Solar Panel Mounting On A Davit

Freesail99 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007

Where I am located there are no sailboats that I've seen with solar panels mounted on there davit. All of the sailboats where I am smaller boats and most of them are under 24 feet. This is one of the reasons for my question.

I have a Garhauer Davit. It is the larger davit that they sell with the O.D. on the tubing being 1.25. I also have a double horizontal strut or stabilizer instead of a single one. The top arm of the davit is 44 inches long. This is where the dinghy would hang from. The first horizontal strut is about 4 inches from the end of the arm. The second strut is 22.5 inches further down. The width of the struts are 63 inches. I would like to install 2, 130 watt kyocera panels. ( I already own the panels ) The panels measure 56 x 26. The solar panel would extend about 14 inches past the end of my davit Is that ok ? Or are these panels to big ?
Thanks,
Paul

Bill Mc · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007

Those panel will be SUPER!!!!! Mount them so they are easy to remove for potential Huricane preparation. Not a big issue in Jersey I imagine..

Fair Winds,

Bill

xort · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007

How about contacting Garhauer and ask what they are rated for. And take into consideration how they are mounted. Beefy backing plates to spread the load?
You could have a strong davit but a weak installation

Freesail99 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007

The davits are rated at 350 pounds, if I am not mistaken. The panels weight combined 66 pounds. I don't think weight will be an issue. My dink is a Walker Bay which weights 71 pounds. The davits have stainless steel backing plates. I believe the installation is more then fine. I even epoxied the holes I drilled and re drilled them. I was just concerned with the panels extending past the end of the davit. Garhauer suggested the addition of the second stablizer to aid in mounting the panels.

Freesail99 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Mc

Those panel will be SUPER!!!!! Mount them so they are easy to remove for potential Huricane preparation. Not a big issue in Jersey I imagine..

Fair Winds,

Bill

Thanks Bill, I plan on using them in the Caribbean. I hope that I don't ever have to deal with a huricane, knowing that I will. Good point.

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007

But you might want to make the mounting brackets lockable, so your solar panels don't walk off in some isolated marina.

Freesail99 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

One more question. With the solar panels on the davit, getting on & off the dinky from the stern will be impossible. So, mount a latter on the side and use a line to move the dinky over ? How are you doing this ?

Cruisingdad · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

Freesail,

I had aluminum angl iron fabricated to set the panel in. THere is absolutely nothing wrong with them being on davits. THat is how I see MANY boats doing it. You can also have them attach on the side via stanchion mounts. Be thoughtful about shading.

Let me see if I can post a pic so you can see the aluminum frame I had fabricated. I do not believe this was very expensive. It also allows more support of the panels and more security:

Sorry, this is the best pic I have. You can see the panels actually fit inside the angle iron.

Hope that helps.

- CD

Freesail99 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

Thats another idea. I have a good friend who is a metalworker. He may be able to make it for me. I, was looking at the mounts made by emarine.
CD, can you answer the question about boarding the dink ?