Solar Stik etc

[David M]

I give. How about an answer?

[h2ocruizers]

Very nice!! I'm actually quite familiar with their designs.

If you've ever spent much time at anchor, then you know about tidal swing. It isn't so much the height of the tide that affects a solar panel as it is the current. since solar panels operate at their best in direct sunlight, many sailors will install their panels on articulating mounts as to increase the amount of time during the day they can produce solar power.

When the boat swings with the tide, it has the tendency to turn the adjusted panels AWAY from the sun... unless, of course, a stern anchor is employed or the boat is at the dock!

[camaraderie]

David...A panel angled at 45 degrees to the sun will get 100% of it until the tide reverses....then it will get zero as the boat swings 180 degrees.

[David M]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

David...A panel angled at 45 degrees to the sun will get 100% of it until the tide reverses....then it will get zero as the boat swings 180 degrees.

Then it has to do with current and not the tide. The tide is the vertical motion of the water and the current is the horizontal motion of the water. Now it makes sense why I could not figure out what the tide had to do with it.

Also while at anchor, if there is any wind, the boat will not swing 180 degrees when the current reverses direction 180 degrees since both tide and current have an effect of how a boat lies while at anchor. Is there any compensation for wind effect while at anchor?

[camaraderie]

Yah...I guess it would be best to call it tidal current. I'm not sure I understand your last question about compensation for wind at anchor. My point is that at anchor, with variable wind speed and direction and tidal currents of differing strengt and direction, that you must be there to frequently attend to adjusted panels or they will get even less sunlight than a flat panel. While it may only take 4 adjustments per day on land to capture most of the benefit of tilt/rotation of panels, it is quite easy to see that more attention is needed at anchor. When I am at anchor...I am usually off the boat for much of the day. One reason I like a wind generator is that they rotate to the right direction no matter what is happening with the boat. Trouble is getting the wind to blow constantly at 10mph! I really do think that MOST 40'+ cruisers need both solar and wind to really take care of average daily needs.

[sailorboy1]

Doesn't seem to be many people who are/aren't adjusting thier panel angles (just to go back to the orginal question)

[David M]

It seems to me it might be easier and less expensive in some cases just to buy an additional panel and mount it flat on the deck instead of doing all this fussing.

[sailorboy1]

David

You have hit on the whole point. Granted the stik approach might be needed for some other "need" like available space to mount etc. But be real. Being a sales professional the "benefits" sounded good to me, but...