Our most painful boat project yet: installing flexible solar panels. #4
April 17, 2018 by Ryan & Sophie Sailing | Language: EN Play Time: 00:00:13:49 | SAILING YOUTUBERS
One month until we start our big sailing adventure, and we’re starting to feel the pressure of the schedule!
In this episode, we’re tackling our first big sailboat project: installing 400 Watts of Sunbeam Tough+ solar panels on our Beneteau Oceanis 40.
It took us six days of working on the boat nonstop to get the solar panels up and running. Ryan thought it would be a “fun sailboat project” for him, but the work turned out a lot more frustrating than he had initially planned.
So why did we install solar panels?
When living aboard and going blue water cruising, we rely on systems that run 24/7, such as the GPS, the VHF radio or even the fridge. Those systems require energy, which our batteries cater until we have to charge them! We could run the motor to do that, which isn’t sustainable.
We wanted to be as self-sufficient as possible and installed almost 400 Watts of solar panels. Putting them on the deck was a straightforward process, but running the wires turned a LOT more challenging than we expected. If our production boat made sailing easy and accessible to the newbies we are, DYI refits aren’t the simplest of task, as the wires are difficult to access.
In this video, we show how we originally thought we would run the solar panel wires on our Beneteau Oceanis 40, and how we ended up doing it. So that you don’t end up like us and get the running rod stuck between the deck and the fiberglass! We did that a few times, and we will have to live with the lovely sound that they produce until we find a way to get them out.
The entire project was then compromised by one little screw, which required multiples days, efforts and tools to pull out. Turned out, someone had screwed another screw in the stripped screw and fixed the whole things with…. staples. Weirdest thing we’ve seen.
Now Polar Seal looks really cool with her new solar panels on the deck, and we are blue water ready!
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** GEAR **
⛵️Our boat: Polar Seal, 2007 Beneteau Oceanis 40, owners version (2 cabins layout)
Solar Panels: http://www.sunbeamsystem.com/en/
🎥 Photo & Film gear
Our camera: https://amzn.to/2KyC8mi
Image stabilizing lens: https://amzn.to/2Kiq89i
Our microphone: https://amzn.to/2Ix8MQd
Microphone windjammer: https://amzn.to/2KeEmYS
Our action camera: https://amzn.to/2Ky8IBS
Our drone: https://amzn.to/2tDjRdU
🌊 Foul weather gear & Equipment
Foul weather jacket: https://amzn.to/2lGSzyW
Foul weather pants / Bibs: https://amzn.to/2N6AF5h
Life jackets /PFB: https://amzn.to/2INKJNk
Ryan’s foul weather jacket: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_us/skagen-offshore-jacket-33907
Sophie’s middle layer jacket: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_us/aegir-h2flow-jacket-33905
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** LINKS 🖇**
http://www.ryanandsophie.com // Videos, stories, photos and other goodies of our travel and sailing adventure
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https://www.instagram.com/ryan_and_sophie_sailing | Sweet photos of our sailing and the places we visit.
https://www.twitter.com/ryan_and_sophie | Ask us short questions, get fast answers!
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** CONTACT 📬 **
Say hi!
📩 ryanandsophieonaboat@gmail.com
Our most painful boat project yet: installing flexible solar panels. #4 Locations
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