[Cruisingdad]

Mike,

I wonder if you would be better served spending the $ of the stick on more panels?

If you are trying to bulk, 14.2 V, that only gives you 7 amps peak service/hour. FLoat might be better?? The MPPT is definietly the better way to go. I keep reserving some of my comments a bit as I want to give everything totally first hand, though I have seen this system on the boat beside me firsthand (though he used 6 panels, not 4). He put out a sold 65/hour during summer, over 90 degrees. As many know, that is an important distinctio as panel output diminishes with heat. At colder temps, your panels will likely put out more than specs.

Cam,

As far as the arch, absolutely will get a bunch of pictures. I have about 6 now but they are not really good. I used (let me rephrase, had the machine shop use) 2 inch, polished, double bright-dipped anodized for the arch. It is double barred with lots of reinforcements. I almost went stainless, but decided against becuase of weight. I bet this thing does not weigh 100 lbs!!! One man can lift it. For the panels, I had aluminum angle-iron welded for each panel, welded to the arch, and through bolted. Lots of support for the panels. Now done, it matches into the rest of the boat nicely, and the arch will easily supprt (in seas) over 500 pounds easily!! My panels do not weigh anything near that. I can walk across it and it does not bulge. THis whole structure is through bolted and 4200 (not 5200 since I may need to take it off at some point) to a double reinforced plate glassed in through the deck.

Then panels themselves fit snugly across the arch in the angle iron, running with the length of the boat. I could add at least one or two more with a minimal cost and some more machine shop time... but I have hopes (low hopes) my wind will make up the difference.

I don't know if all that made sense??? Pictures will help. I will do what I can.

- CD