Blue Wave BWC804 Silver 12-Year 18-ft Round Above Ground Winter Pool Cover, FEET, Forest Green

1) It will never last 12 years.2) Two years full warranty then prorated after that.3) Even if you show pictures of the damage, they will likely want you to ship it back so they can "inspect" it.4) The shipping cost for you to return it and for them to send you another is on you.5) They will invariably try to say you did something wrong that caused the damage and therefore, not their fault.So, these are just a few things to consider when purchasing a new cover and its cost.

Fit very nice had cable and turn buckle

This cover lasted at least one winter and I’ll use it again this coming winter. That’s more than I can say for the past two I bought on Amazon.

Basically, it's a quality fiber-reinforced cover with metal grommets for the vinyl coated cable the securely wraps the cover around the pool using a hand-turned ratchet gadget. I'm happy winterizing our 18' round Intex with this cover except for the ratchet quality.We had a few issues primarily related to the wind gusts in our area. Without water on top of the cover, the wind would create upward pressure forcing the secured cabling to climb the exterior of the pool. The soft-metal ratchet that tightened the cable was tight as possible without breaking. To prevent the cover from climbing, 9 ground stakes were placed around the perimeter of the pool, and a light-weight nylon rope wrapped the pool in a zig-zag pattern tying the cover (through the cover's metal grommets) to the ground stakes. On our 18' round Intex pool, the stakes were placed at every other pole (and at angle closest to the ground.) This tie-down pattern helped to create enough resistance to the incremental climbing effect caused by the relentless wind gusts. This was last year, our first year.Unfortunately, we didn't properly store the cover over the summer. I'm guessing it was the lawn mower's exhaust muffler that burned a hole in the cover. The hole was about 1.5" in diameter, and I didn't notice the hole until the cover was draped over the pool. This was frustrating since I just dosed the pool with shock and algaecide. Anyway, I could reach the hole and managed to patch it using the rubberized Flex Tape (as seen on TV.) The tape was applied to both sides of the cover. Super sticky stuff. I wiped both sides around the hole clean, and then placed the rubberized Flex Tape on each side covering the hole top & bottom. The temp was about 45 degrees F at the time, and the cover wasn't totally dry when I applied the tape. But the tape adhered nicely -- I burnished the two sides together. If your cover has manageable tears or holes, it might be worth checking out the rubberized Flex Tape... as seen on TV.The next and hopefully final problem is the weak ratchet. The relentless wind gusts (we live near the Great South Bay on Long Island) put enough tension on the ratchet assembly forcing the ratchet's pawl pin out of the housing. As a result, the cabling loosened, and the cover draped into the pool. BTW, this happened the day prior to the planned zig-zag tie-down mentioned above. Until I locate a better ratchet, I'm using a mini C-clamp to keep the pawl & pin in place.Given a better cabling ratchet, I'd give the product 5 stars.

Only lasted 1 winter

I don't post many reviews, but I shop mostly online. I had to post about this, because it does have many good reviews.I purchased this in July 2021 and used it for two Pennsylvania winters. My previous two covers lasted seven years and four years. After 2 years of using this cover, it is developing a hole in the middle, which will definitely turn into something bigger if I continue to use it. The warranty specifically says it doesn't cover holes, even though this is not in any fault of my own, but of the material weakening. I purchased this even though it cost a little more than others. I was enticed by the 12-year limited warranty and all the positive reviews. However, in order to use the warranty (only covered if fabric deteriorates), you are obligated to pay for shipping the cover back to the manufacturer for them to fix or replace it and for the shipping to return it back to you. When I received it and the ratchet was weak and my husband had to add to it so it stays hooked, I should have returned it then. I had submitted some pictures of the limited warranty so you know in advance of what you are purchasing. I would rather purchase a lesser value one that may last two to six years. Just be warned that the warranty of most of these covers are useless!

Purchased in 2019. Very strong and durable. Did not open pool last season to focus on other purchases around the house. The pool cover stayed on and stayed strong. I will replace this year when I close the pool but it is the best cover I’ve used yet. Most won’t last a year and this was lasted 4 with staying on all last summer as well. Highly recommended.

I'm in eastern Pennsylvania, so the cover goes on for October through April (7 months). This is probably the most cheaply-made cover I have ever put on the pool. As it is, I usually only get two seasons out of a high-quality cover. I suspect this one will last just one season.The cover itself is like a large round tarp with grommets, nothing special. It feels thin. The higher-quality units I have purchased in the past are thicker and heavier. The provided cable was long enough and does the job of holding the cover fast. The provided winch is about the same quality as I have gotten with every cover I have purchased. The cover I got had a defect such that a hole was punched in it (the size of a grommet hole). It was not in a position for a grommet, so it was clearly a manufacturing error. However, it is close enough to the outer edge of the cover that it does not affect the function of it. I think it increases the likelihood that the cover will tear in that spot.The size of the cover is more than enough for a 24' round swimming pool. I estimate there is about one foot of overlap on each side. This is with an air pillow in the center of the pool and the water level about a foot from the top.Our pool's location is such that it is tough on the winter covers. There are nearby maple and pine trees that drop plenty of leaves and needles onto the cover. Although I try to keep it clean of those things by using the leaf rake, the pine needles in particular seem to destroy even the most rugged winter covers after two seasons. Based on the quality of this one, I expect it to last just one season. I learned the hard way...Once the cover allows water to penetrate it, it is worthless and you will be opening a green pool in the spring.One of the reasons I chose this unit was because it was Amazon Prime eligible. I do not think I would purchase this cover again. I would go with either the cheapest cover (which I hope would also last one season) or try a different brand at a similar pricepoint to see if I luck out and get better quality.Your mileage may vary. If you are located in a warmer climate where the cover is not used as long or not subject to strong winds, snow, ice, leaves and pine needles, a cover like this one could last you several years. If you are looking at pool covers, you already know that pools are expensive to operate, and the winter cover is a trivial expense in the big picture. Good luck.