Projects, purchase questions..

[robert.]

Hello to everyone. I have a boat that I am fitting and I'd love some advice. I plan to make some improvements.

-Flex solar panels. I am looking for about 120W for a mount on my boat. Any recommendations and advice? Any ones to stay away from?

- NuTeak- Is this stuff the best around for the price or should I look at one of the cheaper ones because of similarity. I am always price conscious. Has anyone installed it themselves? Any feedback or things to watch out for?

I have more but these are the ones that I wanted to seek feedback on.

I am about to find a dinghy with an outboard. I want to mount it to the rear of the swim platform for extra space. I am looking at a Dinghy Ramp XL- roll off/on. Does anyone have any advice for finding a good one. This one will set me back $1200. Seems like a lot of dough. Is there a market for these used?

Any advice on finding a good rigid bottom dinghy and 10 hp. outboard used? I live in Austin and they aren't really around here. I would prefer not to buy new. Any online sources I can look besides Craigslist?

We have about 6 months before I have her moved to Florida where we will spend a few months on the ICW. I was thinking about waiting until I got out that way for the purchase because there are more of them around. Thoughts?

I had a dream last night that I found a guy who let me strip all of the stuff I wanted from his boat. Maybe my wife upped my dose of rat poison and I had a reaction or something? LOL

[meeki007]

I'm using these flex pannels from sun electric http://sunelec.com/uni-solar-laminate-136-watt.html

Currently in the process of making them deck flush mounted.

You will need soldering skills and ya have to cut them to size.

So far have 2 pannels total on deck and average 8 amps constant for the entire day. The issue is only 1/2 see sun most the day.

I have a 3rd pannel I can hoist up or lay across the boom to get me more power while on the Ball or hook.



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[robert.]

Thanks for the pic! Have they worked well since you installed them?

[meeki007]

Only been installed for a month and a half and they work well.

I destroyed one pannel removing it from the top midship porthole area. You can see the tar I've yet to remove in the photo from my first post.

Some squares were still good from the removal so I did some tests to see how well they hold up.

I weigh 270lbs and jumping on bearfoot did not hurt it.
kicking hard with heal did not do it.
It takes a impact centered on a small hard area to hurt the cell. For me it was the edge of a paint can.

I now walk all over them without fear of damage but be careful of a slip hazard if bearfoot. Any rubber shoe I have sticks to them (flipflops, running shoes, watersocks).

See photos below to help you with following information.
Cut the pannels between the white lines.
Scrape off tar and wedge a real thin screwdriver between plastic to get to copper.
You then can use surgical scissors and a razor blade to get the tabs clean for soldering.

Make dang sure you tin all surfaces and epoxy when done or the salt will eat it. (Had to do one pannel again 2 weeks later after this happend)

They come with bypass diodes every square.


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[meeki007]

Oh and I just ran the wires inside through the deck. I never plan to remove them so I'd rather have them inside.

10 Guage connectors on 12 Guage wire. With a #10 screw 1/2 length.

I plan on sewing up some fabric squares backed with rubber with buttons or velcro to cover them.



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[ssanzone]

When I did my deck nu-teak was in the middle of a rash of decks peeling up so I often for ameriteak and am happy with it all around.

After weighing the installation options I chose to have an installation team comes and do the work onsite which cost me about 85% of the cost of the decking. In 4 years it has not shrunk, swelled, lifted or peeled at all.

Cleans easily with hose and garden attachment.
As good a non-skid as my kiwi painted cabintop.
Always cool and dramatically reduces the temp below deck (you can feel the temp difference when standing under the teak as opposed to under the painted cabintop).

-steve