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That's a pretty open-ended question....
What kind of solar panel? There are three types—polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and amorphous—which can be grouped into three categories of panels—rigid, which are either polycrystalline or monocrystalline; semi-rigid and flexible, both of which are amorphous silicon.
How big a panel are we talking.... they make them in little 3-watt panels which are portable and essentially good for recharging NiMH AA-battery packs, to great big arrays, which can power a house.
Also, what size battery bank are the panels going to be used with? This and the panel size will determine the complexity of the installation.
And what kind of boat are they being installed on? A 24' daysailor has no real need for them, and no space either. A 45' bluewater cruiser probably should have them, and has enough space to mount them in various locations—depending on the type of panel.
If you want to learn more about it... you can go to almost any of the websites of the companies specializing in alternative power and learn more there. When you ask such vague, open-ended questions, the answers you get will not be as useful as when you as more specific questions, and provide useful information about the context of the question being asked. Garbage in—garbage out as they say in computer science classes....
__________________
Sailingdog
Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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