Solar Panels

I had long promised to get Embla equipped with solar but kept putting it off.  I didn't want a gantry as I feel it looks ugly and too busy on the back of a sail boat.  So I was searching for the best way toount solar on top of the bimini.  I didn't need gigawatts of power either, just enough to keep the house battery going a bit longer than normal.  Embla does have a water generator which work well under sail, and so it was just to allow some extended anchoring without having to run the engine.

A large package arrived from Germany: two rigid solar panels.  I decided on rigid vs flexible panels after reading much about how the latter don't perform as well, don't last as long and probably more importantly, have cause biminis to go on fire.

I rationalised that 4 stainless steel U bolts with long nuts providing a gap between the bimini and panel was the best and cost effective solution.  Yes there are more elegant solutions but having been quoted €700 for the bracketery, I opted for the DIY approach.  

However, fitting the ubolts and making holes in the canvas Bimini was a very tricky proposition and two days later, I was debating the merits of just spending the €700!  It's quite a challenge to measure accurately as the bimini's stainless tubingives depending how much tension is placed on the leading straps.

Finally I got both panels mounted. The challenge of aligning the holes to the bars is a lot more daunting than I had envisioned, probably because they move depending on the tension of the leading tension lines.  

I used Duralac to make a corrosion barrier between the aluminium and stainless steel fittings which is a really messy product and goes everywhere!

My DC cables were not long enough and o couldn't find any on the island, but the local electrical supply store said he could have them in a few days.  So right now my panels are just sitting pretty!