CharaVector 18FT Solar Pool Cover Reel Set for Inground Swimming Pools - Durable Aluminum Stainless Steel Solar Blanket Reel in Black | Easy Pool Maintenance & Winter Protection

First off, let me say I'm not very mechanically inclined. Second, I tend to swear when I get frustrated and can't figure something out. You'll be happy to know I didn't swear during this assembly, so there is hope for you. Instructions could have been better, but I've seen a lot worse. Here are my notes and I've added several pictures to give you a better visual.Step 1- Laying out all the parts - Do this! It will make things easier. Don't have to pull out all the hardware to start. I didn't have too much trouble figuring that out. Manufacturer could have put a sticker on the hardware bags to make it easier.Step 2 - While this is pretty easy, I did run into a problem during Step 7 because the tubes wouldn't line up. Turns out, I had to unscrew and flip around one of the "A" tubes and the #10/#11 Long Hubs and then things lined up.Step 3 and 4 - These are the easiest steps. Please note that the #18 bolts came attached to the #8 Tubes. Just unscrew them and set aside. Then reuse to attach.Step 5 - Again, pretty easy. My directions said "See image 3a, 3b, 3c". Should have been 5a, 5b, 5c. Typo.Step 6 - Easy. Note that #17 bolt was threaded all the way - not halfway like the picture on page 1Step 7 - This is the hardest step. There are 3 "A" Tubes and 2 "B" Tubes. The "A" tubes go on both ends and the middle. The "B" tubes slide over them. You adjust the lengths and overlaps based on width of pool. I only lined up a couple of holes for A and B. The others, I had to drill a pilot hole. I used the #15 screw with a power drill.Step 8 - Not too difficult. Although note that the small slotted grooves in tubes A and B will NOT be lined up all the way across. I lined up all the "A" tube slots and then the slots in the "B" tubes were close to it and line up with each other. I tried to space out the 8 straps as evenly as possible. I used a pair of pliers when clamping the plastic connectors onto the solar cover as it was too hard to push through by hand.It took me about 1 1/2 - 2 hours total. And I did it right out by the end of the pool deck. I partially tried to roll up the cover, but it was getting a little off kilter on the non-wheel end, so I unrolled it and will try again later with another person helping to guide and keep straight the cover on that end. Note that you you need to loosed the #3 threaded knob when rolling up and tighten it to stop and adjust. I may also need to trim the solar cover a little bit. Pool is 16x32 and cover is slightly larger so it's a little bunched up in spots. Overall, I give it 4 stars - mainly for the moderate difficulty in assembly. We'll see how good it works. Hope you find these details helpful.