Hard Top/Dodger/Bimini?

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  • 25th August 2009 at 7:36 pm #11075

      HT'ers
      I picked up four 120w solar panels in a garage sale, so was thinking of building a hard top to mount them on, seems that me old dodgy Bimini is ready for a recover thought I might as well tackle this project. Anyone have any advice on this? Have you done this before or are thinking about doing it?
      Any thoughts comments would be appreciated.

      I've put a preliminary design up with some details of what materials etc. I'm thinking of :

      http://www.psychosnail.com/blog/post/Building-a-hard-Bimini-hard-Dodger.aspx

      and the second post with materials costs etc. I used an example of a hard top built in Thailand for a prout to guestimate materials necessary.

      http://www.psychosnail.com/blog/post/Hard-Dodger-Composite-Material-Selection.aspx

      26th August 2009 at 8:56 am #11821

        Hi Ryan
        Four 120 w pannels !!!! WOW!!! Bigger than Tcherno byl!!!
        I just bought 2, and I allready think they are too large !!!

        Seriously, i think that putting them ond the hard top, that is to say under the boom is not the better choice . Silicium pannel are very sensible to the shadow, and if only one or two cells are masked , the electrical production dramaticaly fall down. IMHO it would be a lot better to put them on a stainless steel “arch” (I have not the correct english word!! Gantry??) on the rear of the boat . Best of all, if you can turn them to be in front of the sun all the day long.
        I have seen such a mount, done with a foot mast coming from a sail board, screwed under the pannel allowing to turn it toward the sun. Simple, cheap and solid.

        29th October 2009 at 12:57 am #11820

          Hello Ryan
          I don't know if you have made any progress, but if you want info on the hard to/dog-house that I have I will gladly send it to you. If you turn it into an enclosed cockpit you will find it is wonderful! see http://www.mb4me.co.uk for a simple pic.

          In turn, I would be very interested in your big solar panels, how you intend to fix them, are they flexible and how are you going to link them into the battery system. At present I have a 13 watt panel that is doing a good job, but I do need a bit more than this for some new ideas.

          Please contact me if you wish.

          Mike

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