Solar for Boats
Solar power for boats has gotten complicated with all the panel types, charge controllers, and installation debates flying around. As someone who has lived with solar as a primary charging source on the hook for months at a time, I learned everything there is to know about what actually delivers usable power on a cruising boat. Today, I will share it all with you.
I added my first solar panels about six years ago — a pair of flexible 100-watt panels stuck to the bimini top. They were cheap and I figured any free power was better than none. I was right about the concept but naive about the execution. Those flex panels degraded in two seasons, and I learned the hard way that panel quality, mounting angle, and charge controller selection matter a lot more than raw wattage on the spec sheet.
Making Solar Actually Work on Your Boat
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Prepare your vessel by doing a real energy audit first — add up what you actually draw in a typical day at anchor, then size your solar array to cover that plus a margin. Develop your understanding of MPPT versus PWM charge controllers, because the right controller can squeeze 20-30% more power out of the same panels. Plan conservatively on output expectations, because shade from the boom, overcast skies, and panel orientation all eat into your theoretical production. That’s what makes solar endearing to us cruisers — it’s silent, free, and when properly set up, it genuinely extends your independence from the dock and the generator.
