possible to attach solar panel to top of cloth bimini?

[dcreno]

I'm trying to figure out a simple way to add solar charging to my
B361. What weight panels can I feel comfortable attaching to the top
of my cloth Bimini? I don't want to make this into a huge project of
building and attaching a hard Bimini or anything like that.

Any suggestions for panels? I'm thinking 140 watts should be fine (at
20% of rated amps I'll get 100 amp hours into my battery system during
the week. This one is 29 lbs but I'm thinking that it might be too
heavy: http://www.solar-electric.com/kykd135wa12v.html

Thanks for your thoughts!
David Reno
S/V Spirit
North East, MD

[Mark J Wilme]

I don't know that I would ....

I think I would put them on the deck or on the pulpit if there were no
hard dodger

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[bill wagner]

I would think it is too much, but talk to your canvas person.

Bill

[Rick Donovan]

On May 17, 2012, at 10:46 AM, dcreno wrote:

I don't want to make this into a huge project of
building and attaching a hard Bimini or anything like that.

David

do a Google image search for mounting a marine solar panel on sailboats or something worded similar to that. there are many ways to mount panels, but I think trying to go directly to your canvas would be an expensive mistake. the rigid panels that provide the best output are very sharp on the corners. I don't think the canvas would take that long at all even if you did figure out a way to connect the two parts.

I would suggest that you consider some 1" stainless tubing and the proper connecters to make a frame work that fits over the top of and outside of your existing bimini frame work. this might be something that could be done reasonably and would be much more secure that going onto what I have in mind for your canvas. maybe you have something different than I do in mind.

this sort of frame work is what I imagine could be done.

On May 17, 2012, at 10:46 AM, dcreno wrote:

(at
20% of rated amps I'll get 100 amp hours into my battery system during
the week.

even on heavily cloudy days you may see more than 20%...........you do not need a completely cloud free day for maximum output..........as long as the entire panel has no shadowing.  even a few square inches of shadowing anywhere on the panel, from the boom etc, may greatly reduce output. possibly more than the lack of direct sun. give the sight you want to place these panels some thought before jumping into this project. 

Rick Donovan

Biddeford, Maine

[rob]

I added four 80W solar panels to a bimini frame on Avant, with no
canvas. The panels themselves form the bimini top, with a strip of
Plexiglas in the middle to allow a sail view. The frame is 1" SS, and
I braced the frame against the pushpit with 1" SS struts. It all seems
strong enough, and took storm force winds at the dock over the winter
without issue. The combination of the bimini frame with the panels'
frames combines to make it pretty rigid.

I have seen (on the web) kits for over bimini mounting, www.emarineinc.com
and others offer them, but the "out the side--up--over the top"
mounting they use looks a little rube goldberg to me. Iverson's in
Seattle http://www.iversonsdesign.com (the highest quality canvas work
shop whose work I have ever seen) offers another style of mounting
that is less complex, and looking at how they do it would probably
worth the time. It looks like it would need your canvas modified a
bit.

As bimini frames are usually curved over the top, 2 smaller panels
might fit better, or look better, than one large one (say two 80s
instead of one 140). Cutting some cardboard templates and laying them
in place for the 'look' would probably be worth the time it takes. I
personally find the large flat surface of the big panels visually
jarring when among the the gentle curves of a sailboat, and find that
smaller panels do not have the same effect on my eye.

Rob
Avant
First 435

[dcreno]

Thanks for all the great comments, my brain is spinning thinking
through the options. Right now I'm wondering if a pole mounted on the
swim platform may be the best solution. I suppose I could use it for
other things I may someday want like (e.g. wind generator, gps
antenna).

The other possibility I'm considering and probably simplest/cheapest
is abandoning the U-ring, throwable flotation device and using that
space on the stern pulpit for a stern-rail mount. I suppose I could
fit a lifesling on the same side as the swim ladder.

The over bimini mounting systems seem like they may take up too much
space between the boom and bimini, not sure I want to raise the boom
to make space.

--David
B361

[Rick Donovan]

On May 18, 2012, at 4:13 PM, dcreno wrote:

Right now I'm wondering if a pole mounted on the
swim platform may be the best solution

take a look at this product meant specifically for adding alternative energy to a small yacht. I expect it may be pricey but it solves a number of issues on a boat with limited deck space.

http://www.solarstik.com/applications/marine

Rick Donovan

Biddeford, Maine

[David Mackintosh]

We did some recycling to mount our panels.  We put an old bimini bow (freebee) onto the pushpit using standard rail fittings - on the pulpit we used an opening  top slide and with an eye on the bow.  We held the bow vertical with two struts cut from another bimini bow (another freebee) to the bimini frame. Actually it looks OK and the price was great..

We are using Scandinavian NOA solar panel mounts (expensive but great) that allow us (and we do) to tilt the panels towards the sun.....after sunset we try to remember to flip them over for the morning dawn sun......saves getting out of bed at 05:30.  We have 2 x 100W ATM  with the panels mounted athwart-ship but will upgrade that to 3 x 135W next year and mount then the other way.  Then we will hang the 2 x 100W panles on the lifelines as an interim measure before we decide where to mount them permanently.

LOTS of good stuff here

http://www.noa.se/en/

http://www.lotorp.com/noaengelska/solarpanelmounts.htm

kindest regards

David

[dcreno]

Yeah, I like the SolarStik but at $4,050 there's no way I'll be going
that route. Looking for more of a <$600 solution which implies a
panel, controller, and stern-rail mount.

[don roy]

Rob,

Could you post some pictures of this setup as it sounds very
interesting as it solves two projects that I have on my to do list -
new bimini and solar panels.

Thanks
Don Roy
Summer Breeze
OC440 '96

On May 18, 8:54 am, rob <rob.robmur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I added four 80W solar panels to a bimini frame on Avant, with no
> canvas. The panels themselves form the bimini top, with a strip of
> Plexiglas in the middle to allow a sail view. The frame is 1" SS, and
> I braced the frame against the pushpit with 1" SS struts. It all seems
> strong enough, and took storm force winds at the dock over the winter
> without issue. The combination of the bimini frame with the panels'
> frames combines to make it pretty rigid.
>
> I have seen (on the web) kits for over bimini mounting,www.emarineinc.com
> and others offer them, but the "out the side--up--over the top"
> mounting they use looks a little rube goldberg to me. Iverson's in

> Seattlehttp://www.iversonsdesign.com(the highest quality canvas work

[Nickf]

Have done just this on a Beneteau 393  canvas biminii using these fasteners http://www.stayputfasteners.com.au/index_2.html , (the canvas to canvas ones) and flexible panels the two 32 watt panels as these http://www.marlec.co.uk/products/photovoltaic-panels-solar-pv-panels/spectraflex32/

Get 3 amps plus max and 30 amp hours a day in Greece using these. So far have withstood 40 plus kts wind.

Also quick and easy to remove.

Hope this helps.

[Nickf]

Stay Put fasteners used were these  http://www.selectsolar.co.uk/prod/750/stayput-cc6k-canvas-fasteners

made specifically to attach flexible solar panels to canvas.

[Bluesnews]

Hello All

 

I haven’t been following this thread too closely so someone may already have found this – but if not look at http://www.solarfuture.com.au/other-applications/

 

These guys have flexible solar panels with a zipper down each side for fastening to a mating zipper sewn into a bimini top

 

This is an Australian website but they tell me there are dealers on East and West Coasts – USA

 

Cheers

--

[Rick Donovan]

On May 27, 2012, at 4:27 AM, Bluesnews wrote:

but if not look at http://www.solarfuture.com.au/other-applications/

I stand corrected in my last comments on this subject. 

after looking at this web site, this is great output for a flexible solar panel. and it would seem to be ideal for the top of a bimini on our boats with the zipper mounting. it appears that soft panels/technology has finally caught up with the rigid panel by obtaining similar output values. in the past that was not true for a flexible solar panel.

Rick Donovan

Biddeford, Maine

[David Mackintosh]

Have a look see here   http://www.bruceschwab.com/solar-power-solutions.htm Bruce does the zip on (Italian) panels..................EXPENSIVE they are though


regards

David