Help Deciding replace liner or whole pool?

[wmshay6]

A little background-

I have a 24 Round AG Doughboy with a deep center(48" at sides, 54" at center). The pool uses the doughboy expandable liner. The pool is approximately 15 years old and it's time for a new liner and to build a deck around the thing. I also want to take the wall down while the liner is out to move the location of the skimmer and return so the pump is no longer under my bedroom window.

New liner from doughboy is $1000. New skimmer and return kit with hard plumb kit is another $250. Plus moving the pool may require some new bottom rails if the existing rails are in poor shape. Potential another $200.

Local pool store can sell me a new 24' Round AG for $1300 with a 52" wall. Does not include pump / filter, but I can use my existing for a few more years until it gives up the ghost.

I see several options:

1) Install the $1000 liner (OUCH!)

2) Buy a 52" liner ($400) and install it on a hot day and hope it does OK stretching into the deep center.

3) Replace the whole shebang with a new 24' pool

Some questions for more those that know more than me:

1) will a 52" liner "stretch" to work in this pool as the pool guy told me?

2) What should I be looking for in a new pool? Resin parts? Aluminum or steel walls?

3) I am handy so installing the replacement doesn't bother me- especially considering the hard part of leveling the spot is already done. I have read some directions online and the process seems simple enough. Am I missing something here or is it really as simple as it sounds?

Thanks for reading my LONG post and responding with your thoughts.!!

[JohnT]

My thinking is you aren't going to get a pool that is near the quality of the Doughboy for $1300.

Have you considered just using hard PVC underground to connect your existing skimmers and returns while moving the pump and filter away from the pool? As long as you don't change the elevation, there shouldn't be any problem, and often the skimmer location is chosen to perform best with the prevailing winds. The only downside to this is the trenching required and the slight extra effort of blowing the lines out to winterize. The trenching doesn't have to be very deep since the lines will be winterized. You could even leave them on the surface if the deck will cover them.

[wmshay6]

Thanks for your thoughts John:

I'm not trying to be obstinate here, just trying to learn:

Why do you say the Doughboy is a better pool? Both pools would be rolled galvanized steel and the structure seems similar in material and form.

On the skimmer, I suspect that it was located to minimize the electrical run for the pump. The previous owner was cheap. When you say they are located based on prevailing winds, should the winds blow towards the skimmer or away from it? I suspect towards so that it would catch more debris, but who knows. . ..

[posguy]

I would think a reg old 48" liner would stretch to 54" in the middle if it is a saucer shape. You could get some more sand in there to shape it if you want to replace the liner inexpensively. When I had my 24' above ground installed 10 yrs ago, the installers said they could "saucer" the bottom up to 12", and the liner would stretch without a problem, although I only chose 6".

I dont have a doughboy so cant comment on its quality, but I bought a "middle of the road" pool 10 yrs ago and it is still in great shape.
If you definately want to move it, go new.

[wmshay6]

Thanks POSGuy, So you're saying you have a regular ol' liner and the installers installed it in a saucer shape in your pool? That is what I have, essentially a big bowl. 48" at the walls and 54" in the middle. (6" deeper in the middle- sounds like what you have).

Tried to send an e-mail to you, but the forum won't let me, if you'd be willing to answer some more questions from me, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

[posguy]

Yes, I have a 52" pool with a 6" saucer. I replaced my liner a year or 2 ago myself. It wasnt as easy as everyone makes it sound (or maybe its me), but I did it with no wrinkles, if anything, the saucer made it easier to remove the wrinkles.