Solar Panels mounted where ??? - How about the Split Backstay?

[fuss]

There is always the problem of where to put solar panels, its one of the reasons I dont have any yet. Make an arch... on top of the bimini.... on the lifelines.... on top of the davits. well they all have their issues..... i have no arch.... bimini has boom shading.... lifelines are.. well, sort of in the way.... as is the case with on top of the davits, the swim platform would be compromised.

How about mounted on the split backstay, I could probably fit two big ones, they are out of the way, the lines from a distance are not compromised. It seems an ideal spot.

I had a bit of a look in google but no-one seems to do this.

What do you think, if you have a split backstay, it seems a very practical , non/low shadowed spot.

 

[simonfraser]

it would help you go down wind a treat, not sure about going to wind though.
still you could allways put the engine on for that ;-)

 

[V1701]

Apart from the weight issue how would you maintain their angle towards the sun?

 

[VicS]

I think it is possible to demonstrate that unless the boat is fixed, ie on a pontoon or between piles. so that the panel can be angled correctly and facing south the best compromise is with it flat. I don't know how that affects your ideas.

Mine is only small and is on the sloping cabin front. Works well because the boat tends to face SW more than any other one direction. Flat may have been better but no really convenient place.

 

[Saguday]

We put them flat on top of the bimini - no significant issue with boom shading and always worked extremely well.

All locations have their issues though: this was the best we could come up with but the main downside is that the bimini is now effectively a permanent structure and we've lost the ability to fold it down when we don't need or want the shade.

 

[William_H]

Solar panel location

As said the wind resistance of panels near vertical on the backstay could be horrible. (even if not so near vertical.)
It would work only if the boat is always moored with stern facing south(for UK). As also said the best compromise for a boat on a swing mooring is flat. I have found a lt of success on a small boat by lashing a small panel on top of the mainsail cover on the boom. It being removed each time I go sailing. However in reality this would not work for bigger than 10w. Well perhaps you could rig some sort of supports but it would be cumbersome.

So no there is no good answer. If they are fixed on the deck or cabin top in my experience they are likely to be damaged. Over a bimini seems the best bet. regards olewill

 

[fuss]

Thanks for the replies...

I would want them to be horizontal, not on the same angle as the backstay.

I imagined having them horizontal by having 2 stainless rods underneath that also connected to the backstay. Something similar to panels on the lifelines except that they remain always in the horizontal position.

 

[Bajansailor]

I think we might have a vaguely similar arrangement to what you are proposing - we have two backstays, with a S/S bar going transversely between them, supporting the aft end of a fibreglass bimini which has two transverse GRP angles laminated to it, and the solar panel is bolted to these angles.

The forward end of the bimini is attached to a goal post type gallows for the main boom.

I was worried that the bimini would stand out hugely, but in actual fact it is hardly noticeable.

 

[maxi]

Split backstay

My solar panels live very happily on my split backstay, on a very simple homemade lift-off bracket - but then again, my boat is moored permanently with her stern facing due south. When cruising, at anchor etc; then the panels have to be regularly re-aligned to the sun using halyards, stays etc as suitable.

The output of solar panels needs not only directional alignment, but also elevational alignment, to optimise their generation power.

 

[V1701]

Is having the extra weight load on the backstays really not an issue then? If not I can perhaps consider this on mine...

 

[vyv_cox]

Is having the extra weight load on the backstays really not an issue then? If not I can perhaps consider this on mine...

I suppose it depends what size panels you are considering. I have a total of 125 watts, for which the panels are far too heavy to mount on a backstay IMHO. Having one end of the bimini supported by the backstays, as bajansailor shows, seems quite acceptable for smaller panels such as his.

The advice I was given a couple of years ago was to make up an arch using proprietory fittings and tubing. I did this, at not very great cost, it has worked well and doesn't look too bad. I had the advantage that I had the radar pole to tie it to but I know of several others who made something similar without one.