I've had a 100W solar panel wedged between the 2 forward shrouds and the hatch on my '72 for a couple of years now. To get it in there, you had to push a bit and once there, it didn't move. The spreaders pretty much pinched it enough that you had to want to remove it to get it out. Sailed with it there in all sorts of weather. Last week we had a storm, lots of wind (they say up to 50mph) and rain. We went out today and noticed our batteries were empty -- and the solar panel was nowhere to be found. Our boat was fine, the mooring held find, but all that bouncing around must have been enough to knock the panel off of the boat somehow. Now it's at the bottom of the bay somewhere. I'd try to dive down and find it, but it's been down there for several days now, so likely shot. I guess I need to secure it better in the future.
Lost My Solar Panel
- Thread starter ShawnL
- Start date
Sorry to hear about your lost panel. But why was your battery empty? Was there a load on it while you were gone?
Pinching seems like it would shorten the lifespan of the panel. They develop microcracks that lessen their efficiency as they flex over time