Flexible Solar Panel

[Sailingnutz]

we have a Rutland 1200 with generator with MPPT controller that has a solar input and are looking for advice.

We cruise and rely on wind and solar to run the batteries and fridge whilst at anchor.

We want to buy a new solar panel as both of ours have given up the ghost

We’ve limited deck space so we’re considering mounting something on our sprayhood which, whilst relatively wide is narrow (front to back)

Can anyone suggest a cost efficient option for us please?

 

[Sea Change]

Every flexi panel I've owned has been very disappointing. Low output, short lifespan. When I read an account of a sprayhood mounted one developing a short which set the sunbrella on fire, I decided to never ever have another one on my boat.

A lot of people mount rigid panels on their guard wires, like dodgers. You can adjust the angle as an added bonus. Even a fairly small boat can usually fit 100w each side. Something worth thinking about?

 

[searocket]

We have a Sunware textile flexible twin panel on our sprayhood (from Marlec). Easy to detach and stow as required,
though it's not a cheap option.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Stay away from flexi if you can highly inefficient and short life the idea is good. best type is a monocrystalline type good you have a MPPT controller

 

[dunedin]

We have semi flexible on sprayhood and been excellent. Mounted with 2 inch industrial Velcro into Victron MPPT controller.

 

[toothless]

I have 300w of flex on the coachroof and 600w of rigid on a stem arch. The flex panels are very disappointing barely making a quarter of the expected output even with care re shading. The arch panels produce on average circa 2/3rds the rated output so far more in line with expectations. I wouldn't bother with semi flex panels again if I could find a way to make rigid ones fit - they are much better and can be very cheap if you look for domestic panels.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

we have a Rutland 1200 with generator with MPPT controller that has a solar input and are looking for advice.

We cruise and rely on wind and solar to run the batteries and fridge whilst at anchor.

We want to buy a new solar panel as both of ours have given up the ghost

We’ve limited deck space so we’re considering mounting something on our sprayhood which, whilst relatively wide is narrow (front to back)

Can anyone suggest a cost efficient option for us please?

Whatever you chose I think that you may find that you are limited to a max. of 240 watts for a panel if your controller is the standard Marlec MPPT

 

[Gixer]

Anyone have any experience of these panels?
SpectraLite SemiFlex Solar Panels - Marlec

 

[mattonthesea]

Victron

We had similar flex on spray hood. Worked well but both times our panel died after two years. The constant flexing eventually breaks it.

 

[ylop]

We’ve limited deck space so we’re considering mounting something on our sprayhood which, whilst relatively wide is narrow (front to back)

Can anyone suggest a cost efficient option for us please?

Get your tape measure out and then find the biggest panel that fits. I found a 120W panel that fits with minimal curvature and with the four corners easy to secure to the underlying frame. Of course it is affected by shade, and is probably a less efficient panel because it is flexible but it is passive, not in the way, and still gives me the flexibility to put the hood down if a I want (with two thumb screws). It is an Ecoflow panel which was relatively cheap compared to some so I can probably afford to replace every 2-3 yrs if needed.

If I was adding more solar I would add rigid panels dodger style as @Sea Change suggested. Actually depending on how you were planning to route the cables that might not be a bad starting point - by far the hardest part of fitting panels on the sprayhood was neatly getting the cables in to the boat / controller and batteries.

 

[arc1]

I've gone for 2×100w panels on guard rails like dodgers, hi tech cut off broom handles allow me to angle them for midday sun when at anchor. Last year had 100w flexible as well that I chucked on deck at anchor (accepting reduced lifespan), thinking of going for putting this on sprayhood this year but not decided. Was more than enough to run LED lights, fridge and charger a few devices during West of Scotland summer (even last year's apology of a summer!)

 

[Gixer]

We had similar flex on spray hood. Worked well but both times our panel died after two years. The constant flexing eventually breaks it.

Did you have it permanently on the spray hood?

 

[mattonthesea]

Did you have it permanently on the spray hood?

Yes

 

[DangerousPirate]

I literally just opened a thread about solar panels because my flexi one was not giving me any juice. It's a 170w one and I don't even make 2 amps (most I ever saw was 1.7) in the same condition my 100w one gave me 5 and more. The rigid one is years older than the flexi one.

Besides that, there are many smart ways to mount solar panels. On my nicholson, I used to hang them at the cockpit over the wire with cable ties. Worked like a charm. I used a 4mm poly to secure it to the backstay and to a cleat below, and was able to adjust angle as I pleased. Had one on each side, looked a bit like wings.

When out sailing, especially when docking, I used to fold them down.

Many people do that, it's very convenient and works very well, and you'd be surprised at the size of panels you can hang that way.