HC 33T solar panel installation

[rick_bradshaw]

We're about ready to order a couple of solar panels for installation on our boat. I was thinking of making the aftmost lifeline a solid tube that I could mount solar panels on (1 per side). The forward rake to keep the angle of the existing lifelines means that they will be less efficient a good deal of the time. That's not too acceptable.

I've thought about mounting them about midships and replacing that section of lifeline and using anything from bungee cords to metal bracing to adjust the angle of the panel. That would put it well away from the battery meaning loss of power over distance. I've even thought about those ratchet sort of metal rail mounts set up in combinations from different directions that would change direction both up and down and forward and aft, but these seem like they would be relatively weak. I'd previously tossed out the idea of an arch over the stern and don't want to revisit that.

I'm about nuts as it is so I need a few ideas that I haven't come up with or confirmation that something that I have come up with will work and work well. Where have you mounted your solar panels and how?

Thanks.

[warmrain]

I've seen them on top of the dodger mounted on rail extensions or just flat flex panels tied there. Of course the boom has to be out of the way. I've thought of just storing the flex panels under a materess or settee and placing them on the fordeck. I've seen them affixed to solid railings aft, as you describe. This was on a ketch and a small flag halyard was used to adjust their angle.

[doug_hart]

I have 2 x 80 amp panels on top of my biminion my 38mk2......they work great, are out of the way, and I can't fall into or onto them .

Doug

Zingara II

[mike]

Rick,

We had ours on a frame above the dodger, the 2 horizontal tubes fitted on the back edge of the boom gallows with the legs coming down each side of the dodger.

I'm currently looking at one of the types that isn't affected by partial shading & is also flexible & intend mounting it on top of the sliding hatch garage (turtle Back for the USA).

Mike

[moon_shadow]

[doug_hart]

I'll try and take some at the weekend for you. I made the frame out of square section aluminium and bolted it to the top of the bimini.

Doug Hart
Zingara II

[mike]

Glen,

Have a look at the pics, you will see our solar panels set above the spray dodger on a gantry, the front was fprmed by the boom gallows.

mike

[warmrain]

We are just getting into this project on Warmrain. We can fit 2 65 watt panels on top of the dodger. The plane is to weld 4 short vertical pipes (2 forward, 2 aft) on the athwartship frame rails. These will protrude through the dodger and a frame for the panels will slip onto them, held by set screws. The frame will be a few inches above the dodger and allow for tilting the panels somewhat.

[moon_shadow]

[dino]

[warmrain]

I think I heard Mike say:

"I meant to do that...

Certainly when I did it, I was sure to get out at the bottom of the tide and start wiping down the keel...