closing of AG

I have an 18x33 oval above ground, one year I used the bottles hanging from the eyelet method, but that ripped my eyelits out. Recently I've been doing the cable and releasing it when it freezes.
I have a few questions:
-I have trouble keeping the pillows inflated and stationary, by spring they are at the bottom of the pool, what other method can I use??/ I was thinking about two thick tire tubes?

-Last year the ice shifted and punctured my liner, so now I have a new liner, and paranoid about another shift, is there a way of preventing this??

-And of the two methods previously used for the cover, which one would you suggest?? bottles or cables??

Keep in mind I live in Massachusetts, which equals snow,ice and more snow.
Thanks
Barry

Inner tubes work really well but I suggest you get about 6 or 8 of them--truck tire inner tubes. Tie them together with some sort of synthetic rope, and tie them to the sides of the pool so they stay centered. But leave slack in the tie lines so they can move a little.

My dad had an 18x33 in upstate NY and this is how he managed. He used a cover with a cable, and would periodically pump the water off the cover, usually into the pool itself. He did this for around 20 years, refusing to pay $$$ for pool pillows when he could get the old, but still serviceable truck inner tubes for free.

Carl

I use a safety mesh but my AG is more like an IG with a stable deck around it that doesn't get affected by the water level nor depends on the pool sides.

where can I find used tire tubes, I checked with the local tire company and they didn't have any, the kids take them in the summer time he said.
Or is there something else I can use besides the dreaded pillows

Sorry, I cannot help you with that. Try a junkyard, maybe???

I have been searching for years how to properly cover a pool for the winter without sustaining damage to the walls. I am trying this this year:

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/s.../poolcover.jpg

I have 2 15x4 pillows tied together in the middle. This is a 27' round pool. Any thoughts?

Looks good. Be sure to keep up with clearing snow and pumping off rain water.

Thanks. So how do normal people close pools without having to drain water or clear snow off of it? Is this a real thing or do they all require some attention during the off-season?

Well, some don't cover it at all, or just use a net. But if the pool is not losing water and you have sufficient air pillows, the water and snow won't collect so much.