Thoughts on solar installs on 23's.

[HeaveToo]

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solbian_solar_panel&page=1

There is the article on the Soloban panels.  I would love to have one of these and do this installation on my boat.  Then again, if you are fabricating on the frame (especially in my case) then you might as well do the entire frame and do a rigid panel. 

[HeaveToo]

This is also a suggested panel, according to one thread.  It is a bit more expensive but less than $1000
https://www.ervsolar.com/Gioco-150W-Flexible-Monocrystalline-Solar-Panel-GSC-150


Here is a Soloban panel:  https://www.ervsolar.com/Solbian-125W-Flexible-Solar-Panel-CP125
Funny but the 125 watt panel is cheaper than a 100 watt panel by almost $300. 

The prices have come down some. Hopefully with more flexible panel knockoffs and technology getting better the quality panels will get cheaper.

I know that with the Genasun GV10 controller that I have I can go up to a 140 watt panel.  Having a little extra might be nice.

[Salty19]

Just a thought about the solar topic.  I've been thinking over, but yet to do anything about, building a removable hard aft bimini (marine ply laminated with fiberglass) that would sit on the aft rails, aft of the backstay ever so slightly (on a CP19, but same setup on the 23).  On the hard bimini could sit a decent size panel or two along with custom brackets that may allow the panels to tilt a bit.  This would allow the panels to be 100% out of the way, allows cooling under the panels, would be easily removable, and would have fewer obstructions that would block the sun.  As you all know, even small shadows over the panel will considerably reduce output from the whole panel.  With an aft setup, the sun blocking would only occur when the sun is directly forward of the bow.  It doesn't seem like that big of a deal to rig this with a little creativity.

The aft bimini is attractive to me because I don't like the idea of being trapped in "the canvas cave", unable to see the mainsail or have easy access to the deck,  but still want some shade.  It could also be an attachment point for a larger cover at anchor, or a cockpit based bimini.  Right now I use two large Magna brand umbrellas on the stern rails.  They work well, albeit the shading of the cockpit is very dependent upon the sun angle in relationship to the umbrellas.  When we move to Florida in a few years I will likely think differently about the partial shade idea but for the Midwest it's enough shade to get by.

[Mas]

Hey Salty Dog, there are so many compromises. We will have shore power for times at dock, got a diesel (but hope to keep the tradition of little use, 356 hrs. 1990 yanmar), wish to keep batteries in place under cover over winter on her trailer, be off the grid for extended blocks for cruising and exploring. I agree on the sailing with a bimini up, can't see the sail very well. Will have to see if we anticipate many ideas of summer trips in the dead of the season, might change our mind as well on it being up underway!

Bottom line, will use well documented quality components even if something else doesn't happen. I would love to fill the needs described above. Learning much here.

[HeaveToo]

Years of cruising on the Chesapeake Bay I will tell you that in the late spring and summer I don't sail without a bimini.  Normally my bimini and dodger are up.

I don't have issues getting to the foredeck.  It is tricky with the connector in but it is not too bad. 

If you want to see the sails through the bimini then have a window placed in the bimini.  My last boat had two windows so you could lookup and see the sail.  It had velcro pieces to cover the window when you wanted shade there.

[Shawn]

"you got a heater on her?"

Yup, a Dickinson solid fuel stove.





It was very cosy with that going down there.

Shawn

[Mas]

Nice looking set up! Good to know you can find fuel to burn. How long will a fire last you before you restoke?

[BruceW]

Heave To, how about a picture of your dodger/bimini? To keep it in thread, I think I might like a bigger solar deal down the "road" and could put it on a bimini, but I have been thinking of a shade/rain cover for the companionway hatch both while sailing and at anchor. I wish the Com-pacs had a pop top hatch cover.

[HeaveToo]

Bimini/Dodger/Solar (can't see solar on bimini)
My 5 watt trickle charger on back of boat that I leave up for when I am not on the boat.
Here you can see the connector and the wire running down the frame (I use velcro straps to hold it to the bimini frame).
Grainy picture but you can see the bimini, dodger, and solar on the boat.  You have to look hard at the top of the bimini and you will see the black of the solar panel.
bimini and dodger before solar.  Good look at the fit
bimini and dodger looking forward

[Mas]

Hey HeaveToo, nice pics. Still would like to put a flexible panel unlike yours just for the stowability of it. Also was thinking about being able to rig one in more than one place for sun. The rigid panels are more efficient but just can't figure where to put one large enough to get No Mas truly off the grid. Has yours been up in nasty weather yet?

[Mas]

Shawn, right next to your heater vent there is a SS gooseneck kinda fitting that has line running into it. What is it's purpose. Related to the solar on the hatch in any way?

[Shawn]

That is a wiring gooseneck. Waterproof entry point for wires that doesn't rely on a seal. It is for the wind meter on the mast. It also is a little bit of an o2 entry point near the heater.

Solar wiring is under the panel and then has a coiled cable inside the boat to handle movement of the sliding hatch. I didn't want that outside of the boat as a trip hazard.

Shawn

[Mas]

Thanx Shawn. Gotta assume you are located in a cooler clime with you packing a heater!? Good thought on having a little extra o2 on board with a flame going. Hope we can survive the wait till sailing season. going to the boat for more work in a little bit. Probably going to pull the batteries till i can nail down the solar thing. I like you hatch mount but was thinking i might wish a little more than 40 watts. Still pondering.

[BruceW]

Heave, I like that bimini dodger combo. Did you buy them, or were they already there. I was interested in your hard dodger, but maybe it's already gone. I could see a combo like this.

[HeaveToo]

I still have the hard dodger in my shed. 

The boat came with the Bimini and Dodger with Connector.

The panels have been up through some Chesapeake Bay Storms, at anchor, and I have sailed in wind gusts over 25 knots with them up.  They really do work well.  They store well.

If you look into what the Compass Marine Site says then you will see that the Soloban Panel is about as efficient as a rigid panel.  The Renology Panels are knockoffs of the Soloban.  Soloban is coming down in price too.  Still several times more expensive than the other panels.