SO30i: Bimini + solar panel

[Torsten]

Does anyone of you SO30i owners have a Bimini?

Maybe together with some solar panels on top of it?

If yes, I would be happy to get some input concerning:
- size & costs
- where to get
- what to consider
- usage under sails
- sun and rain protection
- some pics
Does it make sense on such a small boat?

Thanks!
Hansi

[rene460]

Hi Hansi,

We have a bimini, complete with a solar panel on our SO30i, and to me, it certainly makes sense.  It always stays up, and while we have sufficient zips to allow the canvas to be removed, we have only done it once to replace the velcro on the sail viewing window.  Velcro perishes and ceases to grip on continuous exposure to sunlight.  We have seen cold fronts bring over 40 knots on our wind indicator and it is hard to know what maximum the Bimini might see when we are away, but no problems so far.

I am sensitive to sunburn, and could not sail our summer without it.  When it rains, it is also a great help, minimising the worst of the discomfort for sailing, and even nice to sit under when we are moored.  When it is over 40 deg C, heat stroke is a near certainty without shade, even with hats, gloves sunscreen, plenty of water etc. so I consider it essential.

The panel is only 55 watts, and I would definitely recommend bigger.  One 150 watt panel would fit in place of our existing one, with almost no other change to the setup, and is on my list.  But it does maintain the batteries very nicely when we are away.  We have about 300 Amp.hr of battery capacity, and with what we get from motoring, it works for our style of sailing which is mostly day sails with occasional two or three day trips after a full charge on shore power.  Two 150 Watt panels could be fitted with a bit of juggling the space to still provide a sail viewing window.  To me, it is about the only place on the boat for panels, as it suffers least shading, and gets no foot traffic.  I cannot avoid standing on the hatch garage when flaking down the sail.  On top of the dodger is a possibility using flexible panels, but subject to uneven shading and would probably require two panels with separate charge controllers to avoid severe shading effects.

It was made up to fit by a local boat canvas worker, though I had to modify the panel supports.  The frame is all 25 mm (or 1 in., I forget which) high enough for me to stand under.   I would have to agree that it looks a little high on such a short boat compared with the proportions on a longer boat, but not enough to out weigh the benefits.  It was arranged by the dealer as part of the original delivery.  It is the full width of the pushpit rails, aft end about above the pushpit rail or perhaps a few inches behind, and extends forward to just short of the end of the boom, so no interference with sailing or sail handling.

I will have a look if I have any photographs with me, but after driving 4000 km in the last nine days, I cannot easily get back to take some for you until I make the return journey.  This post is long enough, but I am happy to answer any further questions if I can help you.

rene460

[Torsten]

Rene460, thanks very much!

Your post is very helpful and you already answered most of my questions and eased my concerns
I can follow your argumentation and fully agree on all of your comments!

So it seems I need to go to a local canvas maker and find a solution for me and my boat.
If you can add photos later when it suits that would be perfect.

For now I understood for the minimum height I need my headroom (so approx. 1.9m including shoes) at least in the middle part of the Bimini. Width is according to the pushpit rail width. Lenght is from aft of boom to a bit after pushpit rails.

I assume for the aft stays pass throughs there needs to be some kind of zipper for fine adjustment?

Does it look similar like that ?
found under www.toldosonline.eu/epages/63983532.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/63983532/Products/SO30i-1



If yes, where will the solar panel(s) go to?

Again, thanks for your detailed explanations!

[rene460]

Hi Hansi,

The photo you found gives a good impression of the overall dimensions.  My main bow is the aft one mounted on the rail, and the forward one is mounted low on the main bow.  (The reverse of your picture.)  I had the height at the centre made for my height (185 cm) in shoes and a good hat, standing on the blocks on the cockpit floor to give best view forward when needed.  I have wires to hold the structure tight foreword instead of the tapes shown.  I believe wires vibrate less in wind than do the tapes, but the angle in your picture means they are less in the way than mine which lead a little further foreword.  

The back stays pass through a reinforced circular opening about 150 mm in from the sides, but measure, don't use my guess, and the opening runs out to the sides with the slit covered by a flap and some press studs, so it is properly connected fore and aft, but the cover can be removed easily.  Backstay adjustments make nearly no difference to the location at bimini level, but they need enough clearance  to not rub with wind deflection and to allow for reasonable canvas manufacturing tolerance.  The biggest movement is probably when the forward stays are tensioned.  There is a clear window on my sight line to the leech of the sail so I can see the leech ribbons.

The panel is mounted across wise, using standard rail clamps from a chandler, approximately centred on the rear bar, on fore/aft bars set above the canvas.  The support bars have a bend approx 150 mm from the front end so there is only one fitting to the front bar.  The rear end is supported by a vertical strut that makes the bar level when the fittings connecting the bar to the bow are included.  With 25 mm bars and Stainless Steel bars, it makes quite a secure structure, which protrudes about half the panel width behind the rear bow.  Obviously I cannot fold the bimini with this arrangement.  While my panel is small it will easily accomodate a larger one, and with some careful positioning, two can probably be fitted, possibly running fore and aft, one each side of the window.  The canvas has zip closures to each part which wraps around the bow so it can be removed without removing the panel supports.

I have found two pictures which may be helpful, though the views are not very complete.  If you pm your email address to me I will send high definition of what I have so you can see as much detail as possible.

rene460

[Torsten]

Hi rene460,

thanks again for your detailed descriptions.
That sounds like a neat solution. Especially the Solar mounting I am very interested in
I still need to consult my dictionary to get a full understanding of everything you wrote ;-)
I will PM my E-Mail adress for pictures.

Cheers
Hansi

[Torsten]

I ordere the Bimini shown in the pictures above and am happy with it

It's overall dimensions are just 1.35m by 3.1m but mostly I found a shadowed place this summer.
Also it protected me (mostly) from  getting too wet in heavy rain 

The delivered version relies on belt strap fixing towards forward and aftwards.
I replaced the aftwards fixing with stainless steel tubes and added a 100W Solarpanel with a fixing to the aftwards Bimini support tube.

[rene460]

Hi Hansi,

A great looking bimini.  A very pleasing result from your research efforts.

Now we all await your reports on how the 100w panel goes on supplying your needs.

Thank you for the pm.

rene460

[lokum]

Very nice indeed Might very well copy it in the future

[Torsten]

I must admit I started with moving the 50W panel to the top of the Bimini but it looked so small then.
That's why I changed it to a 100W panel 

100W is presumeably not enough for 24h usage of the fridge at anchor ( I have the hydro generator while making STW which will then delivers enough energy). Also it depends of where in the world you are. Baltic Sea / North European summers are also probably not the best place to get the maximum out of our solar panels.

So at the moment it helps re-charging the batteries while being in the marina and I do not use shore power anymore 

[Torsten]

Also without the canvas the 100W solar panel can still remain on the Bimini support tubes.