Tons of leaves on bottom when opening pool - options to vacuum it out

[noturbizniss]

So last year and this year when i open my pool i pay the pool guy to vacuum the leaves that build up on the bottom.This year it cost me $220. Last year was about the same. I can't just use my dolphin, but i figure i can definitely do this on my own and buy something that will pay for itself in a couple years. They use a powervac, but it looks like the powervac 2100 would run $800 or more just for the unit before buying hoses or anything.
Can anyone recommend another option for me to do this myself?
It took the guy almost 3 hours to vacuum it our as it was really leafy and messy.

Thanks

 

[kimmielea]

Last time I had a bunch of leaves on the bottom, I used one of these Leaf Baggers. Since then I have made sure my winter cover is tight and haven't had issues with opening to leaves.

 

[CUTiger78]

Last time I had a bunch of leaves on the bottom, I used one of these Leaf Baggers. Since then I have made sure my winter cover is tight and haven't had issues with opening to leaves.

I second the leaf bagger idea.

 

[noturbizniss]

Cool, thanks! That should do it! Unfortunately i dont think my cover can get any tighter. It's mesh

 

[kimmielea]

I have a tarp cover and I make sure to put my aquablocks overlapping each other. However, I am buying a new cover this year and I'm going with either mesh or solid, so I may have the leaf issue next year. Luckily I still have my leaf bagger.

 

[DorsalSpine]

I've been much happier with a solid cover. The water is clear when I open in the spring vs. green when I had a mesh cover. You have to pump the water off the top of the solid cover when it rains. The pump came with the cover. I just switched to an auto cover which came with a pump as well.

 

[noturbizniss]

The water itself was clear this year when we opened it. Only issue was the leaves. The cover is working and i know im gonna have to redo the coping and tile in next few years so i gotta spare the spending :-(