Solar Systems

[neosin]

Has anyone done a solar setup to run the boat at night, what kind/how many batteries does it take to run a boat all night if your power use was about 1800-2000 watts at night? I'm thinking a full load at night is around 1500-2000 watts if your running the ship service with heaters.

what kind of solar panels would be best on a boat, ways to protect them? Would maybe just a few solar pannels work, build a big battery bank and let the genny do most of the charging work in short periods? Has anyone done anything like this?

[Eventide]

Here's a surprise answer to your solar question. The SSCA site has major discussions about solar, including selection, installations and costs.

The surprise is that one engineer/economist ran a comparative cost analysis and found, much to the chagrin of all the sailors on that site, that just running your generator was in fact cheaper and more efficient over both the short run and the long run than anything a solar system could put up.

Check it out. I was very surprised, but pleased that I would not have to bother with solar.

[neosin]

This is true.... My 8k onan uses very little fuel in a 24 hour period.

Maybe i should just look at a small system to keep the batteries charged in the 4 months we don't use A/C or heaters and just like hanging on the hook. After looking at some i don't think that it would be very hard to build a 200-600 watt array just on top of the fly bridge or main deck. Would make a perfect backup system as well... As I see it this space is not being used for anything and should be working for me. Ah what about sitting at the dock all that time. What about sending the left over power back into the grid... Seeting how my dock bill is 350 dollars, i wonder how hard it would be to build a system that would make this much in a month. Granted i'd have to give up my covered slip! AHH LOL...

I've even thought about fold out arrays on out rigger type setup.

[Eventide]

You have a COVERED SLIP?

[Eventide]

A covered slip is GOLDEN!

I would give my left knut for one. That alone saves you tons of money on exterior maintenance and repairs.

As for the solar, anything is possible. It's only money.

[krush]

Don't waste your money. The investment will never pay for itself.

The average I've seen is about 10 watts per sq foot of panel; SCREW THAT.

[neosin]

A covered slip is GOLDEN!

I would give my left knut for one. That alone saves you tons of money on exterior maintenance and repairs.

As for the solar, anything is possible. It's only money.

Texas baby... we don't mess around. Covered slip very nice, 350 bux a month and it's in the hot spot of clear lake! lol All the vintage hatts have covered slips around here!! lol