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I'm currently building a Cabin Kat, started 2017. 6,35 m LOA, 12 semi flexible Solarpanels on the roof. Two small electric Trolling motors (1.4 kW each) for propulsion a third one (0.9 kW) acting as bow thruster.

I hope, I will be able to launch her (in Berlin, Germany) this year for a test in a small river. The boat will be then in an incomplete state (regarding Interior furniture). May be I have to wait with the launch for next year . We will see.

Looks Good.? So everything (battery, motors) is/are 12VDC?? You didn't mention battery specs.

I'd be curious to know what model of flexible solar panels you're using.? Specifically, the watts-peak rating and weight.? I've been trying to make the case for adding panels on my cat, but the numbers aren't compelling enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvkUB6qncTg

The Voltage for propulsion is 24 V DC. The trolling outboards are Haswing Protruar 3.0, 1.44 kW, the bow thruster (for box maneuvers) is a Haswing Protruar 2.0, 960 W (Wattages are power input). The solarpanels are "offgridtec" lable (lable from Germany but for sure made in China). 10 pieces at 100 Wp each, 2 pieces at 50 W each. Batteries and additional electric components are from Victron energy (Netherland Design, made in India and China). 6 solar charge controller 100 V, 15 A each. 4 Batteries LiFePO4, 25.6 V, 100 Ah each (all over storage capacity about 10 kWh). Probably additional AGM Batteries (lead) at 12 V for different loads other than propulsion.

@bobkart and Phil Boyer: I've read most of your posts and seen most of your videos.?

Hu Gunter, thanks for that information.? What is the weight for that brand/model of solar panel?

Background for that question: I'm looking at Renogy 175Wp panels, with a weight of 6.2 pounds.? Six of these would come to 1.05kWp and 37.2 pounds (before cabling, attaching, support structure, ...).? With my battery weight cost currently at 16 pounds per kWh, I'd need to cruise for well over two hours before the panels make sense compared to just brining more battery.? While we do frequently cruise that long, that calculation is assuming a full solar harvest, which is unlikely in the Pacific Northwest.? So the real 'in practice' number is probably more like three-four hours.? And with battery energy densities increasing beyond 180Wh/kg for LFP cells, that 16 pounds per kWh is more like 12 pounds per kWh, resulting in it making more sense to just bring more battery for all but the longest of cruises (over six hours).? Note that an extended tie-up time at some destination swings the result back towards panels.

My use case differs from yours of course.? I'm strictly about day cruises.? With your multi-day cruises, you can much more easily justify the added weight of panels, because your harvest duration is much longer.

One panel (100 W) weights 3.8 kg (8.4 pound?).