Where to place a solar panel on a 31 ft yacht

[Flica]

Same size boat, 31' - it's had a cockpit arch since 1998, just before leaving the UK - originally had a wind generator on there with 2 x 65 w solar panels.
Those two are now on a structure above the spray hood, there are two 110w panels on the cockpit arch and an additional 2 x 18w flexible panels over the lines from mast-foot to cockpit.
Boat has regularly done 2.5K - 1.3K nm single-handed every year since 1990.
I fail to see why you are under the impression that 31' is too small for a cockpit arch (unless you spend more time out of the boat than in it when afloat).
No adverse effects on handling - if anything lies to anchor better in any wind over F3, and I only visit a marina a couple of times a season as the 330 watts of PV panel keep up with fridge (in up to 40C), lights and laptop.
No available photos - the boat is in N Evvia about 1650 miles away.

 

[Jokani]

How I did it

John

Nice solution! Where did you find those rail clamps?

 

[JVL]

Nice solution! Where did you find those rail clamps?

They are NOA clamps from seateach


John

 

[Slycat]

How I did it

John

Looks really good, I like my sprayhood down when possible so I like this. Where did you get the fittings?

Edit - nm just saw above!

 

[Jokani]

They are NOA clamps from seateach


John

Appreciated, thank you.

 

[dansaskip]

Looking for an elegant solution to install a solar panel on a Moody 31.
The boat is too small for an arch...

I think you are wrong in thinking that I know of at least 2 28 footers (mine included) that have arches to carry solar panel(s) After 3 years of cruising it seems the accepted solution. Panels mounted elsewhere eg rails are much too much vulnerable to damage from various causes.

 

[elton]

I made a simple frame out of box section aluminium rail (cheap, from Homebase) for my 25W panel, and clamped it to the pushpit using domestic brass water pipe retainers. The water pipe retainers were an almost perfect fit for the pushpit. It was good. Sorry no pics.

 

[Flica]

I think you are wrong in thinking that I know of at least 2 28 footers (mine included) that have arches to carry solar panel(s) After 3 years of cruising it seems the accepted solution. Panels mounted elsewhere eg rails are much too much vulnerable to damage from various causes.

Agreed - but never argue against faith-based believers.

 

[Erwin Swart]

Many thanks for all responses.
Indeed arches are possibles and looks better then expected.
Though have found a pole solution where there is still a possibility to change the panel in the direction of the sunlight.
Once its finished i will post a photo

Erwin

 

[aquaplane]

It depends what you are doing. When I was sailing weekends and the occasional 2 week cruise a 40W panel on the hatch garage was enough to top the domestic battery up between visits, no fridge.

Living aboard with fridge and heater and no cares in the world about running your batteries down you will need much more solar. So you don't want inefficient semi flexible on your spray hood or screwed to the deck. Rigid panels mounted flat (horizontal) on the guard rails look fragile to me, but may be OK if you drop them when berthing. An arch is the way unless you bite the bullet and reconcile yourself to using a mix that fits. I have 100w on the cabin top, but run the engine if I have to, or plug in to 240v if I can.

 

[GTom]

I face the same challenge with our slightly bigger 33' Discus, difficult... I have 4x100W rigid panels at home, but other than moving the radar from the pole to the mast and adding an arch, I don't have much idea. Anywhere on board they will get a LOT of partial shading, which kills the output. Not to mention, there is not much space on board, certainly not for four biggish panels.

I gave a thought to John's solution on the guard rail, my concern is that the panels get quite a lot of salt water even submerged sometimes and still a fair amount of shade.

 

[dgadee]

I put 100w on simple gantry on 30 footer. Don't have pic but can send one in a few days. Couple of lengths of ss 1" and got firm to put two 90° bends in, then used NOA and seascrew bits. Survived F10s on the hard.

 

[Balbas]

Apologies for the thread derail. I'm in a somewhat similar position, wanting to add solar to a 31ft ketch (so no 'hoop' possible). The only solution which seems sensible to me is the hatch garage, which will take a 110W panel I reckon. But it will almost always be partially shaded by something or other.

How much does the shading affect the output? I know very little about solar, but was always under the impression that they produce power in whatever level of daylight they can get - so even on a shady day (or partially shaded, he says hopefully), they're still worth having. Am I wrong?

 

[GTom]

How much does the shading affect the output? I know very little about solar, but was always under the impression that they produce power in whatever level of daylight they can get - so even on a shady day (or partially shaded, he says hopefully), they're still worth having. Am I wrong?

Partial shading is as good as disastrous, much worse than simply less but diffuse light:

 

[Kelpie]

It can be better to fit multiple smaller panels, as shadowing of one panel will not affect the others.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Unfortunately anywhere on a boat is likely to have a degree of shading (including on a gantry). Anywhere is going to be a compromise. The option of moveable panels which need constant repositioning doesn't appeal to me as too faffy so multiple panels positioned so that some are harvesting some power whenever possible seems to be the best option.