Liner has leak along bottom right before winter. Can I leave it?

[StraighterSwing]

I have a 21' round above ground pool with steel walls. My liner (standard gauge) had a bunch of tiny holes all around where the wall meets the bottom. The previous owner didn't put sand around the wall bottoms to keep it away from the bottom rails...
I drained it, fixed them with gorilla tape and stared to refill it. It got about 12" deep and noticed water pooling outside the pool so I stopped filling.
I'm worried about the snow, ice, and winter wind though.
I'm planning to order a new 30-gauge liner but it's October and by the time it arrives, I can't replace it this late. I want to just leave it over winter and do it next year the right way. Is that an option?

Should I support the steel walls with 2x4s around the outside or should it be okay?

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

You should brace the walls on the inside and outside. The water in the pools supports the walls and keeps the walls from collapsing in. You need to create a cross brace inside the pool supporting the walls if there is no water in it.

 

[Mdragger88]

The leak will washout the base the pool sits on so pump that out if you plan on leaving it empty.
Leave the liner to help protect the ground.
You may want to try actual pool patches to see if you can get the leak to stop
Like this-

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-NAME/3005583

Then refilling 1/2 way or a little more & no cover over the winter especially if you get snow or wind there to help keep the walls up.
Some people have also been temporarily successful with using bungee cords steaked into the ground to keep the walls more stable along with the bracing. This is usually done when the pool install is drawn out.

 

[StraighterSwing]

Thanks for the responses! Considering there were about 50 holes (pin sized to pea sized) around the bottom that I tried to patch, I'm not sure if attempting to repatch is an option at this point. I was considering getting a leak detection kit but there are so many to test and if there are 15 VERY SLOW leaks, the detection kit may not work.
I'll reinforce with braces in 8 or so spots along the outside. Not sure how I'd do the inside unless I remove the existing liner which may make it worse.
I really appreciate the guidance.

 

[kellyfair]

When you replace your liner, you may want to do a foam cove instead of sand.

 

[StraighterSwing]

When you replace your liner, you may want to do a foam cove instead of sand.

That's a good idea! I didn't even know that was a thing. I'll check into that. So much easier than moving 2 tons of sand!

 

[kellyfair]

That's a good idea! I didn't even know that was a thing. I'll check into that. So much easier than moving 2 tons of sand!

I bought mine online. So easy!