Measurements

N

nbop33

.
Mar 27, 2006
9
Hi,

Can anyone help? I'm thinking of fitting a soar panel on the coach roof of my Vega.

I would like to know the distance between the 2 rear outside grab/hand rails on the coach roof.

Also the distance from the hatch cover to the piece of roof that slopes off toward the mast.

Thanks
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
Vega #1813

52" between aft end area wood grab rails over cabin hatch
51" mid point
50" forward

It tapers narower as it goes forward.
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
Shading on the coach roof will have a large effect on panel output. An aft
installation behind the boom's shadow will have much larger returns.
 
P

pelagicasd

.
Jan 28, 2001
694
Being able to tilt the panel and rotate it to face the sun will give the most possible return. We spent 19 days anchored in Puerto Vallarta. While there we ran our watermaker an hour a day, watched a VCR every evening, Listened to the stereo throughout the day, chatted on the VHF and enjoyed cold drinks from the refrigerator. Didn't have to run the engine once. We did have a stern anchor out which made keeping the panels facing the sun easier. I just went out every hour and adjusted them, took 30 seconds.
We had 2 55 watt panels and 4 6 volt batteries for the house. Walt S/V Lyric #120
 
N

nbop33

.
Mar 27, 2006
9
Thank you all for your measurements / advice. It appears that mounting a panel behind the boom may have better efficiency. I am reluctant to built a complicated tower of stainless steel at the stern due to the cost and weight. Plus my Navik Windvane may get in the way. Does anyone use a different system that they could share with me, single pole mounted etc? Any comments on trying to build a solar tracker (See video) would be appreciated....
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
Hinge the panels on the stern rails either side of the cockpit. I use Magma
bbq mounts to make the panels infinitely adjustable. Sometimes the stern
rail (pushpit) has to be extended forward to achieve this.
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
Funny.
The guy in the video was next to my boat yesterday doing some rigging replacements. Im in St Simons georgia.
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
I have an unusual mount that i built using two of those stainless rail antenna mounts with the levers for tilt adjustment. Look in the Good Things photo album.
 
D

don_keenan

.
Apr 27, 2013
28
Great idea thanks. Looks like you could use the pedestal and/or mount it fixed to the cabin top for rough weather...or store it if needed. Thank you for the tip!
Keenando

Sent from my iPhone
Keenando
Boulder, CO
 
D

don_keenan

.
Apr 27, 2013
28
Ball hitch??? How many months do you sail? Are you out of Helsinki?
Keenando

Sent from my iPhone
Keenando
Boulder, CO
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
The link I posted before has plans for the solar tracker mount. Here it is
again. The plans are at the bottom of the page.

Atom Voyages - The Solar-Tracker

Voyaging Around the World on the Sailboat Atom
www.atomvoyages.com www.atomvoyages.com

There is a european boat named "Capado" that recently circumnavigated and
he mounted his panels in a similar way. Here is a link to his blog.

CAPADO creative boat

capado.over-blog.com capado.over-blog.com
If you google "Capado creative boat" google will translate the language for
you.
 
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