edge of the pool directly across from me. I unroll the cover pushing the unfolded edge towards him where he can reach and grab it. Then we turn it counter clockwise, hand over hand spreading it as we go. Takes about 3 minutes to get it spread over the surface...

 

[Kenerator]

A reel!

I did not know they made them for above ground pools!!

Where do you mount the reel?

 

[JohnT]

A reel!

I did not know they made them for above ground pools!!

Where do you mount the reel?

On posts, on the rail or a combination.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Here's mine Above ground solar reel.

 

[Kenerator]

Yah, I'm guessing you don't have a reel. They make life easier by far.

Ok I just googeled above ground solar reels. What do you know they make them - Is there any one you guys reccommend best features etc...

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

You mean you don't like my giant eggroll method? :lol:
I guess I'm set in my ways...haha

 

[Kenerator]

You mean you don't like my giant eggroll method? :lol:
I guess I'm set in my ways...haha

Its not that I don't like it I just can't figure it out!

Roll hand over hand?
Fold these edges those edges???????
Yikes!

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

You should have seen us trying to use it the first few times - "where's the video camera!"

 

[NWMNMom]

I think most of them are about the same as the others. You just have to decide where you want it, how much you want to spend, etc. Ours is a custom fab job with the reel mounted on posts off the end of the pool so nothing would be ON the pool railings. It's a one person on/off operation. Many of the purchased reels are just as good but mount on the pool rails. Once you have one you will be so glad - way easier than trying to manhandle a cover yourself.

 

[ropdyke]

You can try one of these its a lot cheaper. I just put one on on a 18 ft round pool. works o.k for us
http://www.amerimerc.com/solar-pool-cov ... addle.htm#

 

[NWMNMom]

The bigger the pool, it seems the lazier we seem to want to be with managing things, but "things" are bigger with the bigger pools so maybe that's why? I don't know but seems like when we had our 18' pool I didn't think it was a big deal, but I sure would never want to manually handle a 33' long solar blanket/cover now. Yikes, I'd end up leaving it on or leaving it off.

 

[cherylandco]

That's why we just do the Solar Sun Rings - then as an added bonus - if one of my kids would fall in, they would be able to get out!

 

[PaulR]

You should have seen us trying to use it the first few times - "where's the video camera!"

Actually, do you want to post a video on youtube or somewhere? Because it sounds like you really have it down now... I've seen you describe this eggroll trick a few times and I can never figure out what it means.
--paulr

 

[Pool-creetin]

My solar cover is a pita. Its heavy duty the thickest you can get and for a 24ft pool its a chor to fold up and out with a fence around the pool like mine. I cannot even use a reel, If i could fit it on with the fence it would be a monster to get on and off. I am going to operate on it this year and cut it in half or even quarters.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

You should have seen us trying to use it the first few times - "where's the video camera!"

Actually, do you want to post a video on youtube or somewhere? Because it sounds like you really have it down now... I've seen you describe this eggroll trick a few times and I can never figure out what it means.
--paulr

Start rolling, grab with your right hand and fold it in...roll to make it hold, fold it in with your left hand, roll to make it hold, repeat with the right, then the left, etc. etc. and eventually you have a big fat roll of a solar cover....

 

[linda1]

I removed the 30 ft. round solar cover for the first time the other day. Oh my, what a work out! I had the "help" of my two grandkids and we really struggled to get that thing off. I'm hoping that once we get the deck built it will be somewhat easier. If not, someone else will have to manhandle it.

 

[AnnaK]

We cut ours into five sections. It's much easier to handle now.