Mounting rigid solar panels on the bimini

[mtniner]

Hello all,

I have an '82 383 and am working on plans for solar. I want to mount two panels on the bimini and was wondering if anyone has done this? Is the bimini sturdy enough for ~50-60 lbs (2 panels and mounting frame)? Did you have to cut holes in the bimini canvas too mount the frame? How did you mount them? If anyone has any pics of how you mounted the panels I would really appreciate it.

I searched the forum but didn't find mention of this, sorry if I missed anything.

I appreciate your help!
Shane

 

[jimcleary]

Shane

I have two solar panels mounted above the bimini on Dana, my 1978 382. You can just about see them in the attached photo. I will be at the boat this weekend and I will take more photos of the mounting method. I had the sunbrella bimini top cut so that it can be removed without affecting the solar panels. The bimini frame and the panels stay up all year long. Even with the boat on land for the winter.

Jim

 

[mtniner]

Thanks Jim. I am hoping to have them mounted like you do so that the bimini cover can be removed without removing the panels, I was hoping not to have to cut the cover but it sounds like that will be necessary. In looking around it seems that most have a frame that is H shaped but with two cross-members on which the panels mount. Is that similar to what you have? More pics would be great if you have time. Thanks again.

 

[struell]

We have a single panel on our bimini. It is supported on two U- bars of 1" tubing bent to fit above the canvas. They connect to tee-fittings on the cross braces below the canvas. No cutting of the canvas was required. The panel is a Kyocera 150 watt panel dimensions 59" x 26.3". I'm not sure how you would arrange two panels unless they are smaller, mainly because of the backstay being in the middle there.

This one panel seems to be very adequate for our intermittent use pattern, and I never have had to run the engine for battery charging since we got it. We take the bimini off for haulout, and pretty much have to disassemble the whole thing. As you can see in the photos I wish I had a better way to run the leads down to the deck, but with the need to take it apart I'm not sure what that is.
Steve

 

[jimcleary]

Shane
I took photos today at the boat of the solar panels on the bimini. Instead of me explaining how they are mounted, you can inspect them and ask any questions you have.

Jim

 

[mtniner]

We have a single panel on our bimini. It is supported on two U- bars of 1" tubing bent to fit above the canvas. They connect to tee-fittings on the cross braces below the canvas. No cutting of the canvas was required. The panel is a Kyocera 150 watt panel dimensions 59" x 26.3". I'm not sure how you would arrange two panels unless they are smaller, mainly because of the backstay being in the middle there.

This one panel seems to be very adequate for our intermittent use pattern, and I never have had to run the engine for battery charging since we got it. We take the bimini off for haulout, and pretty much have to disassemble the whole thing. As you can see in the photos I wish I had a better way to run the leads down to the deck, but with the need to take it apart I'm not sure what that is.
Steve

Thanks Steve, I will measure again to be sure two will fit.

 

[mtniner]

Shane
I took photos today at the boat of the solar panels on the bimini. Instead of me explaining how they are mounted, you can inspect them and ask any questions you have.

Jim

Wow, thanks for all the pics Jim! They really help.

 

[rmarshall31]

I have 4 flexible Sunpower 170s panels on my bimini. They're attached with zippers. I've had great luck with them so far. They're a little cumbersome to put on or take off, but once they're on they work great.

 

[mtniner]

I have 4 flexible Sunpower 170s panels on my bimini. They're attached with zippers. I've had great luck with them so far. They're a little cumbersome to put on or take off, but once they're on they work great.

I like your dodger/bimini setup, seems like you have more space up there with the dodger at the same level as your bimini. My dodger is lower and is close to my sight line looking forward from the helm, sometimes in the way. I like the idea of them both at the same level.

I wanted to get Sunpower panels but couldn't find any prices online and dealers weren't getting back to me. Was the price point similar to other brands of similar quality?

I don't have experience with flexible panels, have you had rigid panels before? If so, in your experience how do they compare?

Thanks!

 

[jimcleary]

Shane

You might want to do more research on Ridgid vs flexible panels. From my experience, the flexible panels do not put out the same amps as equal sized rigid panels and they have a tendency to fail at a higher rate then rigid. Have you spoken with eMarine in Florida?

Jim

 

[jimcleary]

I know my last post is going to raise hoots and hollars, but it is what it is.

Jim

 

[mtniner]

Shane

You might want to do more research on Ridgid vs flexible panels. From my experience, the flexible panels do not put out the same amps as equal sized rigid panels and they have a tendency to fail at a higher rate then rigid. Have you spoken with eMarine in Florida?

Jim

I know my last post is going to raise hoots and hollars, but it is what it is.

Jim

I appreciate all input related to my questions. Your concerns with flexible are similar to what I have read in my limited research, but like I said I've never had any hands-on experience with flexible.

I haven't contacted eMarine but I will reach out to them. Thanks again Jim.

 

[jniemczuk]

Hello Shane,

I am also a new Morgan 384 owner and have no experience with solar panels on my boat but plan to add them in a season or two. However, this discussion made me remember reading a Facebook post last year concerning a fire caused by flexible solar panel mounted on the bimini. I went back and found the post by a youtuber sailor. There is some good information in the post that may help to avoid a fire hazard if you go the flexible panel route.

Adventureman Dan

Solar Panel FIRE!!! A cautionary tale about flexible solar panels, my first boat fire, how bad it could have been, and how it could have been prevented. It was a completely normal, beautiful day....

www.facebook.com

Regards,
Jack

 

[mtniner]

Hello Shane,

I am also a new Morgan 384 owner and have no experience with solar panels on my boat but plan to add them in a season or two. However, this discussion made me remember reading a Facebook post last year concerning a fire caused by flexible solar panel mounted on the bimini. I went back and found the post by a youtuber sailor. There is some good information in the post that may help to avoid a fire hazard if you go the flexible panel route.

Adventureman Dan

Solar Panel FIRE!!! A cautionary tale about flexible solar panels, my first boat fire, how bad it could have been, and how it could have been prevented. It was a completely normal, beautiful day....

www.facebook.com

Regards,
Jack

Thanks Jack, I don't have a Facebook acct but I appreciate your help. I am doing some research on flexible vs rigid and what will work best for me and will dig into any fire safety issues.

Congrats on your boat!

 

[Warren Holybee]

Whether or not your bimini is strong enough will depend on who/how built it, as they are all custom. Have you looked at skipping or removing the canvas, and just using panels as the cover instead? The panels could become a structural component to strengthen the bimini.

I second Jims opinion on flexible panels. Expect a flexible panel to last 5 years. Expect a solid panel to last 20. Other than that, I don't think there is a great difference between panel brands. Most are made by only a few factories in China. HQST panels are actually Renogy, and you can get good deals on them on Amazon.

 

[mtniner]

Whether or not your bimini is strong enough will depend on who/how built it, as they are all custom. Have you looked at skipping or removing the canvas, and just using panels as the cover instead? The panels could become a structural component to strengthen the bimini.

I second Jims opinion on flexible panels. Expect a flexible panel to last 5 years. Expect a solid panel to last 20. Other than that, I don't think there is a great difference between panel brands. Most are made by only a few factories in China. HQST panels are actually Renogy, and you can get good deals on them on Amazon.

I thought about removing the bimini canvas but with two panels and the backstay being where it is, the panels will be mounted to the outer 30" of the bimini frame leaving the middle open. Not sure that I want that. Plus I have full cockpit enclosure canvas that connects to the bimini canvas, I don't use it a lot but it's nice to have sometimes. I do like that idea though.

 

[mtniner]

I ordered a pair of Renogy rigid panels. I think I'm going to do something like Jim's but oriented fore/aft and possibly have side struts like Steve has. I have a sewing machine so I may alter the canvas so that it can be removed without removing the panels. Will see if that will work once the panels get here.

Thank you all for the help!

 

[Maurice]

I had a similar solar panel mount setup as Jim Cleary - the connections were mounted directly onto the upper bimini tubing (see photos below). In my case, I need to remove the bimini canvas and reinstall it each year. It is admittedly painful each year as I disconnect a number of pieces and re-stretch the canvas with the solar panels in place..

I say “had a similar setup” as Hurricane Dorian, damaged the solar panels. To my surprise the bimini tubing remained usable – albeit it had pulled out of the teak on one side.

In the reinstall, I am looking at placing tubing above the bimini specifically for the solar panels which would ease the mounting and removal of the canvas each year (See the attached “Solar Option_a” photos). I am not sure I like the aesthetics as much, but it might prove easier to use.

In my case I used a large frame Sun Power Solar panel (345 W) for house batteries with a TriStar MPPT controller and a much smaller panel for the starter batteries (a Morningstar SunSaver controller). The setup seemed to work well. Sun Power marketing suggests that they have an advantage in utilizing sun rays at a broader range of sun angle. I cannot verify if it proved better than another solar panel.

I hope this is helpful and I sure welcome other perspectives as I explore my new mount and new installation.

 

[jimcleary]

We haven't had to experience a major hurricane with our panels on the bimini, thank you. Our procedure in storm conditions are to remove the bimini top and to lash down the framework and the panels with multiple lines to prevent them from sailing off. So far it has worked fine. I would venture to guess that the most winds experienced is in the 40-45 knot range.

Jim

 

[yurek]

My panels are my Bimini: 4 X 100 W plus 2 X 50 W on doger + 2 X 100 W detachable on bimini frame. not on the pictures

 

[mtniner]

I had a similar solar panel mount setup as Jim Cleary - the connections were mounted directly onto the upper bimini tubing (see photos below). In my case, I need to remove the bimini canvas and reinstall it each year. It is admittedly painful each year as I disconnect a number of pieces and re-stretch the canvas with the solar panels in place..

I say “had a similar setup” as Hurricane Dorian, damaged the solar panels. To my surprise the bimini tubing remained usable – albeit it had pulled out of the teak on one side.

In the reinstall, I am looking at placing tubing above the bimini specifically for the solar panels which would ease the mounting and removal of the canvas each year (See the attached “Solar Option_a” photos). I am not sure I like the aesthetics as much, but it might prove easier to use.

In my case I used a large frame Sun Power Solar panel (345 W) for house batteries with a TriStar MPPT controller and a much smaller panel for the starter batteries (a Morningstar SunSaver controller). The setup seemed to work well. Sun Power marketing suggests that they have an advantage in utilizing sun rays at a broader range of sun angle. I cannot verify if it proved better than another solar panel.

I hope this is helpful and I sure welcome other perspectives as I explore my new mount and new installation.

Thank you for the pics and the info! Really helps. My panels just arrived and I am trying to draw up plans for a mounting frame... It's a process as I'm sure you know. Really appreciate the great pics, helps a lot!

 

[mtniner]

My panels are my Bimini: 4 X 100 W plus 2 X 50 W on doger + 2 X 100 W detachable on bimini frame. not on the picturesView attachment 8796View attachment 8796

What a great idea, use the panels as the bimini "canvas", that makes me rethink my idea. You have a lot of solar power, I will have 400w on my bimini, but I want to add more to my system like you have done. I like how you have panels on your dodger as well. I have a canvas dodger now but would like to have a hard dodger like you have. Thanks for the great pics!

 

[mpearson]

Hi Shane (mtniner) - I'm in the process of figuring out how to mount my new rigid solar panels onto our bimini ... did you finish your install? Any pictures or experience you can share?

Thanks to you and others on this thread who shared experience and photos. It really helps.

Cheers,
-Mark

 

[david_buckley]

In 2007 I rigged 300 watts of fixed panels over the bimini with an erector set of steel tubes. It worked and I was proud of it at the time. But now I just see ugly and heavy. I would use flexi panels these days. There output is now similar to fixed. I saw a cool install this winter where the panels were attatched to the cloth with magnets. My coment was about the compass but apparently it was not an issue and if it it was you can adjust and compensate the compass for it. Dodgers are often shaded by the main. Consider anything else like a wind generator or radar on a pole that could shade panels over your bimini.