How Much Solar is Enough for our Family of 6 Living on a Sailboat?
Installing solar panels on a sailboat is an excellent way to enhance your offshore sailing experience by providing reliable electricity even in remote areas. Solar energy can power essential appliances like watermakers, refrigeration, communication devices, and lighting. By following the step-by-step process outlined below, you’ll learn about the benefits and challenges of adding solar power to your sailboat.
Why Install Solar Panels on Your Sailboat?
There are several reasons why you might consider installing solar panels on your sailboat:
- Reliable power source in remote areas
- No generator noise or exhaust fumes
- Eco-friendly energy solution
- Frees up generator fuel storage space
The Solar Panel Installation Process
To install solar panels on your sailboat, follow these steps:
- Determine power requirements (amps/hours)
- Calculate needed wattage
- Choose panel size and configuration
- Mounting location: consider sun exposure and boat structure
- Secure mounting hardware
- Wire solar panels to charge controller and battery bank
The Sailing Machete Family’s Solar Panel Installation Experience
In the YouTube video, “How Much Solar is Enough for Our Family of 6 Living on a Sailboat?”, the Sailing Machete family shares their solar panel installation experience. They replaced old panels with larger ones to increase power generation.
Here are some highlights from their installation process:
- Replaced original 50W solar panel with a 115W one
- Upgraded three 100W panels to 175W ones
- Utilized space under the boom for additional panels
- Totally overhauled roof area by adding more 115W panels, achieving nearly 2,400W total
Challenges Faced and Solutions
During their installation, the Sailing Machete family faced some challenges. For example, they had to modify wire placement and find a balance between solar panel size and clearance for sail sheets. They also had limited space on the roof.
To overcome these challenges, they:
- Modified wiring and mounted additional panels to optimize space utilization
- Tightened clearance for sail sheets by adjusting panel locations
Finding the Right Solar Panels and Mounting Hardware
The Sailing Machete family initially tried walking-on solar panels from Etsy, but decided against them due to high cost ($500 per 100W panel) and low output. Instead, they chose regular solar panels and mounting hardware that provided better efficiency and value.
Final Thoughts
The Sailing Machete family now has a total of 2,400W of solar power on their sailboat. They recommend having as much solar power as possible to minimize generator use and increase eco-friendly cruising.
Looking Ahead
In the future, they plan to:
- Replace solar panels on the Solar Arch with bifacial panels for increased output
- Investigate adding mirrors or reflective materials under panels for added power generation
Congratulations, You’re All Set!
To learn more about installing solar panels on your sailboat and similar projects, leave a comment below with your specific questions or interests.
Daniel upgrades our original solar panels (that came with the boat) on the roof of our catamaran in St. Martin. He explains how much more solar he adds and if it's enough.
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How Much Solar is Enough for our Family of 6 Living on a Sailboat? Locations
- Sailing Machete's sailboat is located in Saint Martin, where they installed solar panels on the boat. (18.0357,-63.038)
Sailing Machete
We are a family of 6 from South Carolina. We sold everything, bought a catamaran and set off to make memories of a lifetime.
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