Dry-rotting liner above the water-line.

24' round above ground, full sun.

My first liner laster 13 years. This one is about 5 years old and the early sun really cooks one side of it until noon. In a 10' long area, just above the water-line, I keep getting small holes and at first I thought it was squirrel or cat claws. The holes start about 1/16th" in size and are eye-shaped, and they grow... and grow...., quickly. The biggest one is a horizontal slit about 3" long and 1/2" wide. The only way that I have found to arrest their growth is to fold some fiberglass cloth and glue it to the inside and outside of each end, then cover it with a patch made from a piece of liner that the pool store gave me. Vinyl repair glue won't hold it (the slit will just grow out from under the patch), so I tried Outdoor Goop, applied liberally. It seems to work pretty good so far. However the dry rot is getting worse and I'm afraid the whole area is just going to disintegrate.
It has been about 95 to 100 degrees most days most days since memorial Day and this month up until T.S. Alberto came blowing through and cooled it off with 6" of rain.
:confused: Is there anything I can put on the liner in this area to help condition and hopefully preserve the vinyl? I've thought about trying some automotive product like STP's Son Of A Gun, or ArmorAll. I think those are just silicon oil.
:confused: Does anyone have a better idea than what I've been doing?
Thanks, I know someone else must have the same problem. Any answers will be greatly appreciated.
Rusty

Answers or not, has anyone ever even heard of this problem?

That doesn't sound quite like typical UV degradation from the Sun....although that is certainly the most likely culprit. Any chance a really huge overdose of some chemical has affected it?

Here's an ugly preventative....drape a piece of tarp over that area for protection and remove it only when the pool is in use.

I've got to agree with Dave that it doesn't sound normal. Either you got a defective liner, or a chemistry problem has damaged the liner.

I don't know what the problem with your liner is, but I have seen a product online that addresses uv damage above the water line. I TOTALLY wish I could find the link...but I can't. :(

Essentially, the product is another piece of vinyl liner that is only about 12 inches wide...fits all the way around the top of your existing liner. It looks just like another vinyl liner border/area and it hangs just into the water (covers the vinyl exposed to the sun) I thought the brand was "love my liner" or something. I'm sorry I can't find the link.

Found a couple links that might address your problem. Hope it helps!

http://www.websweeper.com/php/pool_liners/ig-009.php

http://home.listings.ebay.com/Pools-...istingItemList

AmeriShield..that was it!! :D

Thankyou thankyou thankyou all. I will look into that.
I'll let you know how it comes out.
Rusty