Vingli or Rocky's Pool Reel for an Old Gal

[skilgore]

My husband and I are going back and forth between Vingli's and Rocky's pool reels. Money is a concern, but I don't want to purchase the Vingli reel if I can't use it by myself. I don't want to use blocks or sandbags that I see suggested to keep the Vingli reel from moving when I take the 12 mil cover off and on my 18x36 pool. This 64 year old body doesn't want (maybe can't) remove the weights when I want to move the reel out of the way. Is it really worth the extra $400 for the Rocky reel? Thanks.

 

[Homebrewale]

I have a reel now on my new pool that is similar to Vingli. It will scoot some on the concrete when I pull the solar cover off the reel to cover the pool. I use sand bags to hold it in place. On my previous pool, I had a Rocky Reel. I install the anchors in the concrete so I could secure the reel to the concrete. It kept the reel from tipping.

Another option is to attach a pull rope to the cover. When pulling a solar cover off the reel, you are doing it at an angle from the reel because you need to walk along side of the pool while pulling it off. This is what makes the reel move or tip. If you attach a pull rope to the center of the cover and stand at the opposite end of the pull, you can pull the cover straight off the reel. I'm getting a new solar cover this week and I'm thinking of trying this on the new cover. It also helps to buy the lightest cover you can. The 12 mil cover you have is heavy. I'm getting an 8 mil cover.