COOL-SWIM

With a little practice, you can launch and retrieve your COOL-SWIM in minutes.  While a Cool-Swim can be a bit unwieldy if not deployed and retrieved properly, reading and following the instructions provided will enable you to easily become adept at quick deployment and storage.  Usually it takes only 3 minutes to deploy a 12.63 foot pool and 5 minutes to deploy a 20 foot pool.  Retrieval times are similar.

COOL-SWIM can be used successfully in a variety of swimming situations.

A swim platform is an excellent surface from which to use a COOL-SWIM. Start by taking the pool out of its storage bag and unraveling the pool on the swim platform. Locate the tie strap on the outside of the pool nearest to the air valve and tie onto the tie strap a short length of rope to use as a security line (2 – 4 feet long). This line will help you to control the pool as you feed the pool into the water, and then as you lay your swim ladder into the pool. It will also help you control the pool when you remove your swim ladder from the pool and begin to bring the pool back up to the swim platform when you are retrieving the pool. And most importantly, you will tie this line to your swim ladder to secure the pool to your boat. This security line keeps the pool attached to your boat and prevents it from floating away in the event that your swim ladder floats upwards. 

Put the air valve on the pool into the closed position, and begin pumping with the enclosed foot pump. COOL-SWIM cannot be over-inflated using the pump supplied; however, any type of electric or compressor pump could over-inflate and burst the float ring, ruining the pool. The pools typically only need 3-4 psi pressure for inflation. Feed the pool into the water as you inflate it. It does not take much air for the float ring to float and support the pool. As you feed the pool into the water, the weighted rope in the bottom of the pool will begin to take the netting down into the water, gently moving any jellyfish away.

If the pool develops kinks or folds while inflating, let the most eager swimmer slide into the pool and help the pool take shape. Once the pool is fully inflated, lay your swim ladder into the pool and tie the security line to your swim ladder. Remove the foot pump from the valve and put the dust cover back on the valve. You are now ready to swim. Enjoy!

Always retrieve the COOL-SWIM prior to any storm.

To retrieve the pool, first untie the security line from the swim ladder. Hold on to the security line. While someone holds the security line, lift the swim ladder out of the pool. Open the air valve dust cover on the float ring and put the valve into the open position. Much of the air in the float ring will rush right out. Gently, hand over hand, bring the pool up out of the water and onto the swim platform. Let any water drain from the netting for a few moments. What you do next with the pool will depend on whether you are heading to a new anchorage, or heading home. Please see  Caring for Your Boat Pool for instructions on each potential scenario.

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COOL-SWIM has been used successfully for many years from boats without swim platforms. Start by unrolling the float ring and unraveling the pool along the lifeline or railing along the side of the boat. Locate the tie strap on the outside of the pool nearest to the air valve and tie onto the tie strap a short length of rope to use as a security line (3 – 6 feet long). This line will help you to control the pool as you feed the pool into the water, and then as you lay your swim ladder into the pool. It will also help you control the pool when you remove your swim ladder from the pool and begin to bring the pool back up to the boat when you are retrieving the pool. And most importantly, you will tie this line to your swim ladder to secure the pool to your boat. This security line keeps the pool attached to your boat and prevents it from floating away in the event that your swim ladder floats upwards. It may also be helpful to tie one or two additional longer mooring lines to the tie straps along the sides of the pool. These lines can help you manage the pool to the stern of your boat, and can be tied off to cleats or stanchions to help hold the pool in place while in use.
Once the line(s) are tied onto the pool, position the pool with the float ring inside the lifeline/rail and the net hanging over the side of the boat into the water. Put the air valve on the pool into the closed position, and begin pumping with the enclosed foot pump. Inflate as hard as possible using the foot pump. The COOL-SWIM cannot be over-inflated using the pump supplied; however, any type of electric or compressor pump could over-inflate and burst the float ring, ruining the pool. The COOL-SWIM will tend to become a circle as the air pressure increases and will drop into the water. Hold the valve up near the pump and continue pumping to get all wrinkles out of the float ring. Remove the foot pump from the valve and put the dust cover back on the valve. While holding on to the security line and/or a mooring line, drop the Nettle Net overboard, pull into position at the stern of the boat with the mooring lines, and gently drop the ladder into the pool

Always retrieve the COOL-SWIM prior to any storm.
To retrieve the pool, first untie the security line from the swim ladder. Hold on to the security line, or a mooring line. While someone holds one of the lines, lift the swim ladder out of the pool. Pull the pool forward away from the stern (and the rudder and propeller) along the side of the boat, open the air valve dust cover on the float ring and put the valve into the open position. Much of the air in the float ring will rush right out. Pull the float ring together and up and over the lifeline (2 or 3 feet at a time), reversing the deployment steps, leaving the net hanging outside the lifeline/rail. Don’t fight the boat if it is sailing over the float ring—wait until the boat reverses direction away from the float ring before retrieving the pool. 

Once the pool is on deck, let any water drain from the netting for a few moments. What you do next with the pool will depend on whether you are heading to a new anchorage, or heading home. Please see Caring for Your Boat Pool for instructions on each potential scenario.

About 25% of our customers currently use their COOL-SWIM successfully from a pier or dock.  However, to minimize the risk of the pool coming into contact with sharp barnacles which can damage the pool, you should prepare the dock prior to launching your COOL-SWIM for the first time.  These preparations include a installing a retractable swim ladder, removing barnacles from pilings and surfaces near the pool area, and putting indoor/outdoor carpeting on the pilings and dock edges where the pool could come into contact.

Once you have prepared your dock and are ready to launch your pool, remove the pool from its mesh storage bag and unravel the pool on your dock. Be careful of splintered wood, nail heads, or any sharp objects that could catch on the netting or possibly damage the float ring. Locate the tie strap on the outside of the pool nearest to the air valve and tie onto the tie strap a short length of rope to use as a security line (2 – 6 feet long, depending on the height of your dock from the water). This line will help you to control the pool as you feed the pool into the water and when you begin to bring the pool back up to the dock when you are retrieving the pool. And most importantly, you will tie this line to your swim ladder to secure the pool to your dock. Depending on the wind, tide, and current, you will probably also want to tie one or two additional longer mooring lines to the tie straps along the sides of the pool. These lines can be tied off to cleats, pilings, or even boats to help hold the pool in place while in use.

Put the air valve on the pool into the closed position, and begin pumping with the enclosed foot pump. Inflate as hard as possible using the foot pump. The COOL-SWIM cannot be over-inflated using the pump supplied; however, any type of electric or compressor pump could over-inflate and burst the float ring, ruining the pool. Feed the pool into the water after you can see the float ring starting to fill with air. Hold the valve up near the pump and continue pumping to get all wrinkles out of the float ring. Remove the foot pump from the valve and put the dust cover back on the valve. While holding on to the security line and/or a mooring line, drop the rest of the COOL-SWIM into the water, pull into position resting against the swim ladder. Secure the pool to the ladder with the security line, and tie off the mooring lines to convenient cleats or pilings to hold the pool in place against the swim ladder. You are ready to swim! Enjoy!

You can enter and exit the pool by the swim ladder. Be careful and step gently as you step on the pool material that is resting against the swim ladder.

Never leave a pool deployed off a dock or pier in a storm or in rough weather. It is not recommended to leave a COOL-SWIM in the water overnight off a dock or use for more than three successive days without drying the net. Storms and excessive algae will damage a COOL-SWIM. There is also a risk in leaving a pool in the water overnight that a passing boat could hit or become entangled by a pool, possibly destroying the pool and damaging the boat.

To retrieve the pool, first untie or loosen the mooring lines. Make sure that the lines are still secure, or that someone is holding them, to prevent the pool from floating away. Then untie the security line from the swim ladder. Hold on to the security line. Lift the pool enough so that you can open the air valve. Open the air valve dust cover on the float ring and put the valve into the open position. Much of the air in the float ring will rush right out. Gently, hand over hand, bring the pool up out of the water and onto the dock. Let any water drain from the netting for a few moments.

For information on storing your pool, click here.