Solar Panel Mounts on hard top

[guy with a boat]

There always seems to be interest in mounting options for solar panels. Thought I would post the solution we went with when adding some panels to our pilothouse roof last year.

I wanted to the panels to be elevated to prevent shadowing from the raised area and rail around the perimeter, and to make it easy to clean underneath. After investigating some options, I went with the Quickmount PV system of bases and rails. They are intended for conventional (non-marine) uses, but the materials are corrosion-resistant and are holding up well so far after a year of hard use.

I attached FRP-covered plywood blocks to the roof surface with 4200, to avoid any penetrations. The Quickmount bases were then attached to the blocks with lag screws. I ordered the bases in sizes (lengths) that would give the panels enough slope for water and crud to run off.

We only put on 4 panels total (2 x 370w + 2x 100w) for a total nominal output of 940w, because I wanted to maintain walk-around access on the pilothouse roof. I also avoided the areas that would often be shaded by the mast, so we could maximize output of the panels we do have. While it looks tight between the panels, I can step between them (carefully) to get forward.

I'm also including a pdf of my notes showing the panel options that I considered at the time (Sept 2020) and the prices at that time. We were looking at some blend of price per watt, total output, and panel size to fit the available space, and went with LG 370w and some Renogy small panels. Sorry if you can't read my scribbled notes. The pictures will make more sense.

The rail system probably is overkill with small panels, but the strength is reassuring with the full-size panels in a big wind. Especially since our panels are up pretty high, I thought the wind might get under them and wanted the mounts to be stout.

 

[DDW]

Thanks for posting that. I was going to use ABS corner mounts, but having second thoughts because if I need to replace the panel, finding some new ones exactly the same dimension will be difficult. I think I will go to a rail system as it allows flexibility in array size.

 

[twistedtree]

Since we are throwing out ideas, here's what I came up with. I wanted to be able to tilt the panels up to clean under them, and to gain better access to the hardtop for serving other equipment. And of course and air gap between the hardtop and panels helps keep the panels cool.


Commercially available mounting systems can easily end up costing more than the panels, so I decided to make my own using AL angle iron stock.


There are two rails fixed to the panel frame with SS hardware. Then there are "feet" at each end of the rails, one of which is attached with a shoulder bolt to form a hinge, and the other end attached with a removable pin. The panels are normally pinned in place, but if you pull the pins you can tilt them up. I also made up two prop bars from the left over angle stock that utilize the same pins and pin holes to secure the panels in their propped position.


Cheap, simple, effective, and not too much work to fabricate.

 

[rgano]

Not a solar panel, but I'm all about maximizing available stowage space. we put a plastic pad up there and tossed the bicycles under the dink.