January 22, 2015
One of our projects this year is to add some additional solar capacity. We have 160 watts now and it’s just not enough. We run our engine quite a bit to keep our batteries charged. With what we envision for an arch, we can add as much as 300 watts in solar. Oh yea: we’ll also get some much-needed shade in our cockpit.
Here’s what we are thinking about…
Here’s what it looks like now…
February 20, 2015 – It Starts!
And here’s what it looks like with the arch finished… (February 25, 2015)
And the new SunPower E20 (327 watt) solar panel is kicking out the power, through our new Victron 100/30 solar controller. It’s even keeping up with our refrigeration. I’m so excited!
We had all this work done at a yard in Coomera, Queensland called The Boatworks. We’ll do a whole blog post about them soon. It’s been a perfect place to get work done – an amazing boatyard! Check out their website here. On it, they say “Australia’s Greatest Boatyard.” While I’ve not visited many boatyards here, nor had work done anywhere else in Australia, I’m confident this slogan is fact, not hyperbole.
Geoff and his guys at Choice Stainless did the fabrication. Wow, they’re great! I couldn’t recommend anyone more highly. Here’s their website.
The canvas was done by Bevan at Marine Canvas and Trimming. Another highest recommendation. It’s flawless. Bevan’s shop is at The Boatworks and his number is 0438 851 916.
So, how do you like it so far? (March 2, 2015)
Amazing! I feel like such a fool for not doing this sooner. As Dean said: “It took you three years to realize you needed shade in the tropics?!”
And so much power! This is at 10 am with the refrigeration running (26 amps). We’re getting enough electricity from the solar panels to charge at 5.2 amps and our batteries are already 90% after the night’s electric-consuming activities.
-Rich
