New solar cover - would like to “get it right” this time

[Macboy]

The doorbell just rang and it was our new solar cover. I want to make sure I get this one set up right as the current setup is a little “off”.

I’ve got a reel set up at one end of the pool (elevated to about 16-18” above the pool edge). The trouble is the pool is not perfectly square to the reel or vice versa. It’s close. But out enough that when I start to reel I have to tug gently on one side (unfortunately not the crank side) otherwise it’ll roll up shifting slightly down the tube until it all binds up on one end of the reel stand.

So, starting with cutting the cover itself - what’s the best way to get this set up so it rolls and unrolls easy peasy onto and off of the reel? I have a brand new set of straps and clamps too.

 

[Macboy]

Here are some photos of the current state of affairs. I'll make another thread with more overall detail and a few more pics. Of the pool in its entirety.

 

[Macboy]

I had a look at the reel and its orientation to the pool. I think I can get it a bit more perpendicular which will help a bit.

I my afternoon reading I saw a post where someone mentioned adding a cutout around the skimmer opening so that any thing on top of the cover could easily be hosed to the skimmer before rolling off the cover. Sounds like a good plan. Yes?

One of the "issues" with this pool is the factory location of the return. It's very very high. So high that with the existing cover I left an extra half circle when I trimmed it so that I could clamp it to the top rail above the return. If I didn't do this the return jet would push the cover away and then start flooding the top. I suspect I'll have to do the same here again with the new cover even though it's a heavier weight. Does anyone make a return with more of a "nozzle" as opposed to just the sort of "ball nozzle"? I'd like that for two reasons. The cover reasons and also to create a better circulation pattern in the pool.

 

[Newdude]

adding a cutout around the skimmer opening so that any thing on top of the cover could easily be hosed to the skimmer before rolling off the cover. Sounds like a good plan. Yes?

I always used my pool brush to sweep everything to an easy to reach spot, then scooped it off by hand.

The solar cover being all but stops surface movement so skimming is mostly useless if you sweep/hose the crud into the pool IMO.

The cover reasons and also to create a better circulation pattern in the pool.

You'd probably need to swap it out for a traditional adjustable nozzle. It would need some creative MacGuyvering to adapt the rigid PVC wall fitting to the flex pluming of the intex. Even if you hard piped the whole run, (always preferred) you'd have the same problem at the equipment and need to do it there instead.

 

[Pv2]

I had a look at the reel and its orientation to the pool. I think I can get it a bit more perpendicular which will help a bit.

I my afternoon reading I saw a post where someone mentioned adding a cutout around the skimmer opening so that any thing on top of the cover could easily be hosed to the skimmer before rolling off the cover. Sounds like a good plan. Yes?

One of the "issues" with this pool is the factory location of the return. It's very very high. So high that with the existing cover I left an extra half circle when I trimmed it so that I could clamp it to the top rail above the return. If I didn't do this the return jet would push the cover away and then start flooding the top. I suspect I'll have to do the same here again with the new cover even though it's a heavier weight. Does anyone make a return with more of a "nozzle" as opposed to just the sort of "ball nozzle"? I'd like that for two reasons. The cover reasons and also to create a better circulation pattern in the pool.

I eventually took that nozzle plate off since the fittiing for the intex vacuum cleaner had to go there and the vacuum was always running unless I was swimming. then I would just leave it as a more dispersed flow.