Solar Panel

[Don Crowther]

I would like to attach my solar panel to my backstay and run some supports up from the stern rail. Has anyone done this?
I have a new bimini and really don't want to put any holes in it. Is there any problem with attaching anything to the backstay? I was thinking about using clamps (see attached pic).
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[seadaddler]

No

I guess know one has done it because it doesn't seem like a good idea at all.

 

[py26129]

I guess know one has done it because it doesn't seem like a good idea at all.

Don

I tried that earlier this spring with a 140W panel thinking that there are backstay mounts for radars so a panel should be ok as well.

My boat has dual backstays and it seemed to be a perfect place to mount the panel and actually, it looked great once I go it up there. (see pic).

With the dual backstays, keeping the panel from twisting was not an issue. Where I ran into a problem was the amount of fore and aft movement of the panel and the backstays. In rough conditions the panel woudl have bounced back and forth 8 - 10 " and woudl eventually have struck my bimini not to mention the stresses imposed on the backstays.

So I went to plan B which was two posts mounted to the stern rail and steadied by ratchet straps. This will do fine until we get davits for the dinghy.

If you would like me to take some pics this weekend, I will be happy to do so.

Cheers

Matt

 

[Slow Mo^cean]

Yup, I've done exactly that... let me go take some pics....

 

[Slow Mo^cean]

I used 1" isolators to attach it directly to the pulpit, and them some 1" square aluminum tube for supports attached to 1/2" isolators attached to the bottom of the traveler bar. It works great, is very sturdy, however my only issue is its kind of a pain in the butt to remove them when I need to put the mast crutch in the gudieons when raising and lowering the mast, so I'm trying to find something that makes disconnecting it simpler.

 

[seadaddler]

No Movement

From what I have been told and seen the panel needs to be secured and good spot pointing to the sun unless you are going to use flexable panels and removing them.
try doing sloar panel install on sailboats search for some good ideas,I will be installing panels on my H-36 and have no backstay but will be using 1'' stainless tubing as a permanent mounting off my Hunter arch to back of bimini which have seen on the web and they kind of are say fragil and don't want them moving around or shaking around,your panels your decision.
Nick

 

[Slow Mo^cean]

I forgot to mention that I have never seen my battery voltage drop below 12 volts with this 15 watt panel mounted parallel to the ground, even in the shade. I dont have much power consumption (radio with two speakers, two interior fans and cell phone charger, plus lights at night). You will always be moving, so I don't think mounting it at an angle is necessary.

 

[Don Crowther]

Pictures would be great Matt. I was thinking about having the front of the panel attached to the dual backstays and the rear of the panel maybe attached on 4 foot struts down to the rear stern rail. This would keep the panel off the bimini.

 

[jose p saavedra]

Just got a hunter 37. I am thinking of building a bimini-solar panel holder-davits combination out of 1.5'" PVC. Will reinforce the joins by inserting inside another PVC or aluminum pipe and filling the gap with polyurethane glue (gorilla or Liquid Nails). Will use a very light dingy and will triangulate the davits to the stern or to the bottom of the rear legs. This will make it strong. Will remove the printed markings from the PVC pipe and paint it light gray... so i can tell averybody about my titanium gismo. LOL.
I can't see spending more in this device than i paid for the boat! so PVC may actually work!

Anyway, has anybody tried this before? Other than the instant-cure cement used to glue PVC, has anybody experienced with other slow cure glues?

Update 10/10/12. I have finished the PVC solar panel holder. I am very pleased, after making it 2.5 times, experimenting with 4 different glues and tried a couple of approaches. I gave up on the davits idea, but found a place to hang bicycles.
I am pleased, several friends told me it looks great, the cost was under $200 and this with much wasted joints and material. I can put 4 100W panels, shade, a place to catch water, hang bicycles and later on will attempt to build dinghy davits. If you want to try this idea, i will be happy to send you photos and share some hard learned tips.

 

[py26129]

Pictures would be great Matt. I was thinking about having the front of the panel attached to the dual backstays and the rear of the panel maybe attached on 4 foot struts down to the rear stern rail. This would keep the panel off the bimini.

Don

Here is a opic of my current set-up for my panel. Nothing high tech ..and it's temporary until we put davits on the boat next spring.

The panel sits on two struts (ok, ok. 2x3s) which are connected by a 1" aluminum tube at the top. There is a threaded rod running through the tube to pull things together. The struts are stabilized by ratchet straps. we went outsailing last weekend with this set-up and it is quite solid and stable.

Depending on the geometry on your boat, I am sure your proposed mounting method will work. The one thing I would think about is what happens to your struts as the backstay moves fore and aft (either waves or someone using it as a hand hold).

Hope this helps a bit.

Matt

 

[Don Crowther]

Upon rereading my post, dual back stays was the wrong term. I have a split back stay. I will be down at the boat this weekend and will have a closer look.I still think I can attach the panel to the backstays and maybe either the rear bow or stern rail.

Matt thanks for the pic's

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Upon rereading my post, dual back stays was the wrong term. I have a split back stay. I will be down at the boat this weekend and will have a closer look.I still think I can attach the panel to the backstays and maybe either the rear bow or stern rail.

Matt thanks for the pic's

I'd be reluctant to attach anything to the split back-stay and the stern rail. whichever method is used you still have one fixed rigid side (stern rail) and one side that will move whether you want it or not (back-stay). I believe that might cause distorsion and eventually crack the solar panel. Arch or rail mounted support would get my vote. good luck

 

[caguy]

I would like to attach my solar panel to my backstay and run some supports up from the stern rail. Has anyone done this?
I have a new bimini and really don't want to put any holes in it. Is there any problem with attaching anything to the backstay? I was thinking about using clamps (see attached pic).
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

I'm not sure where I saw the kit but they mounted it to a spit back stay where it hinged. They used the topping lift to support the back of the panel and control the angle. The panel would just move with the back stay. There would be very little stress on the panel. If I come across the ad or article I will post the link.

 

[py26129]

Don

My pleasure to help out. Do let us know what you chose to do in the end.

Matt