I installed my solar panel the other day on my boat. After I finished the installation I was pretty happy with the results.
I have a 100 Watt Renogy solar panel. I have a Genasun 10 GV-10 charge controller.
This charges my 215 amp hour bank.
So the solar panel is a semi-flexible one. It is very light. It simply ties to the bimini. If I like this set-up I will sew velcro in over the winter and velcro it to the bimini.
The charge controller is right by the battery mounted on the bulkhead in the starboard cockpit locker.
Here are some photographs of the installed panel. Let me know if anyone has any questions!
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm199/HeaveToo/Solar%202_zpsh8i2kt35.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm199/HeaveToo/Solar%201_zpsqv5nxiii.jpg
I don't mean to be a naysayer at all, just wondering about the possibility of high winds destroying a deployed bimini.
Have seen many of them destroyed at the marina after those strong and often unpredictable midwestern storms pass through. Especially the aluminum framed models, they get get mangled.
I'm sure people either forgot to take them down or thought it would be OK until the next time they went out.
Probably not a bad plan to get it down if the forecast is calling for bad weather, just in case.
No experience talking, just observations from one marina rat to another. :)
I had a pretty heavy duty bimini on my other boat. It was left up and on when the boat was in use.
The bimini frame on the Compac is aluminum. I don't trust this as much. When I am not at the boat the bimini is down.
Nice thing is that when I am on the boat at anchor the boat is always bow to wind so in a strong storm I have the bimini up. dodger up, and connector attached. This is a better support system for it.
I also made the solar panel so it is easy to detach. I can take it up and down quickly.