Interesting note to cut up a large cover. I have an odd shaped pool, so I was thinking I'd need to buy a much larger solar cover in order to cut it to shape to fit in as 1 piece. Plus with a reel it seemed I would catch the cover on the curves of the pool as I reeled it in. And of course buying a reel is even more cost!

For those who cut up a large cover, how or where do you store it when you're in the pool (since I assume you can't use a reel)? I also have a vinyl safety fence around the pool; will it be easy or light to pull the cover out? What prevents the pieces from moving around and overlapping?

Finally, how would this compare to buying the solar disks? Although you'd have more gaps between the solar disks, it seems that the benefit is easier storage.