stern arch pricing

Molteni

Molteni

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Just planning a solar arch for a panel weighing under 20kg. The arch won't be used for anything else.
I'm thinking of 25mm 316 stainless tube, and fitting straight from the pushpit. I've already ordered fittings to mount the new tube to the 25mm pushpit and wondered what sort of price the stern arch would be. Seems to be 2off simple loops and some joining bars for rigidity.

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I did this. Difficult bit was getting someone to put bends in my tube (bought from a metals stockist). I used NOA brackets for the panel (100 watt) and they work well. Also I cobbled together pieces to hold uprights to pushpit horizontal bar. Bends cost me £25 each (I think - maybe that was for two) and NOA was about £80. That was maybe 8 years ago. No problems since, even in howling winds.
 
dgadee said:
I did this. Difficult bit was getting someone to put bends in my tube (bought from a metals stockist). I used NOA brackets for the panel (100 watt) and they work well. Also I cobbled together pieces to hold uprights to pushpit horizontal bar. Bends cost me £25 each (I think - maybe that was for two) and NOA was about £80. That was maybe 8 years ago. No problems since, even in howling winds.
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Be interested in which NOA bracket/fitting you used for you 109w panel as I’m thinking about doing the same. PM if you wish. Thanks.
 
dgadee said:
I did this. Difficult bit was getting someone to put bends in my tube (bought from a metals stockist). I used NOA brackets for the panel (100 watt) and they work well. Also I cobbled together pieces to hold uprights to pushpit horizontal bar. Bends cost me £25 each (I think - maybe that was for two) and NOA was about £80. That was maybe 8 years ago. No problems since, even in howling winds.
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I had two bends and they cost $A25 each. Would there be any advantage using aluminum tubing

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf...&ved=0ahUKEwiCyKzi8NflAhUUeysKHdBgCmcQ4dUDCAs
 
i didnt go the arch route, and just went for the beefiest solar mount NOA do (10639).

its held up fine in gales, sailing in squals, tacking, gybing. i bungee the panel against the poles when i leave the boat. the panel is a Victron 80w but the mount supports up to 150W.


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the string is still from when i first installed it as was paranoid the panel may fall off still and the string was to stop it. has been fine.
 
UK-WOOZY said:
i didnt go the arch route, and just went for the beefiest solar mount NOA do (10639).

its held up fine in gales, sailing in squals, tacking, gybing. i bungee the panel against the poles when i leave the boat. the panel is a Victron 80w but the mount supports up to 150W.


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the string is still from when i first installed it as was paranoid the panel may fall off still and the string was to stop it. has been fine.
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That's interesting - do you find you get enough power with the panel vertical to keep your batteries topped up full whilst left on a mooring? If so, what latitude are you on?
 
most definitely. both house and engine battery are always at 13v+ when i get to the boat and when i have stayed on the boat on the mooring the batteries are full by the time i wake up. i position the panel vlat or angled when im underway. I use a Votronic MPP165 dual controller. mooring is on the River Thames in Erith.
 
UK-WOOZY said:
most definitely. both house and engine battery are always at 13v+ when i get to the boat and when i have stayed on the boat on the mooring the batteries are full by the time i wake up. i position the panel vlat or angled when im underway. I use a Votronic MPP165 dual controller. mooring is on the River Thames in Erith.
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That's interesting to note Woozy. pondering over solar to have batteries full after boat being left for a few weeks. Yours could be tidy solution.
 
I made mine from inch tubing and standard fittings, elbows and Tees. I had five supports made locally to attach the panels to the tubing. The initial version, as shown here, was intended to allow tilting of the panels but in practice I found it made little difference. 125 watts in two panels. Has been there for 10 years now, makes us self sufficient in summer months in Greece, fridge running 24/7.


The current version has the aft vertical tubes attached to the transom, making it all stronger.
 
Vyv, out of interest see you radar on the arch, I’m looking at this and have been trying to find out if the mast causes much of an issue?
 
Daverw said:
Vyv, out of interest see you radar on the arch, I’m looking at this and have been trying to find out if the mast causes much of an issue?
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Why ? On my other boat we had it on the SS post never had a problem , you just have to set it so the radar knows it's off centre if it is to one side .
 
It would be on Centre line and it was suggested that the mast in front would cause a shadow or blind spot
 
Daverw said:
Vyv, out of interest see you radar on the arch, I’m looking at this and have been trying to find out if the mast causes much of an issue?
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We fitted the radar when we lived and cruised in the Netherlands, where fog was common and shipping was terrifying! I certainly was never aware of any interference caused by the mast, no shadow at all, basically the mast seemed invisible to it. Since we have sailed in the Mediterranean, some 15 years now, I rarely use the radar, turning it on periodically to see if it still works.
 
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