Replacing a skimmer

by Brian
(Columbus, Ohio)

I recently bought a house with an above ground pool (18x33). The pools has not been used for a few years and I am replacing the liner. The skimmer is shot (plastic broken, no basket etc..). From what I can tell it is a Muskin skimmer model A4372. From my searches it seems that model is now obsolete. I can not find any info on replacement models etc. Do you know if there is a replacement model or how I can correctly replace it. The cut out in the pool seems a lot larger than the skimmers I find online.

Thanks for your help

Hi Brian, Muskin used a very large skimmer design for many years. They are probably very hard to find now. I would not buy one even if I could find it. It was never my favorite design.

I would tape a piece of coil stock metal or aluminum to the inside of the wall to cover up the skimmer opening and cut a new hole to fit a standard Hayward skimmer. Hayward makes a far better skimmer and they are much easier to get parts and gaskets for.

When cutting a new skimmer opening I start by drilling two holes at the top, using the new faceplate as a template. I use these holes to bolt the faceplate into place on the outside of the wall. I then drill the rest of the screw holes. I use a pencil and mark the square opening. I remove the faceplate and score the pencil lines with a razor blade. I then use a hole saw and cut a large hole in the middle of the square. I use tin snips to cut from the center to each corner. Now you have four sections that can be bent back and forth until they snap off.