Mount them on some Alu (or exchange for rigid) and get those fandy dandy clips that go on your safety rail at the rear (like wind hippy and tritea) allows you to adjust the angle as the sun moves coz you get more power when its facing the sun. Also, stick an ammeter between the controller and the battery and you can see what the panels are producing so as you adjust the angle you'll see if get more power, or not.
I think the sailing brothers have done a similar thing with their solar panels. They have a soul arch, but they also have one of the other side like Dodgers.
Build yourself a bimini shade over the cockpit and put them on top of it. That will give you shade from the blazing hot UK sun and provide the best place on board to put the panels.
I agree with this. Also, by adding a house panel and buying later the ecoflow with battery. Now you can charge the house batteries with the system you have and have heating and cooling. You can also have a change over switch to house batteries.
As others have suggested you want rigid panels, not flexible. One option is to extend your pushpit forward and mount them on the sides. IIRC Holly of Wind Hippie Sailing did that.
Solar arch is definitely the best. See “Wave Rover” if you want it combined with a wind vane. If you can’t afford it you FB frame idea is interesting: but remember the forces involved when you’re well healed over in big seas!
I had the same problem , so my solar panel now clips over the handrails and the electrical cables come out from the stern locker saving any more holes in the cockpit and all works well plus when not required the solar panel is unplugged and unclipped and safely stowed away below deck.
I know rock all but ‘The sailing brothers’ have a pretty good set up Terry. They installed a new arch recently but the 2 panels mounted at deck level should suit you.
Greetings. Mr not such a bumberler anymore I have very similar on my 27 ft boat . Semi flex 100 watt renology x 2 both modified by 20mm electrical conduit around the edge , 90 degree elbows for each corner. All split along the legnth and pushed onto panels. Secured by drilling 8 mm holes in each elbow and along the legnths , and a squeeze of OB1 in .. Alow to cure and your semi flexible are still light as a feather but rigid enough for guard rail mounts. Also the edge and corners are much better protected. OK it took about an hour to do each, mine are temporarily ( lol) fastened with short bungee . I have found this to be convenient as I occasionally push them to one side to step on/ off , tie lines to stern cleats etc. They can be tillted at anchor . They have survived over 12 months in position, and if required can be removed in seconds.
I never had solar so I don't know much about it, great idea though, I think you got it right bimini if you can but I prefer the one on each dodger, which could be flipped over depending on which way your berthed, just tied on as well, rope can be flexible and tightened, I found it was better for tensioning a windvane and removed vibrations rather than wires which made it worse, nice ad as well,well presented
We have 3 flexible solars, 2 are permanently fixed on top of the deck, one is "removable" and comes out when needed, we just lay it on top of the sprayhood.
Windsurfer mast off the transom with a short boom and hanging from heavy duty 360 degree swivel the two. Solar panels with the power leads going up and down the mast to the controller thing.As they would spin you’d either leave that or control angle in to sun with a jib control.I dunno.
I say the same, build yourself shade. But add a house panel with the ecoflow wave 2. Now heating cooling and with a change over switch, you can run it off the house batteries on eco mode.
I have exactly the same panel, I put it on my spray hood... Not sure where i would put a second one that size. I also have a far smaller 20w one just forward of the spray hood. Boat next to me has them on the side of the cockpit as you described, seen them with adjustable struts too...
Weve got going on one either side of spray dodger. Did buy one for the spray hood but the mast would block a fair bit. May put the 3rd on but parallel wiring means new inverter.
Hi Terry, I fitted 175w ones on the cockpit side in a dodger fashion exactly as you describe on my Westerly Griffon. I had 1" stainless tubing bent to fit in the most aft stantion bases and the aft tube ends meet the pushpit and are fastened by pivoting tube clamps. My panels are solid framed ones that I have bolted flat aluminium across the frame at the back, and used 2" saddle clamps to attach the panel to the tubing. I created legs with a 'T' bar at the bottom to sit in the corner between Dec and cockpit combing, and used stainless hinges at the panel end with one thick bolt to allow the leg to hinge and fold. I have photos, but no idea how to get them to you.
I'll add my vote for the side mount/tip up on the lifelines (or maybe a section of hard railing)... tilted down, they won't gather much light, but they will act as weather cloths, sort of. That's currently my plan for my boat. But I don't have much room at all under the boom... your boat, however, has room for a bimini or maybe even a hard dodger... that could always be Phase II, once you have a design and more money. Ultimately, you could even have both. That's my two cents' worth.
I like your original idea of hanging them off the stern till you decide to go into a bigger solar system (i.e. someone sends you a nice big upgrade then either a solar arch or a sunshade over the cockpit depending on how you feel about either. For now something that installs and uninstalls easy and is out of the way seems the best.
Check out sailing florence, they have mounted them on a Bimini with some added support which I plan to copy this winter, should be high enough to avoid a winvane too and gives somewhere to hide from our lovely weather
If you had got the solid panels you would have to make the frame. By putting them down the side you won't get the best out of them. The best 2 options are Noa fittings on the transom or getting an arch. Arches are very expensive. What I would do is swap the panels for solid ones and use the Noa fittings. then you can move the panels to get the best out of them!!!! Make sure you have a MPPT charge controller. They charge a lot faster then a PWM!!!!!
After storm Darragh and five days with grid down just got 2 ecoworthy bifacials , and a rare 1.25kwh power station, with built in solar mppt. that can handle the 400w off the panels. Cost under £500. Guess what we found out. The boiler uses 230 watts. So if anyone else is considering back up power to keep central heating working think on how many kWh storage you need.
Sprayhood for those 2 flexi ones, and then get 2 rigdig ones for the sides. I think Project Atticus had those as well (at least I remember seeing another boat with a similar setup)
I used to have a hunter minstrel, it had a flexy solar panel permanently fixed on cabin roof directly Infront the spray hood. It was shadowed a bit at times by the lines running back and the boom, but never a problem, it always seemed to keep my battery topped up, enough for lights etc. don't know if one of yours could go there i.e. permanently fitted and then a temp space for the other one as when possible? Just an idea.
I have been having the same idea for my Moody 31 Mk1 for the last week or so - spoooky! Don't know if it is a good idea or not, so don't take our cognitive mind-meld as an endorsement! I'm thinking mount on a marine ply backing. Add overhang brackets so I can stow them on the inside of my boat name canvas at the stern where you indicated when in the marina for a trickle charge, then lift over and hang down or use a leg-out as you suggested when at anchor or sailing. Hope you enoyed the coffees I bought you yesterday? Take care, Paul off of Sailing Sampaguita here on TH-cam
Also aggree MOYOUK But you could mount these on U shape aluminium if they will not exchange to mage rigid. I know a cheapish place to get some not far from you and they will cut to size and only sell what you need so no waste. Still easier to exchange. Plus I would not put them on the gaurd rails as needs to be sturdy. I know exactly whar I would do as done it to my boat and it takes up no boat space . I will email you a couple of photos tomorrrow when it is light . See what you think
Have you got a solid (tubular) guard rail on the stern? I’ve seen them bolted on there on a bracket that swivels…. Wire guard rails are not suitable at all I’ve got 2 100w bolted to my swing down davits and one 175w above the spray hood all solid panels so they have strength already and work better than flexible, I know by experience. Also bolted to the rear has alot less chance of being twatted by a wave than being attached to the side…. Also expect 40 to 50% max less than specified wattage from your panels😊
Guess this video cropped up as I saved this.. m.th-cam.com/video/KtdvVyWL87k/w-d-xo.html he uses windsurf mast flexible connectors to mount solar panels ... has the advantage that the panels can be tilted any which way..
Hi. You might like to take a look at this video by Josh Post during his solar installation on his sailboat. Fair winds. th-cam.com/video/EvCawP6G28s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=71MDRGfQ4MnpNZhe
I have four of those panels, two mounted on my dodger and two mounted on my Bimini. I run refrigeration, my TV and future cooking devices with two hundred amp batteries and I don't even come close to using the 200ah. You are way over thinking the mounting. Mine are mounted with the most technical way possible, rope. Across the dodger and across the Bimini and don't have any issues with shading. I'm sure I do, but haven't even come close to it being an issue. The short days of winter haven't even slowed down charging. My batteries haven't even come close to less than 13 volts yet. I do run all LED lights. You're overthinking it.
You can make a cheap solar arch like this with speed rail fittings and fence posts from hardware store. I followed this, roughly, not as pretty as a tower in a box but cheap and easy. th-cam.com/video/Vf833YxZcIY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gEs7-4ouOvom7Oa0
I would make a frame on the stern and mount them there. That way the sails wont cover them and also at the stern they won't be in the way. And it doesn't have to be expensive. You can get stainless tubing cheap enough and with a cheap butane blow touch can bend the tube to shape and widen the ends to slot pieces of it together easily enough. Just a small drill bit and some pop rivets to keep it together and a metal bracket and sealant to bolt it to the rear decking and transom. At least that is the way I would do it.
You need rigid ones for the side, ask then to exchange to rigid ones as flexible are for decks and Bimini only really
Yet again, how to do a promo without it sounding like a promo. You have a real talent of that. 👏
ECO-WORTHY! Big thumps up!, for this company doing good move!, helpin this sailor in his way!!! Beautiful!! 👌👍☺️✌️✴️🇫🇮🍀☀️🙏
Solar arch mate it must be a good idea if everyone is doing it no need to recreate the wheel lol all the best
Mount them on some Alu (or exchange for rigid) and get those fandy dandy clips that go on your safety rail at the rear (like wind hippy and tritea) allows you to adjust the angle as the sun moves coz you get more power when its facing the sun. Also, stick an ammeter between the controller and the battery and you can see what the panels are producing so as you adjust the angle you'll see if get more power, or not.
I think the sailing brothers have done a similar thing with their solar panels. They have a soul arch, but they also have one of the other side like Dodgers.
Sprayhood and store the boom offset clipped to the rail to reduce shading
Build yourself a bimini shade over the cockpit and put them on top of it. That will give you shade from the blazing hot UK sun and provide the best place on board to put the panels.
I agree with this. Also, by adding a house panel and buying later the ecoflow with battery. Now you can charge the house batteries with the system you have and have heating and cooling. You can also have a change over switch to house batteries.
As others have suggested you want rigid panels, not flexible. One option is to extend your pushpit forward and mount them on the sides. IIRC Holly of Wind Hippie Sailing did that.
Solar arch is definitely the best. See “Wave Rover” if you want it combined with a wind vane. If you can’t afford it you FB frame idea is interesting: but remember the forces involved when you’re well healed over in big seas!
I had the same problem , so my solar panel now clips over the handrails and the electrical cables come out from the stern locker saving any more holes in the cockpit and all works well plus when not required the solar panel is unplugged and unclipped and safely stowed away below deck.
I know rock all but ‘The sailing brothers’ have a pretty good set up Terry. They installed a new arch recently but the 2 panels mounted at deck level should suit you.
Greetings. Mr not such a bumberler anymore I have very similar on my 27 ft boat . Semi flex 100 watt renology x 2 both modified by 20mm electrical conduit around the edge , 90 degree elbows for each corner. All split along the legnth and pushed onto panels. Secured by drilling 8 mm holes in each elbow and along the legnths , and a squeeze of OB1 in .. Alow to cure and your semi flexible are still light as a feather but rigid enough for guard rail mounts. Also the edge and corners are much better protected. OK it took about an hour to do each, mine are temporarily ( lol) fastened with short bungee . I have found this to be convenient as I occasionally push them to one side to step on/ off , tie lines to stern cleats etc. They can be tillted at anchor . They have survived over 12 months in position, and if required can be removed in seconds.
I never had solar so I don't know much about it, great idea though, I think you got it right bimini if you can but I prefer the one on each dodger, which could be flipped over depending on which way your berthed, just tied on as well, rope can be flexible and tightened, I found it was better for tensioning a windvane and removed vibrations rather than wires which made it worse, nice ad as well,well presented
We have 3 flexible solars, 2 are permanently fixed on top of the deck, one is "removable" and comes out when needed, we just lay it on top of the sprayhood.
We have 2 flexible panels on a wander lead which we connect with velcro loops threaded through the holes in the panels
Windsurfer mast off the transom with a short boom and hanging from heavy duty 360 degree swivel the two. Solar panels with the power leads going up and down the mast to the controller thing.As they would spin you’d either leave that or control angle in to sun with a jib control.I dunno.
I say the same, build yourself shade. But add a house panel with the ecoflow wave 2. Now heating cooling and with a change over switch, you can run it off the house batteries on eco mode.
I have exactly the same panel, I put it on my spray hood... Not sure where i would put a second one that size. I also have a far smaller 20w one just forward of the spray hood. Boat next to me has them on the side of the cockpit as you described, seen them with adjustable struts too...
Weve got going on one either side of spray dodger. Did buy one for the spray hood but the mast would block a fair bit. May put the 3rd on but parallel wiring means new inverter.
Hi Terry, I fitted 175w ones on the cockpit side in a dodger fashion exactly as you describe on my Westerly Griffon.
I had 1" stainless tubing bent to fit in the most aft stantion bases and the aft tube ends meet the pushpit and are fastened by pivoting tube clamps. My panels are solid framed ones that I have bolted flat aluminium across the frame at the back, and used 2" saddle clamps to attach the panel to the tubing. I created legs with a 'T' bar at the bottom to sit in the corner between Dec and cockpit combing, and used stainless hinges at the panel end with one thick bolt to allow the leg to hinge and fold. I have photos, but no idea how to get them to you.
I'll add my vote for the side mount/tip up on the lifelines (or maybe a section of hard railing)... tilted down, they won't gather much light, but they will act as weather cloths, sort of. That's currently my plan for my boat. But I don't have much room at all under the boom... your boat, however, has room for a bimini or maybe even a hard dodger... that could always be Phase II, once you have a design and more money. Ultimately, you could even have both. That's my two cents' worth.
I like your original idea of hanging them off the stern till you decide to go into a bigger solar system (i.e. someone sends you a nice big upgrade then either a solar arch or a sunshade over the cockpit depending on how you feel about either. For now something that installs and uninstalls easy and is out of the way seems the best.
Im currently converting a bimini i bought and never used into a more solid solar arch as I also have 2 panels to mount although mine are rigid.
Check out sailing florence, they have mounted them on a Bimini with some added support which I plan to copy this winter, should be high enough to avoid a winvane too and gives somewhere to hide from our lovely weather
Have you seen the set up Sailing Cadoha had. When at anchor the hoisted solar panels up the mast
That's sounds interesting, will check it out. Thanks
If you had got the solid panels you would have to make the frame. By putting them down the side you won't get the best out of them. The best 2 options are Noa fittings on the transom or getting an arch. Arches are very expensive. What I would do is swap the panels for solid ones and use the Noa fittings. then you can move the panels to get the best out of them!!!! Make sure you have a MPPT charge controller. They charge a lot faster then a PWM!!!!!
sv triteia uses a setup similar to what you describe.
After storm Darragh and five days with grid down just got 2 ecoworthy bifacials , and a rare 1.25kwh power station, with built in solar mppt. that can handle the 400w off the panels. Cost under £500. Guess what we found out. The boiler uses 230 watts. So if anyone else is considering back up power to keep central heating working think on how many kWh storage you need.
Sprayhood for those 2 flexi ones, and then get 2 rigdig ones for the sides. I think Project Atticus had those as well (at least I remember seeing another boat with a similar setup)
I used to have a hunter minstrel, it had a flexy solar panel permanently fixed on cabin roof directly Infront the spray hood. It was shadowed a bit at times by the lines running back and the boom, but never a problem, it always seemed to keep my battery topped up, enough for lights etc. don't know if one of yours could go there i.e. permanently fitted and then a temp space for the other one as when possible? Just an idea.
Flip up on rails are great
I have been having the same idea for my Moody 31 Mk1 for the last week or so - spoooky! Don't know if it is a good idea or not, so don't take our cognitive mind-meld as an endorsement! I'm thinking mount on a marine ply backing. Add overhang brackets so I can stow them on the inside of my boat name canvas at the stern where you indicated when in the marina for a trickle charge, then lift over and hang down or use a leg-out as you suggested when at anchor or sailing. Hope you enoyed the coffees I bought you yesterday? Take care, Paul off of Sailing Sampaguita here on TH-cam
Inflate the life raft, chuck out the sea anchor, zip tie the solar panels to it and tow it behind.
Another vote for a solar arch
Also aggree MOYOUK But you could mount these on U shape aluminium if they will not exchange to mage rigid.
I know a cheapish place to get some not far from you and they will cut to size and only sell what you need so no waste. Still easier to exchange. Plus I would not put them on the gaurd rails as needs to be sturdy. I know exactly whar I would do as done it to my boat and it takes up no boat space . I will email you a couple of photos tomorrrow when it is light . See what you think
Terry did you get my email. ? Just no reply.
Solar arch. 🎉
The simplest and cheapest is how Minitransat boats do it.
Have you got a solid (tubular) guard rail on the stern? I’ve seen them bolted on there on a bracket that swivels…. Wire guard rails are not suitable at all I’ve got 2 100w bolted to my swing down davits and one 175w above the spray hood all solid panels so they have strength already and work better than flexible, I know by experience. Also bolted to the rear has alot less chance of being twatted by a wave than being attached to the side…. Also expect 40 to 50% max less than specified wattage from your panels😊
I don't think I'd be hanging them over the sides, if you need fenders to protect the boat that can't be the best place for them.
I would wait until you can afford a solar arch and consider a temporary measure until you can.
solar arch no brainer
Guess this video cropped up as I saved this.. m.th-cam.com/video/KtdvVyWL87k/w-d-xo.html he uses windsurf mast flexible connectors to mount solar panels ... has the advantage that the panels can be tilted any which way..
also Hugo used scavenged dinghy davits to mount them on his aft deck of 26ft Ecume de Mer that he did his 1st transat on ... earlier in his series.
Hi. You might like to take a look at this video by Josh Post during his solar installation on his sailboat. Fair winds. th-cam.com/video/EvCawP6G28s/w-d-xo.htmlsi=71MDRGfQ4MnpNZhe
in the bin
I have four of those panels, two mounted on my dodger and two mounted on my Bimini. I run refrigeration, my TV and future cooking devices with two hundred amp batteries and I don't even come close to using the 200ah. You are way over thinking the mounting. Mine are mounted with the most technical way possible, rope. Across the dodger and across the Bimini and don't have any issues with shading. I'm sure I do, but haven't even come close to it being an issue. The short days of winter haven't even slowed down charging. My batteries haven't even come close to less than 13 volts yet. I do run all LED lights.
You're overthinking it.
You can make a cheap solar arch like this with speed rail fittings and fence posts from hardware store. I followed this, roughly, not as pretty as a tower in a box but cheap and easy.
th-cam.com/video/Vf833YxZcIY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gEs7-4ouOvom7Oa0
I would make a frame on the stern and mount them there. That way the sails wont cover them and also at the stern they won't be in the way. And it doesn't have to be expensive. You can get stainless tubing cheap enough and with a cheap butane blow touch can bend the tube to shape and widen the ends to slot pieces of it together easily enough. Just a small drill bit and some pop rivets to keep it together and a metal bracket and sealant to bolt it to the rear decking and transom.
At least that is the way I would do it.
It puts the panels on the back....