Small Solar Panel for Small Boat?

catalanc

catalanc

.
Mar 23, 2015
259
Catalina 22 MK-II Dillon, CO
Hi all,
I have a catalina 22 MK II and have a small solar panel that I plug in while at the dock. It is a Nature power 5 W semi-flexible panel that just lies on the cabin top and of course the wind took it for a ride one day. Do any of you smaller boat owners have pics of a mount that you have attached to the stern rail so that it can remain stably mounted at all times?
Carlos
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
5 watt is barely big enough to stay ahead of the natural self discharge rate of the battery... if you want to keep the battery up over the weekend while using power from it you should get more wattage.
Ive always recommended no less than a 35watt panel as the bare minimum for people who stay on their boat all weekend anchored out...
And the panel can be attached with rail mounts for a permanent install.
 
catalanc

catalanc

.
Mar 23, 2015
259
Catalina 22 MK-II Dillon, CO
Yes, 5W small. This is what size that was on the boat when I bought her and replaced with the same wattage when the old one broke. I mainly day sail on Lake Dillon and don't use much power; pretty much a fish finder and perhaps a radio in the near future. Seems to work fine but perhaps an upgrade would not be a bad idea.
That said, what I was hoping for are some pics of panels that people have mounted on the stern rails. Trying to get some ideas on a "clean" installation.
Thanks for the advice.
cec
 
walt

walt

.
Jun 1, 2007
3,550
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Another .02,, the 5 watt panel might work fine but if your going to spend the effort on something permanent on the rail, a little higher power (with controller) might be worth looking at.

I have a lot of electrical stuff on the boat (car radio, TV, radio's, LED lights, low power GPS map/fishfinder, Ipad, cell phone hot spot, sometimes laptop) and have tried between 10 and 50 watts of solar and now have somewhat settled on a 20 watt permanent panel plus a removable 10 watt panel. I used this boat all last winter marina sailing twice per week and other times just at the dock listening to the car stereo with just the 20 watt panel (MPPT contoller) and had excess power. I am going to take a week long trip this summer and on that trip, will add in the removable 10 watt panel for 30 watts total. If I just use the Ipad for the internet, I can easily get by on just the 20 watt panel but if I spend much time with the laptop, the additional 10 watts comes in handy. Note that I also get some charge from my 9.8 hp outboard to supplement what I get from the solar.

Lots of ways to do this but I will throw out a couple ideas. These mounts are based on these Seadog rail clamps http://www.sea-dog.com/groups/2833-removable-rail-mount-clamps They have some different versions that might suit your application better.

The second picture shows the 20 watt panel "cantilevered" but I found that the wind would change the angle so I added the adjustable lenght brace in the first picture. This allows the panel to have one axis of angle changed with two screws.

20watt_solar1.JPG
20watt_solar2.JPG
 
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B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,213
CC 30 South Florida
Do you know why you may need or not a solar panel? Me, I would not have one unless I needed it and then it would have to be of proper size to meet some specific needs. I'm not trying to be critical but would like to urge you to do your homework about solar panels and power requirements for boats in general. Sorry but a 5W panel is just too small to produce any noticeable amount of power within boating needs. Just because the prior owner left one in the boat it does not mean it is the right size for the boat nor that it brings any benefits. Definitely not worth it to go through the expense and effort to develop a fixed mount.
 
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justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Here's what I did. Pops off for trailering pretty easily. Machined from Trex-type fake wood. The supporting rod is no longer wooden, but is from an old one inch spreader with stainless hardware. Maybe I can find a newer photo.

image.png image.png

I think I'd do well to upgrade the connector on the transom from the two pin 12 volt to something more weather/corrosion resistant.
 
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Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,683
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
Twin Renogy 30's on a Morningstar Sunsaver10 controller. I built racks for them out of 1/2" PVC. Telescoping legs allow them to articulate up and down about 100 degrees, and I adjust them throughout the day to keep them aimed at the sun as much as possible. Slightly redneck, but it works quite well.

In Florida sunshine, they can keep up with the auto tiller, GPS, two cell phones, a tablet, a Bluetooth speaker, and all the lights.



 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Like those Gene. Are they removable? Not sure how you keep them on the rails. Nice thing if removable is you could stow them if the weather turned nasty...
 
DArcy

DArcy

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Feb 11, 2017
1,786
Islander Freeport 36 Ottawa
If you are just using the solar for battery maintenance then 5W may be enough. I have a 7W panel I use only when not under way that is enough to keep one battery topped up while not in use. I can't help with the rail mount, I just tie mine to the dodger or to a winch in the cockpit when I'm not on board. I bought a 40W panel to be able to avoid running the engine if anchored for more than one day and I'm struggling to figure out how to mount it. Between the boarding ladder and the BBQ on the stern rail, I think it's too big for my boat so I may need to go smaller. I like the 2x 30W Gene has, simple yet effective.
 
Gene Neill

Gene Neill

.
Sep 30, 2013
3,683
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
jssailem said:
Like those Gene. Are they removable? Not sure how you keep them on the rails. Nice thing if removable is you could stow them if the weather turned nasty...
Click to expand
Thanks man. I used to have them attached to the rails with stainless hose clamps, but I switched to using heavy duty zip ties for the very reason you mentioned. As long as you have a knife on you, they'll come off in a jiffy. :)
 
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Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Here's 2, 35w units on a custom frame in front of the traveler. While they are not always fully exposed to the sun, they are out of the way, and after two years seem to be maintaining the batteries.
DSC00533.JPG
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I am a little opposite. My 23 has a 100 watt semi flexible panel that rides on the bimini when I am on long trips. It is Renology and the charge controller is a Genasun GV10. I really like this set-up and I know that most of my power needs are met on my extended cruises.
Solar 1.jpg
 
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SwitchintoglideIII

SwitchintoglideIII

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Feb 11, 2012
271
C&C Mega 30 Long Point, Lake Erie
Can swivel them to the sun if need be, but I haven't to this point.The function of these two stern mounted panels is to top up the house battery bank in between sailing days. They work very well and are on a single charge controller.
I have the same set up for my bow thruster battery.
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
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catalanc

catalanc

.
Mar 23, 2015
259
Catalina 22 MK-II Dillon, CO
Thanks to all of youse guys for the info and pics. Presently I only use the 5W panel to keep the battery topped off. I hook it up at the dock, place it on the sliding cabin top, and disconnect when I am sailing. The lake is not that big and I am only out for a few hours at a time and this seems to work pretty well. Now I am considering adding a radio and misc stuff so I may have a larger power draw in the future. All that said, I will probably try to mount a 15W panel on the stern rail.
Thanks again for the advice.
cec
 
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