Sadler 290 - Positioning a Solar Panel

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Slipperman

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Any Sadler 290 owners fitted a Solar Panel? Obviously there are plenty of options for mounting on poles, arches, guardrails etc but so far as I can see the only flat area of deck is just in front of the cockpit which would likely suffer from shading by the boom. I am looking for the simplest possible solution for a relatively small panel just to keep the batteries topped up whilst the boat is not being used. Anyone found a nice solution?
 
Hi Slipperman. You don't seem to have had much response to this.

I am just about to acquire a 290 and will need solar because I'll be on a fore-aft mooring from April, so I'm wrestling with the same question. My current plan is a simple diy arch on the stern, to which I'll probably also move the radar. My boat will be moored with the stern facing south, so this permits an efficient panel orientation.

I don't know whether you know about the excellent Sadler 290 Facebook group, but there are lots of people on that who have panels on the hatch garage, on the sprayhood etc. Maybe you are a Facebook sceptic - so am I, and I have closed the account I ran for some years, but started another one just for membership of groups like the 290 one. I don't do friends, or personal photos, or personal posts. I find the 290 group a great resource - and the general Sadler owners' group too, for more general things.
 
I have a different boat but have mounted three small solar panels. One is horizontal on the supporting brackets of an Aries wind vane but the other two are vertical and on the outside of the dodgers just forward of the transom. Each vertical panel is screwed to a slightly oversize sheet of ply and attached to the guardrails by cable ties and two small shackles on the upper edge.

This is not giving maximum efficiency for the panels but it has worked well at keeping a large battery bank topped up - even over the Scottish winter. The vertical panels have proved robust, unobtrusive and trouble free.
 
I fitted one in a similar position on my Mirage. It worked well and kept my batteries topped up on my for and aft mooring (and in the yard over winter). Theoretically I should have had shading from the boom but it didn't seem to be a serious problem.
 
Thanks Guys, that's really useful - especially the photo posted by KwikDecision. That is the sort of thing I shall probably go for. For the past 15 years I have managed without by careful battery management, but when the first lockdown came along and I could not get to the boat it made me think that I should do something. And yes, LooseHeadProp (great name!) I am a Facebook sceptic but maybe I should bite the bullet on that too.
 
Slipperman said:
Thanks Guys, that's really useful - especially the photo posted by KwikDecision. That is the sort of thing I shall probably go for. For the past 15 years I have managed without by careful battery management, but when the first lockdown came along and I could not get to the boat it made me think that I should do something. And yes, LooseHeadProp (great name!) I am a Facebook sceptic but maybe I should bite the bullet on that too.
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I'm sure you will find the 290 FB group worthwhile, Slipperman. It has helped me in many ways. It's a closed group but Dave, the admin, is quick to respond so you'll be a member without too much delay.

It's Pop not Prop, by the way. As in Dad. Yes, I did play LH Prop in another life. On FB I'm ChrisFb xxx.

See you there. C
 
kalanka said:
I have a different boat but have mounted three small solar panels. One is horizontal on the supporting brackets of an Aries wind vane but the other two are vertical and on the outside of the dodgers just forward of the transom. Each vertical panel is screwed to a slightly oversize sheet of ply and attached to the guardrails by cable ties and two small shackles on the upper edge.

This is not giving maximum efficiency for the panels but it has worked well at keeping a large battery bank topped up - even over the Scottish winter. The vertical panels have proved robust, unobtrusive and trouble free.
Click to expand...
Can I ask what type/brand the panels are?
 
When I,ve searched for rigid solar panels I always found photonic universe to provide a slightly higher output than the other contenders and seem good quality.
But some of their charge controlers, they look to be absolutely the same as the ebay ones, but twice the price .
 
Physical mounting of solar panels on a sail boat seems to be the biggest problem and limiting factor when using otherwise amazing source of battery charge. No help to OP but on my little boat I have fixed straps and clips under my little solar panel so that it sits on top of the mainsail flaked on the boom. Thus small charge to battery all the time I am not on the boat. Cable goes through the main hatch to a switch box just inside. I remove before sailing to a safe place. I have found on my little boat no place is safe from heavy feet or flaying spin poles. ol'will
 
I had panels there on my Snapdragon, and they worked well. One detail, being under the boom, one side or the other is likely to be shaded quite often, so I was advised to have two smaller panels wired in parallel, rather than one big one, as a small shadow can bring down the whole panel's performance, but at least you've got the other one working.
 
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