Solar panel installation

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OdayDave

OdayDave

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Jun 3, 2004
269
Oday and Catalina O'Day 25 and Catalina 30 Milwaukee
After having stepped on one solar panel (luckily it was a cheap one), I decided to build a housing around the next one and attach it to my sliding hatch. So I got some oak and made a frame around the panel. I sealed it with a stain to make it look like the trim on the boat, and sealed it with 4 coats of spar varnish. Note that the surface of the hatch is not flat, so I had to do some fabricating with a planer and a belt sander, and while not perfect, it was a pretty good fit. I then had a piece of 1/2 inch plexiglass cut for the top and attached it with brass screws. To keep water from leaking in, I used some flexible chalk used to seal around old windows. I do still need to seal the holes around the screws, as there is a little water seepage in through those holes. To avoid drilling holes in the hatch, I lined the bottom of the frame with industrial strength velcro. It doesn't move a bit. Overall, I'm happy with the setup, and hopefully this panel will keep the batteries topped off.

Dave
O'Day 222
 

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bellnier

bellnier

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Apr 25, 2010
104
Oday 22 Wellfleet MA
I have a solar panel that I plan to mount somewhere. I like your Velcro idea. It can put in place while to boat is on the trailer and pulled up and stowed when sailing. But why do you need the water proof frame? Isn't the solar panel a sealed weatherproof unit? Is it to avoid damage by stepping on it? In other words, why not simply glue the Velcro and stand offs to back side of the panel itself?
 
OdayDave

OdayDave

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Jun 3, 2004
269
Oday and Catalina O'Day 25 and Catalina 30 Milwaukee
In the documentation for the unit, it indicated that you should consider sealing the edges with silicone to keep water from infiltrating. I had done that on a cheaper unit, but didn't want to do it on this one. I wanted to keep the unit clean looking and maximize the surface glass of the panel. Also, I wanted to keep water from getting trapped between the plexiglass and the wood frame and eventually messing up the wood finish.

I did apply the velcro to the bottom of the solar unit as well as the frame. Note that on my cheaper unit, I just velcro'ed the solar panel to the cabin top which worked fine, until I stepped on it.

Dave
O'Day 222
 
S

sPk

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Jun 12, 2005
111
Oday 25 Apostle Islands, WI
I also have my cheap $100 15w solar panel velcroed to the sliding hatch and it has been great for a couple years now. But I want to add another panel to the aft port corner stainless rail above the outboard (I have a ladder mounted to the aft starboard side). Anybody know of a cheap and easy way to mount one back there on an O'Day 25?
 
bellnier

bellnier

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Apr 25, 2010
104
Oday 22 Wellfleet MA
Since my 5w unit a cheap one ($79) i'll try velcro to sliding cabin cover. I keep my boat on the trailer and launch for each sail. I figure it will stowed away while sailing and only deployed when the boat is on the trailer so it would be less likely to get damaged. Of course I could still step on it when closing up he boat ;)
 
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