After years of struggling with getting my 24' x54" AGP covered for winter, I finally found a simple (almost FREE) solution. Let me preface this by explaining that due to many trees, including pines, spruces, maples, beech, and walnut, leaving it uncovered would create a quagmire over the winter (needles) and a mess in the spring (seed pods.) I'm sure someone has already done this hack before, but it was a first for me. (Seems I have a tendency to be a little late to the innovation party, thus my absolute need for TFP!) 
Total build time: 20 minutes
Total cost of build: $0.00 (You can beg, borrow, or steal everything you need. NOTE: Option #3 at your own risk!)
Total time to install my cover, including securing it: 15 minutes.
Total time last year: One hour, including a delightful 10-minute trip to the middle of the pool in 54-degree water
to untangle the cover from the air pillow ropes.
Now for the trick... Using two pool poles, one 12' and one 18', I extended them until they reached around 22-23' in total to keep them as stiff as possible. Both terminal ends are of the poles are 1" in diameter, pretty much standard. Using a 12" leftover piece of 1.5" Schedule 40 PVC pipe, I simply went about one inch above the highest hole in the end of each pole with several wraps of duct tape, until I had a snug fit. Then I slid the PVC "connector" over the taped ends and secured it tightly to each pole with a couple wraps of duct tape. I'm sure 1.25" PVC would probably require less taping of the pole, but I am inherently frugal (CHEAP!) whenever possible; especially when "hacking" something together. I only had free 1.5" PVC; no need to buy a 10-ft. piece of 1.25" when I had the free do-it-all duct tape right here begging to be used!
Once your contraption is finished, just use a few 6" zip ties through the eyelets on the leading edge of your winter cover. With the help of one assistant, simply lift up the leading edge of the cover and walk it across the top of the pool. Using an air pillow? Lift it up a couple feet until you clear the pillow, then finish covering the pool. Cut the zip ties, cinch down the cover. Remove the duct tape and store the poles until next spring. It was even fairly windy when we did ours, but all still went smoothly. Good luck if you decide to try it!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Gary
Total build time: 20 minutes
Total cost of build: $0.00 (You can beg, borrow, or steal everything you need. NOTE: Option #3 at your own risk!)
Total time to install my cover, including securing it: 15 minutes.
Total time last year: One hour, including a delightful 10-minute trip to the middle of the pool in 54-degree water
to untangle the cover from the air pillow ropes.Now for the trick... Using two pool poles, one 12' and one 18', I extended them until they reached around 22-23' in total to keep them as stiff as possible. Both terminal ends are of the poles are 1" in diameter, pretty much standard. Using a 12" leftover piece of 1.5" Schedule 40 PVC pipe, I simply went about one inch above the highest hole in the end of each pole with several wraps of duct tape, until I had a snug fit. Then I slid the PVC "connector" over the taped ends and secured it tightly to each pole with a couple wraps of duct tape. I'm sure 1.25" PVC would probably require less taping of the pole, but I am inherently frugal (CHEAP!) whenever possible; especially when "hacking" something together. I only had free 1.5" PVC; no need to buy a 10-ft. piece of 1.25" when I had the free do-it-all duct tape right here begging to be used!
Once your contraption is finished, just use a few 6" zip ties through the eyelets on the leading edge of your winter cover. With the help of one assistant, simply lift up the leading edge of the cover and walk it across the top of the pool. Using an air pillow? Lift it up a couple feet until you clear the pillow, then finish covering the pool. Cut the zip ties, cinch down the cover. Remove the duct tape and store the poles until next spring. It was even fairly windy when we did ours, but all still went smoothly. Good luck if you decide to try it!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Gary
