Mounting a solar panel on stanchion bases?

[sully75]

I'm installing an Aries windvane on my transom. I'm concerned about all the weight on the stern (outboard, propane, vane and solar panel) so I'd like to keep the wind vane as close to the transom as possible.

That means the solar panel will be right over the aft deck. It's a small boat so there's not much room back there. I'd like to get it at least 24" above the top of the rail.

I'm pondering mounting options:
1) Bimini hardware to mount it off the rail (expensive but doable)

2) 2 Lifeline stanchions on the deck with long tubes to support the panel. (really long tubes and ? of the leverage that the panel might put on them).

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[sully75]

 

[Renegade135]

http://www.ddthreadsplus.com/boat-top-hardware/stainless-steel-boat-top-hardware/

I mounted my solar panel using this SS hardware (link) and some tubing. Mine overhung the back top rail, snugged up to and aft of the rear stay. I am going to reinforce teh rail connections (not so much stanchion plate to the deck, but stanchion plate to tubes sometimes this is only a set screw) to make sure it can support the weight under way.

 

[Renegade135]

http://www.ddthreadsplus.com/boat-top-hardware/stainless-steel-boat-top-hardware/

I mounted my solar panel using this SS hardware (link) and some tubing. Mine overhung the back top rail, snugged up to and aft of the rear stay. I am going to reinforce teh rail connections (not so much stanchion plate to the deck, but stanchion plate to tubes sometimes this is only a set screw) to make sure it can support the weight under way.

photo now attached.

 

[sully75]

those prices are killer. Looks good.

 

[Renegade135]

The SS hardware is exquisite, though. Classiest thing on my boat, except for my wife of course. I connected a port-starboard aluminum angle to the bottom of the panel to connect it to the back rail with a connection that pivots vertically. The diagonal supports go to the perimeter frame of the panel. Removing the diagonal supports, the panel can be secured vertically.

 

[sully75]

No i meant the prices are good! I think this is the same stuff as on eBay. Quality is good?

 

[Renegade135]

Yes, the stainless finish and casting was beautiful.

 

[sully75]

awesome. It's about 1/6 the price from west marine.

 

[sully75]

And half the price on eBay.

 

[CharlzO]

Another option is something like these, that can be adjusted if need be. Not full stainless, but pre-made for those who don't want to take the time to do so. I was thinking about them for the adjustable factor of them but those prices above make it hard to choose now. I'd lose a little adjustment, but it would look snazzy!

Adjustable Bimini Poles

 

[sully75]

It'd be nice for it to be adjustable, but I bought a pretty reasonable panel for my needs and would rather just leave it alone and take my hit for it.

I know people sail around the world with panels that rotate on one support, but it looks pretty fragile to me.

 

[sully75]

Just ordered $180 of that stainless stuff.





Sad to see my money go. But looking forward to having that panel mounted nicely...

 

[jepomer]

Originally, I mounted a 100 watt rigid solar panel off the stern of a Capri 22 using stainless steel tubing as you were showing in this photo.

This year, I replaced the stern mounted assembly with three smaller flexible Ganz panels bolted on the foredeck and hatch. The panels conform to the curve of the deck reducing/eliminating any windage. They can be walked on (although not recommended for high traffic areas).

The three separate panels provide a total of 115 watts. There is a potential of some shading from the rigging that the stern mounting avoided, but so far the panels have kept the 24 volt, 215 amp-hour motive battery bank AND the 12 volt 75 amp-hour house battery fully charged.

The motive battery supplies the electricity for a Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 (2011 tiller model).The house battery supplies the electricity for a VHF radio, fish-finder, lights, and auto-tiller.

All three panels (one Ganz 55 watt and two Ganz 30 watt) are combined using blocking diodes and simultaneously feed into two Genasun charge controllers: one GV-Boost MPPT charge controller converting the nominal 12 vdc of the solar panels to the nominal 24 vdc levels needed to charge the batteries; one GV-4 MPPT charge controller for the 12 vdc battery.

The flexible solar panels cost more, but did not need the stainless steel tubing and fittings. The total costs are very similar. I like the flush mounted panels for both the lack of windage and weight balance.