On Apr 14, 2025, at 7:10?AM, David Lochner via groups.io <davelochner@...> wrote:

Don’s photo of the dodger clearly shows why panels should be oriented fore and aft. In that photo if the panels were oriented athwartship both panels would be shaded with their production severely curtailed by the boom’s shadow. If they are aligned fore and aft, only one panel would be affected.

Dave

Second Star

S362 #113

Fair Haven, NY/Lake Ontario

On Apr 14, 2025, at 5:56?AM, Nauset Beach via groups.io <nausetbeach@...> wrote:

Hi Don,

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I have read some people have used 4 mm polycarbonate as a backing and asked Ocean Planet about it, even going to 6 mm. ?They said not to do it and further they would not honor a warranty [5 years] claim if any panel were placed across a support frame.? The reason being as Dave mentioned, the repeated flexing over a hard point can damage the cells and wiring connections.? The manual for Solbian SP panels actually warns against doing that:?

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“Canvas Installation - If installing on canvas, do not run any panels over a support bar. This was previously done with polycarbonate backing, but experience has shown that the solar panels can still be damaged by pressure from a crossbar.”??

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Using Starboard would probably flex less than polycarbonate, especially anchored to the support frame under the canvas.? I have only used 1” Starboard and that is not bending.? Would ?” Starboard adopt the various curves on top of the frame like the masonite?? Am not seeing how the zippers in the canvas to attach to the frame could be modified and still maintain adequate tension on the canvas across the full bimini frame.? [Possibly due to the coffee not kicking in yet.]? Would have thought having partial zippers vs. running the full length of the support frame would create uneven tension, but maybe not.??

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I looked at the Custom Marine but my fore / aft maximum length is 41”that will still fit inside the support frames, though that would go over the center support.??

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Please post more photos as your project progresses.??

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Thanks,

Brian

Escapade S426

CT / LIS

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From:?[email protected]?<[email protected]>?On Behalf Of?Oceans via?
Sent:?Sunday, April 13, 2025 10:08 PM
To:?[email protected]
Subject:?Re: [SabreSailboat] Solar Panels on Bimini with Split Backstay

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?Brian,

Attached are the photos of my masonite templates for solar panel backing plate plates. ?Four photos show the templates mounted on top of the Bimini. ?Note the problems with gaps between the canvas and the template. ?One photo shows the template mounted under the Bimini and over the center ridge pipe, and one photo shows a template (simulating a solar panels) mounted directly over the backing plate under the Bimini in the previous photo. ?This is the plan I will use. ?The tech guy at Custom Marine Products thinks it’s an excellent idea and gave it his blessing, for whatever that’s worth. ?My local canvass guy likes it too, and says modification to the center pipe zipper can be done at reasonable cost.

As previously stated I plan to make the actual backing plates out of 1/4” StarBoard with the edges rounded off because I think it is much better suited to the marine environment. I will mount the backing plates and the panels with appropriate length 10x24 bolts a washers in the fashion of the bolt kit available through Custom Marine Products. ?I will also have some grommets and 2” squares of reinforcing canvass add to the bolt holes, again at minimal cost.

Don Fleming

Duet

S-38-1 #77

Hudson River