Solar panels and wind turbines on yachts

Solar and wind energy can both contribute significantly to the domestic energy needs of yachts and other boats, powering interior lighting, radios, navigation instruments and water pumps - or can simply be used to keep batteries in good condition when the boat is laid up. But a lot of thought has to be given to the installation. Quite apart from the corrosive effects of salt spray, and the fact that everything is thrown all over the place all the time, space is often at a premium on a yacht - and no-one wants a big panel creating a lot of windage, or a turbine placed where the rapidly spinning blades could catch a rope, or worse, someones fingers.

One easy option is to only connect up a solar panel when you are in port. The flexible UniSolar panels are very popular for this sort of application - they can be rolled up and stuffed into a locker when you are sailing, and brought out when you get to a port and lashed onto, say, the sail cover. A simple plug is all that is needed to connect the panel into the electrical system. One advantage is that the panel can often be placed in a position where it is most efficient - pointing into the sun.

However, most people would prefer not to have the hassle of continually putting a solar panel up and taking it down. If you want a permanently installed panel, the Spectra range of 5, 10 and 20 Watt panels are suitable for marine use - they will be great for keeping your battery topped up while you are away, although they are not powerful enough to run lights, radios and navigation equipment on a day to day basis. Simply glue the panels down with a marine grade adhesive such as Sikaflex, or screw down through the four grommet holes in the corners. They are semi-flexible so will fit to the curve of most coachroofs.

To make a significant contribution to electricity generation you will need larger panels than the Spectra range. Solara manufacture a range of larger panels from 27 to 69 Watts, that again are semi-flexible and can be screwed or glued down to a deck or coachroof. They are designed with yachts in mind, and are extremely robust and resistant to seawater, and can be walked over even in seaboots. We are intending to start stocking these soon, so if you are interested in them do contact us, and we'll get details to you.

Many people do still use glass-framed panels on boats, and where there is a suitable place to mount them out of harms way, they can be very effective. The BP Solar range are from one of the longest-established manufacturers of solar panelsare good value yet remain very good value.

Wind is rarely lacking in coastal areas, so turbines can also be a very effective means of generating electricity on yachts. Care does have to be taken in finding a suitable mounting position, for the rapidly spinning vanes can be dangerous - normally a short mast on a pushpit is chosen as the best location. Rutland produce two of the most popular turbines for the marine market: the Rutland 503 is their smallest turbine, designed for keeping batteries topped up, while the large Rutland 913 can produce enough electricity to meet the domestic needs of most yachts.