Caring For Your Boat Pool
You have several options as to what to do with your COOL-SWIM once you have retrieved it from the water. If you are heading to another anchorage, you can let the pool sit in your cockpit or on your aft deck. It can sit in the open, or you may want to stuff it into a plastic bag. Whatever you do, please make sure that the pool cannot fall off of the boat, especially when you are underway. If you want to dry the pool right away, you can spread it out on your deck to dry. Please be careful to protect the pool from any sharp objects, or any objects on which you could catch and tear the netting or float ring. Due to space limitations on your boat, you may need to adjust the netting periodically to air out all sections to dry. Since none of the materials of the pool absorb water, the pools dry in about an hour in the sun. If you are heading back home or back to port, you may want to stuff the pool into a plastic bag. That way you can easily transport the pool home, where you can rinse and dry it.
The pool can stay wet inside a plastic or storage bag for a short period of time, perhaps a day or a couple days. DO NOT STORE THE POOL WET FOR ANY LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. The pool should not rot if stored wet, but anything that is stored wet could develop mildew. You especially want to be sure to fully dry the pool if there are any algae (green or brown color) on the net. Drying kills algae that would decay and produce an unpleasant odor. Once you are ready to store your pool, give it a rinse with fresh water and let it fully dry in the sun.
Storing
After each use
Once you are ready to store your COOL-SWIM, give it a rinse with fresh water and let it fully dry in the sun.
When the pool is dry you are ready to roll up the pool. Lay the pool out and find the end of the float ring opposite the air valve. There should be a tie strap at approximately that position. Put the valve into the open position. Begin rolling the float ring from the end opposite the valve, with the float ring material doubled over. Gather and flip the netting material occasionally as you roll the float ring. Rolling the float ring with the air valve open squeezes any remaining air out of the float ring. When you are done rolling, put the air valve back into the closed position for storage, and in preparation for the next time you will inflate the pool. Close the dust cover on the valve.
Fold the netting material over the valve to protect the valve and stuff the pool back into its mesh storage bag. Tighten the drawstring and you are ready to store the pool.
End of season care
At the end of the season, fresh water rinse your COOL-SWIM on your lawn, dry in the sun and store in a dry dark area. You could also soak your pool in a tub or clean bucket or trashcan in a very mild water and detergent mix. This will help keep the netting softer over a period of years. Fresh water rinse and dry your pool before storage.
Minor Repairs
Although COOL-SWIM is manufactured from expensive, tough and light hi-tech composite fabrics, tears or punctures may occasionally occur - almost always from overlooked sharp objects such as barnacles, shells or exposed screws or bolts.
Net repairs
Carry a needle and thread (preferably nylon or polyester) on your boat and simply stitch a torn net together. If you are not comfortable with tackling the job, give us an email or call. We can advise you or you could send the pool to us to do the job for a reasonable fee.
Float ring repairs
First, try to avoid situations where the pool could become damaged. Try to police the parts of your boat where the pool may come in contact (particularly around the stern) and remove or cover sharp objects. Dock users should read the Launching and Retrieving from a Dock or Pier section of this website for additional information.
Repairs for the 12.63 Foot pool float rings are as follows.
Buy now a small bottle of contact cement with a brush (a form of rubber cement). This is a brand name, manufactured by the DAP Company. You can find bottles at your local hardware store. No other glue or adhesive will work and will actually make it difficult to subsequently do a proper repair.
To repair the 20 Foot pool float ring, please use the repair kit included with your pool and follows the instructions provided.
Repair of small pinhole leaks or seepage leaks
First, find the leak by submerging the float ring under the water to locate air bubbles. Second, mark the exact location of the air bubbles with a number 2 lead pencil. Third, after the float ring is completely dry, brush 3 coats of contact cement over a 1/2 inch area centered on the bubble location. Let the contact cement dry one hour or more between each coat. The last coat must dry overnight before inflating the pool to be a permanent repair. More than 3 coats are better.
First, find the leak by submerging the float ring under the water to locate air bubbles. Second, mark the exact location of the air bubbles with a number 2 lead pencil. Third, after the float ring is completely dry, brush 3 coats of contact cement over a 1/2 inch area centered on the bubble location. Let the contact cement dry one hour or more between each coat. The last coat must dry overnight before inflating the pool to be a permanent repair. More than 3 coats are better.
Repair of leaks larger than 1mm:
Make a patch 1 inch larger than the hole by simply putting 3 coats of contact cement on both sides of any small piece of fabric (with at least 35% polyester content) and around the damaged area, letting each coat dry until tacky. Then roll the patch over the damaged area. Women’s panty or bra material, 100% nylon or polyester, works best, as it is very stretchy. This provides a nice flexible patch and will be a permanent repair. No other type of patching (except with original material) is likely to work because the material will not stretch enough. If you are not comfortable with tackling the job, give us an email or call. We can advise you or you could send the pool to us to do the job for a reasonable fee.
If you do not feel comfortable with tackling a repair job, give us an email or call. We can advise you or you could send the pool to us to do the job for a reasonable fee.
