I decided to use my existing solar panel for this upcoming season and see if it fits my needs. My boat will be moored so I'm hoping that it will be able to keep my batteries topped up for my weekend sails. I only have a 5 watt Brunton solar panel, so we'll see how it does. When I bought my boat it was permenently mounted off the stern rail. I decided that I best be able to pivot the panel vertically and horizontally in order to maximize it's 5 watt rating. I removed the permanent mounting harware off the stern rail and decided to use the mounting holes off the stern that are used for the mast support pole. I found a galvanized pole and machined three fits. Two for mounting and on for the pivoting knuckle. The knuckle allows the panel to pivot horizontally (up and down) and being a machine fit it can rotate vertically (side to side) and then be secured by the two round head locking knobs (Lee Valley) at the bottom of the knuckle. The horizontal pivot occurs on the aluminum shaft that runs horizontally through the knuckle. That position is adjusted by the two star shaped knobs (Lee Valley) pointing out the back of the knuckle. It can be adjusted past horizontal in the up position and down as far as the pole will allow. This would be directly into the sun in the morning. Also, 360 deg from side to side. The solar panel fits to a mounting plate (aluminum X shaped piece with my boat logo on it). I designed it and then cut it out on a water jet machine. It is attached to the two Nylatron (dark blue) blocks which support the aluminum shaft. The aluminum shaft does not rotate because it is held in place by the two round adjusting knobs that are in the dark blue Nylatron blocks. I machined two flats on the shaft so those knobs can secure it properly without any rotation. These will be replace by cap bolts as they shouldn't need to come off unless its coming apart. I hope that make sense. I still have some finishing touches to pretty it up a little and then it should be ready to install Round off some corners on the Nylatron blocks). The wires from the solar panel run into a hole in the center top of the knuckle and then down through the support pole and out through a drilled hole with rubber grommet near the bottom. The pictures aren't great, I need new batteries for my camera. Pretty simple design and my testing went very well. Really easy and quick to adjust to any position. Should be able to follow the sun very easily. Let me know what you think.
