Product Information
Description
Merlin Solid XLS 20' x 40' Rectangle w/ Center Step Pool Safety Cover with Mesh Drain Panel
Lighter, stronger, completely opaque.
The Merlin Solid XLS Safety Cover for 20' x 40' Rectangle w/ Center Step pools (SKU PST-12WXGR, MPN 12WXGR) is 11.5 oz per square yard vinyl coated polyester that forms a complete barrier to water, dirt, dust and sunlight, and it does it while running 22% lighter and 90% stronger than typical solid covers. Merlin's patented window mesh filter panel drains rain and snowmelt back into the pool while screening out sediment, so there is no ponding on top and no pump to run. The cover stretches taut on Merlin's patented stainless steel springs and brass deck anchors, never resting on the water, and meets or exceeds ASTM F1346.
A Complete Barrier
Solid vinyl coated polyester stops water, dirt, dust and sunlight at the surface. Algae gets no light, your liner or plaster gets no silt, and the water you close with in October is the water you open in April. The XLS runs 11.5 oz per square yard and stretches taut across the pool rather than resting on it, so the cover works as a barrier over the water instead of a floating sheet.
22% Lighter, 90% Stronger
Solid covers are usually the heavy, awkward option. Merlin engineered the XLS to be 22% lighter than typical solid covers so fall install and spring removal are genuinely manageable, and 90% stronger so the weight savings cost you nothing in durability. That combination is the whole point of the line: total light block without the wrestling match at both ends of the season.
Patented Window Mesh Filter Panel
A solid cover has to shed rain and snowmelt somewhere. Merlin's patented window mesh filter panel lets water drain back into the pool while screening out the sediment that comes with it, which is why this version needs no automatic cover pump, no extension cord, and no trip outside after every storm. Keep the panel clear of packed leaves and ice and the cover manages winter water on its own.
Who It's For
Homes With Kids & Pets
Anchored and tensioned, the cover is a taut physical barrier over the water, meeting or exceeding ASTM F1346, for the months the pool sits unattended.
Heavy Debris Backyards
Pools under oaks, pines or cottonwoods. Nothing washes through solid vinyl, so leaf litter and pollen never reach the water.
Fastest Spring Openings
No light means no algae bloom and no silt on the floor, so opening is pull, top off, and start the pump instead of a week of vacuuming.
Vinyl Liner Pools
Complete light block shields the liner pattern from winter UV while the cover keeps staining organics and dirty runoff out of the water entirely.
Why PST Customers Pick This
Real Safety Barrier
Spring tension and brass deck anchors hold the cover taut over the water so it never rests on the surface, helping keep children and pets out.
Blocks All Sunlight
Vinyl coated polyester is a complete barrier to sunlight, water, dirt and dust, which is what makes a solid cover open cleaner than any mesh.
Window Mesh Panel
The patented mesh filter panel drains rain and snowmelt into the pool while screening sediment, so no automatic cover pump is required.
90% Stronger
Merlin builds the XLS 90% stronger and 22% lighter than typical solid covers, so you get durability without the usual solid-cover handling penalty.
2-Ply Webbing
Heavy duty triple stitched straps run into polypropylene and nylon 2-ply webbing, secured with stainless steel buckles at every spring.
Complete Install Kit
Brass concrete anchors, stainless springs and spring covers, an allen wrench, installation rod, storage bag and instructions all ship in the box.
Keep the Drain Clear
Under ASTM F1346 a solid vinyl cover must use an automatic pump or built-in drainage to clear standing water; this cover relies on its mesh filter panel, so keep that panel free of packed leaves and ice all winter. Set every anchor in sound concrete, tension each spring to Merlin's instructions, recheck tension through the season, and never allow anyone to walk on the cover.
Full Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover come with a drain panel or an automatic pump?
This listing is the mesh drain panel version. Merlin's patented window mesh filter panel lets rain and snowmelt drain into the pool while screening out sediment, which satisfies the ASTM requirement that a solid cover clear standing water. also builds an automatic cover pump version of the XLS at additional cost if you prefer to pump water off the top.
Should I choose the Solid XLS or the Dura-Mesh II?
The XLS blocks 100% of light and all debris, so you open to the cleanest possible water. Dura-Mesh II is 6.4 oz mesh at 95% shade that drains freely everywhere across the cover and weighs less to handle. Pick solid for heavy-debris yards and the fastest opening, mesh for the lowest seasonal maintenance.
What size cover should I order?
Order by your pool's water dimensions. A 20' x 40' cover is built for a 20' x 40' pool; Merlin cuts the finished cover 1 ft larger on all sides so it overlaps the deck and reaches the anchors. If your pool has a step section, order the matching step shape so the cover follows your outline instead of bridging the steps.
Can I install this myself?
Most owners can. You lay the cover out, drill anchor sockets into the concrete deck with a hammer drill and masonry bit, set the included brass anchors, then stretch each spring on with the included installation rod. Stainless steel and wood deck anchors are available at extra cost. The XLS is 22% lighter than typical solid covers, which makes the first fit far easier.
Will water pond on top of a solid cover?
Not while the mesh filter panel can drain. Keep the panel clear of packed leaves and ice and brush heavy wet snow off the middle of the cover after big storms. A blocked drain is the one thing that lets a solid cover load up with water.
Which colors does the XLS come in?
Merlin makes the Solid XLS in blue, green, gray and tan. This listing is the color shown in the title, which is the color we stock for fast shipment.
What does the warranty cover?
Merlin backs the Solid XLS with a 10 year limited warranty, first 2 years full and the remainder prorated, against defects in materials and workmanship. Keep your proof of purchase and run any claim through PST Pool Supplies as your authorized dealer.
Order Your Merlin Solid XLS Cover
Authorized Merlin dealer. Solid XLS covers ship free from PST Pool Supplies.
Additional Info
| Category | Seasonal Pool Winterizing Pool Safety Covers |
| SKU | PST-12WXGR |
| MPN | 12WXGR |
| Manufacturer | Merlin |
| Weight | 95.0 lb |
Let customers speak for us
The bulb was lost in transit and PST reached out proactively to ask if I wanted a replacement shipped out!
part was an exact fit for my old spa, price was great thanks
Fast shipping and great customer support. I appreciate all of the help in getting my spa up and working.
The cord worked perfectly when I upgraded my older Balboa spa and pump.
I had a leak in which water was leaking out to the waste line. I could hear the water trickling in the waste line. The spider gasket in this kit resolved the issue.
Shipping and delivery were quick. Would definitely order again from PST.
Fit perfectly and works great.
Awesome item. I can control my spa from my phone!! Love it. Item was shipoed out and delivered so fast. Hooking it up was a breeze.
The support staff to make the orders were outstanding; even though I made a quantity error. And the timeliness of all the repair parts I needed to get the OLD Tiger Shark running as good as new was wonderful. My pool is crystal clear.
Fit perfectly on our bubbler lightv
The only place I could find with the part I needed. Delivery was fast and the price was great. Best pool supply store on the web.
Part was easy to find and arrived a couple of days earlier than originally scheduled.
The ceramic spindle in the center of the original impellor broke. Replacement with this part was super easy and pump performs like new.
