Sprayhood stitching

[mcframe]

I'd like to attach a small flexible solar panel to the top of my sprayhood - any thoughts on:
(a) The best means of attachment?
(b) How to maintain waterproofness?

For (a), I'm thinking of sewing on ally or brass rings rather than signal-halyard nylon braid 'cos that gets grotty and needs replacing every couple of years - I'll still use that to tie the panel on. Also a couple of additional loops to run the cable down to the deck - I want to make it removable for err, sunny days when I like the hood down.

For (b) is the answer just to glue a patch on, underneath the stitching holes?

TIA.

 

[Searush]

How about using velcro? Use fine thread to stitch the fuzzy bit to the hood & there will be no waterproofing issue - if there is - just use beeswax to rub over the stitching to waterproof it. Glue the hooky bit to the underside of the panel.

 

[Ruffles]

How about using velcro?

The problem with velcro is that it has zero UV resistance. The velcro flap I put on my sail cover decayed after 12 months. And that's under the flap.

Learn from my mistakes!

 

[Searush]

That's odd, I have velcro that's years old & still going strong. So it goes.

 

[Ruffles]

That's odd, I have velcro that's years old & still going strong. So it goes.

Interesting. Got mine from Kayospuce. A full roll of it. It's genuine branded stuff. I wonder if there's a UV resistant version? I need to replace it this year cos it's actually falling off on the most exposed edge.

 

[vyv_cox]

I would make it as positive as possible. D rings sewn to the hood at the corners of the panel, using doubled back cloth strips, seems to be easiest. My flexible panel has six attachment holes, I tie three to the hand rail and three to lacing eyes screwed to the coach roof. In a fair amount of wind the panel flaps around a lot, indicating that you need all the attachment you can get.

 

[VicS]

My small, 5watt, semiflexible solar panel is bolted to the front part of the cabin roof.

It does not flap is and not shaded by the boom.

 

[Seagreen]

Whatever you sew onto the hood, and I'm assuming its an acrylic hood, make sure you back up the attachment point with a reinforceing patch of at least 4" diameter sewn on the reverse side. I'd use something you can tie on, as a gust of wind will confound your velcro.

 

[puddock]

The problem with velcro is that it has zero UV resistance. The velcro flap I put on my sail cover decayed after 12 months. And that's under the flap.

Learn from my mistakes!

Velcro on my sailcover has been fine - at least 2 years old.

 

[SAWDOC]

I'd like to attach a small flexible solar panel to the top of my sprayhood - any thoughts on:
(a) The best means of attachment?
(b) How to maintain waterproofness?

TIA.

A guy at our club uses a flexi panel which he ties around his main sail cover when back at port. Maplin supply these wrap around panels. Don'r relly like the idea of attaching anything to the sprayhood itself - what about the occasional collapse of the sprayhood?

 

[wilkinsonsails]

sprayhood stitching

We sew loops of polyester webbing on the seams with a polyester thread,the trouble is the weight of the panel often makes the roof sag and puddle.
If you can rest the edge across the bars, its a much better support.
The flexible ones do flap if the wind can get under them.On the other hand if you have an eyelted flap of material sewn along the exposed edges and tuck the edge under that ,that makes it less prone to flap.
I have also sewn a window in the roof of a hood and fitted a pocket underneath that .Any stitch holes there had to be sealed, as this again caused a slight dip.
There is no such thing as UV resistant Velcro its a polypropolene Because its exposed to UV it will degrade. Provided its got fabric on the xposed side thats what makes it last in the weather .
Cindy

 

[mcframe]

Thanks All.

I think D-rings, with a backing patch and wax are the way to go ;-)

(I've just morticed-and-dowel'd a little fiddled tray for my new AGM start battery - out of bits of old wine box, so I'm feeling particularly practical)

 

[Searush]

We sew loops of polyester webbing on the seams with a polyester thread,the trouble is the weight of the panel often makes the roof sag and puddle.
If you can rest the edge across the bars, its a much better support.
The flexible ones do flap if the wind can get under them.On the other hand if you have an eyelted flap of material sewn along the exposed edges and tuck the edge under that ,that makes it less prone to flap.
I have also sewn a window in the roof of a hood and fitted a pocket underneath that .Any stitch holes there had to be sealed, as this again caused a slight dip.
There is no such thing as UV resistant Velcro its a polypropolene Because its exposed to UV it will degrade. Provided its got fabric on the xposed side thats what makes it last in the weather .
Cindy

Brilliant, thanks for that Cindy. Professional contributions like that are what make these fora so good - may your business prosper, with customer care like that, it deserves to. Where are you based?

 

[tross]

Why don't you make a pouch to slide it into out of normal window plastic ?

 

[FullCircle]

Brilliant, thanks for that Cindy. Professional contributions like that are what make these fora so good - may your business prosper, with customer care like that, it deserves to. Where are you based?

Conyer Creek and Burnham.....