How to attach 52" ladder to 48" pool

[nicole12]

We have a 48" pool with a ladder that supposedly is both for a 48" and 52". However they are at least 4" higher than the top of the pool. For the past 2 years we used a long nut and bolt and put some spacers between the ladder and pool on the bolt for extra support. The movement of the ladder this year really bent the bolts and started to crack the top of the pool.

Any ideas on how to mount to the pool seeing there is such a gap in between? I'm closing the pool this week so I have a whole winter to figure it out.