buy a used Doughboy pool..

by Phil
(SoCal)

showing deep end.

I'm about to maybe buy a used 2 year old large (18X38) Doughboy pool with deck, pump, filter and all the accessories. Main problem with this I see is that it's sat drained/empty for about 4 weeks, with it being full of dirt and the deep end has some green/algae water in it. If I get this I'll probably not use the deep end feature though.

The owners have never cut the liner for size or anything so much of it all the way around overhangs the outside walls at least about 3 feet. So there's plenty of "room" on the liner in case any shrinkage may have occurred. I have more pics too if needed, and in the above one all that gray bit is solid DIRT and I think alkaline, etc.

I'm wondering if this liner is salvageable and/or what's the best way to clean all the dirt and muck without damaging the liner? Local Doughboy dealer says NO acid, but says he has a cleaning solution we could use, etc.

thanks
Phil

Hi Phil, A plain blue flat bottom 20 gauge liner would be so inexpensive to purchase. The cheapest liner you could find would be a big improvement over trying to use the old one. For a little more money you could buy a Doughboy, 20 mil UD liner. Then you would have, what I consider, is the best liner made. One that will last you ten years or better.

You will never be able to clean the liner to the point where it looks decent. The area that has been stretched into the deep area will shrink and wrinkle like crazy. You will very likely have a very wrinkly, dirty mess.

If you are able to clean it and want to reuse it I would recommend gluing large patches over the skimmer and return openings. This would allow you to stretch the liner into place and possibly keep the wrinkles to a minimum.

In my opinion the garbage can is the best place for that liner. A new one will make the whole job so much easier and you will get it done a lot quicker.