Any design ideas for an arch from the pushpit to hold one or two solar panels please? We will probably use 1" stainless to match all the other stainless. Photos would be a great help. Our 310 is hull number 326. Wonderful boat!
Arch for solar panel
- Thread starter Sailorlass
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Why not go with dinghy davits and kill two birds with one stone...? Also solar panels can easily be mounted to a bimini if you have one.. The Solbian semi flexible panels weigh about 5 pounds for a 125W version and are a beautiful option for a bimini top.....
I once priced s/s arches. Around 3,000-5,000 dollars before solar panels, etc. I decided to go with davits with the panel mounted on them. Turns out to work very well for us. Total cost was less than $2,000, including panel, controller, mounting hardware, etc.
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Jesse, I went with Mar-Tek davits. Reasonable cost and plenty strong enough for my Walker Bay 8 plus the solar panel. Unfortunately, most of my photos are in my old PC, which has crashed. I will enclose photos of the supports I put under the quarter perches. The base of the davits is similar, but round. It will adjust to any angle, and fits perfectly on the transom, just aft of the stern rail. I submitted an article about our davit/solar panel setup to Mainsheet magazine in the March 2012 edition.
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Thank you all so much, suddenly a range of options we hadn't considered. We tend to only use the bimini when it is really hot and as we are able to sail right through the year here in New Zealand, we will probably explore the Martek davits. We have a 2.4 Zodiac RIB with a 3.5hp o/b, I'd better get some idea of the weights involved. Whether we would still need to carry the o/b on the stern rail? We could go for a lighter solar panel, we'd like to be able to get about 160 watts up there. So, food for thought. Any further suggestions would be most welcome!
I hope you are surviving your winter, sounds miserable. Hate to rub it in but we are having a fantastic summer down here. Come and visit!
Thanks again,
Adrien
I hope you are surviving your winter, sounds miserable. Hate to rub it in but we are having a fantastic summer down here. Come and visit!
Thanks again,
Adrien
Hi Tom, You don't by any chance have a copy of your article you could email to me please? adrien@woosh.co.nz
JK Boston
How are you supporting you dinghy in the photo where she is flipped up at the stern? I have been looking for a good way to store mine on the 310 when at dock? When I travel the dinghy is in the water or on deck, but need a nice way (read cheap) to get it out of the water during the week, and not increase my over all length at the slip.
Look forward to your responce.
Thanks
Russ s/v Long Story
How are you supporting you dinghy in the photo where she is flipped up at the stern? I have been looking for a good way to store mine on the 310 when at dock? When I travel the dinghy is in the water or on deck, but need a nice way (read cheap) to get it out of the water during the week, and not increase my over all length at the slip.
Look forward to your responce.
Thanks
Russ s/v Long Story
Unfortunately, that is not my boat. That is a boat that Stu saw and posted photos on another thread.
I believe those are something like Weaver Snap Davits, more commonly used on power boats, but I think I am going with this plan for my boat.
I believe those are something like Weaver Snap Davits, more commonly used on power boats, but I think I am going with this plan for my boat.
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Hi Russ, Tom, Stu, JK and others,
Oceania(photos in some of your posts) is actually our boat and much to our embarrassment and horror was dinged. Neither boat saw the other.
We had all the stainless from the port side ripped out, pulpit torn off at the bow, port pushpit destroyed and our arch carrying two 80watt solar panels torn off on the port side. Port stanchions pulled out, broken or bent and some of the stb ones bent out of shape. The lifelines held it all, plus o/b, from disappearing to the bottom of Queen Charlotte Sound and we limped back into port and untangled the mess. Not pretty!
Minimal fibreglass damage in the scheme of things, just where the other yacht rode up across our toe rail and where all the stainless fittings pulled out.
We have never been terribly happy with the design of the arch, so are thinking about alternatives, and there is the issue of the inflatable, we normally tow it or carry it on the foredeck. In the photo Stu and JK posted we had the dinghy lashed to the stern rail as we were not carrying the outboard. I thought it worked well, but he who must be obeyed was not keen.
Our thoughts are Weaver davits, plus an arch, but is there room for the outboard on the stern rail? Or, conventional davits with a solar panel on top, but do they put us into a longer, ie more expensive category for a berth? Also, handling with that extra weight out the back?
Lots of pondering going on so your input has been invaluable. Thank you all.
If you are ever heading down this way, get in touch, adrien@woosh.co.nz There is usually a bed in Christchurch and the offer of a sail in the Marlborough Sounds, once we have our beloved back together again.
Adrien.
Oceania(photos in some of your posts) is actually our boat and much to our embarrassment and horror was dinged. Neither boat saw the other.
We had all the stainless from the port side ripped out, pulpit torn off at the bow, port pushpit destroyed and our arch carrying two 80watt solar panels torn off on the port side. Port stanchions pulled out, broken or bent and some of the stb ones bent out of shape. The lifelines held it all, plus o/b, from disappearing to the bottom of Queen Charlotte Sound and we limped back into port and untangled the mess. Not pretty!
Minimal fibreglass damage in the scheme of things, just where the other yacht rode up across our toe rail and where all the stainless fittings pulled out.
We have never been terribly happy with the design of the arch, so are thinking about alternatives, and there is the issue of the inflatable, we normally tow it or carry it on the foredeck. In the photo Stu and JK posted we had the dinghy lashed to the stern rail as we were not carrying the outboard. I thought it worked well, but he who must be obeyed was not keen.
Our thoughts are Weaver davits, plus an arch, but is there room for the outboard on the stern rail? Or, conventional davits with a solar panel on top, but do they put us into a longer, ie more expensive category for a berth? Also, handling with that extra weight out the back?
Lots of pondering going on so your input has been invaluable. Thank you all.
If you are ever heading down this way, get in touch, adrien@woosh.co.nz There is usually a bed in Christchurch and the offer of a sail in the Marlborough Sounds, once we have our beloved back together again.
Adrien.
Adrien,
That is kind of funny that Oceania is yours and I posted picks of her as an arch idea. Haha
Sorry to hear about the incident. I hope you have her back soon.
What size dinghy was that strapped to the stern? Did you ever sail with her like that?
My wife and I are trying to set up our 310 to take a couple of years off of work and sail around the Caribbean. I am concerned with how she would handle with the traditional style davits too. I think it might be too much weight too far off the stern. I am less concerned with the extra length because we will mostly be on the hook.
For solar, I am pretty sure I am just going to go with the flexible panels mounted to the Bimini like Mainesail suggested.
Fair winds
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
We chuckled seeing pics of Oceania too!
The rib is a 2.4 Zodiac and we did sail with it lashed to the stern rail like that. Handled fine but never tried it in a decent blow or following sea. I imagine it would be ok if you lashed it high enough. We used to get the side of the dinghy onto the swim platform. Better than having it turning cartwheels behind us in the wind if we were not in shelter and having to fight it onto the foredeck. Same idea as the Weaver davits really, probably more trouble to lash it into place and then the issue of the o/b.
The flexible solar panels on the bimini is a great idea, very neat. Much cheaper too than an arch. Our dilemma is we seldom have the bimini out, especially in the winter when we need the power.
Good luck with the Caribbean plan, what a great scheme. Hope it comes off. We spend most of the summer in the Marlborough Sounds and it is a stunning life style. Pottering from bay to bay with the odd longer trip thrown in, brilliant, love it.
Regards
Adrien.
We chuckled seeing pics of Oceania too!
The rib is a 2.4 Zodiac and we did sail with it lashed to the stern rail like that. Handled fine but never tried it in a decent blow or following sea. I imagine it would be ok if you lashed it high enough. We used to get the side of the dinghy onto the swim platform. Better than having it turning cartwheels behind us in the wind if we were not in shelter and having to fight it onto the foredeck. Same idea as the Weaver davits really, probably more trouble to lash it into place and then the issue of the o/b.
The flexible solar panels on the bimini is a great idea, very neat. Much cheaper too than an arch. Our dilemma is we seldom have the bimini out, especially in the winter when we need the power.
Good luck with the Caribbean plan, what a great scheme. Hope it comes off. We spend most of the summer in the Marlborough Sounds and it is a stunning life style. Pottering from bay to bay with the odd longer trip thrown in, brilliant, love it.
Regards
Adrien.
Adrien,
We, too, have had the inflatable doing cartwheels in the air behind us, only to have it land upside-down on the water, and then submerge to the bottom of the bay! The dinghy survived, but that convinced us to look into some kind of davit setup. Initially, I researched arches that would accommodate davits and a solar panel. A local welder on the Gulf coast of Florida had fabricated some robust arches (s/s) that looked great. But I was concerned about the initial cost and the weight of the arch. So we went with the davits and solar panel, and we like it. Yes, there is some concern about weight aft of the transom, but we carry 100' of chain in the anchor locker, and with the water tank full, she rides level on her lines with the dinghy on the davits. We store our 3.3 Mercury o/b 2-stroke on the stern rail at the starboard quarter perch, since the bow of the dinghy is on that side, and there is plenty of room for the o/b. We do lose the use of the perch while the o/b is stowed. We have sailed with the dinghy on the davits, and haven't noticed any adverse effects. But then, we are cruisers, not racers, so as long as we get from A to B, we are happy.
I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your boat. A frightening experience for everyone, I'm sure. Here's hoping you get her sailing soon. Let us know how everything goes.
Good luck, Tom
We, too, have had the inflatable doing cartwheels in the air behind us, only to have it land upside-down on the water, and then submerge to the bottom of the bay! The dinghy survived, but that convinced us to look into some kind of davit setup. Initially, I researched arches that would accommodate davits and a solar panel. A local welder on the Gulf coast of Florida had fabricated some robust arches (s/s) that looked great. But I was concerned about the initial cost and the weight of the arch. So we went with the davits and solar panel, and we like it. Yes, there is some concern about weight aft of the transom, but we carry 100' of chain in the anchor locker, and with the water tank full, she rides level on her lines with the dinghy on the davits. We store our 3.3 Mercury o/b 2-stroke on the stern rail at the starboard quarter perch, since the bow of the dinghy is on that side, and there is plenty of room for the o/b. We do lose the use of the perch while the o/b is stowed. We have sailed with the dinghy on the davits, and haven't noticed any adverse effects. But then, we are cruisers, not racers, so as long as we get from A to B, we are happy.
I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your boat. A frightening experience for everyone, I'm sure. Here's hoping you get her sailing soon. Let us know how everything goes.
Good luck, Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for all that detail. Good to know about the weight. We have 50 metres of anchor chain so that should more than compensate. We are cruisers also.
Incidentally, our next project was to put a hatch from the head into the port locker, to get more use from that space. So good to read of your exploits with that.
You guys are just being so much help over all this.
Only know of one other 310 here in the South Island, though there must be others. There are now several of our big sisters in the Waikawa marina which is company, not that we have got ourselves organised to sail together, yet.
Have a good weekend.
Adrien.
Thanks for all that detail. Good to know about the weight. We have 50 metres of anchor chain so that should more than compensate. We are cruisers also.
Incidentally, our next project was to put a hatch from the head into the port locker, to get more use from that space. So good to read of your exploits with that.
You guys are just being so much help over all this.
Only know of one other 310 here in the South Island, though there must be others. There are now several of our big sisters in the Waikawa marina which is company, not that we have got ourselves organised to sail together, yet.
Have a good weekend.
Adrien.
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