Adding Solar Panel

[jwatson000]

Hello, I'm considering purchasing a 2017 R-23. It has a zodiac tender mounted on top, but no solar panel. Is it possible to mount a solar panel on the roof along with the tender? Is this a DIY project or do you recommend that I have it done by a professional? Any information or links you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
JW

 

[scross]

I don’t have a R-23. But my C-28 and the R-25 Classic I’ve owned had a sports rack that was between 6 ft wide to 7.5 ft wide.
My 335 watt solar panel is 3 ft 6” wide. So, with my solar panel your dinghy would need to be 4 ft wide or less. Sounds like a kayak to me.
Perhaps you could find a low power super skinny solar panel. Or, if possible, mount the solar panel port to starboard by adding extra bow to stern round rails to the sports rack and mount the dinghy side to side as well.
Or mount a flexible solar panel on top of your Bimini.
I can’t imagine mounting the solar panel up high and sliding the dinghy underneath it.
Good luck!

 

[KlaassyC]

Here’s my solution for both. There’s a 355W panel in the Center, then a pair of 1” rails that run fore-aft to protect the panel and guide the dinghy on. When we get to an anchorage we drop the dinghy in the water and have full solar.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jwatson000]

This is great information, and thank you for the pictures. This gives me a great place to start!