Mounting Flexible Solar to the Bimini - adhesive?

[Rubicon King]

Needing some sage advice on how to mount the solar panels on the large Bimini without having to sew them in with canvass and velcro. I was thinking about sandwich a bayonet anchor between a patch and the bimini and glue it down with industrial E6000. Am I being foolish and too cheap?

[Cthoops]

I used industrial strength Velcro, although I did have to sew one half of the Velcro to the Bimini. The other half has adhesive that sticks onto the panel. 30 months of full-time cruising, anchored out the vast majority of the time in all kinds of weather, and they haven’t gone anywhere.

[Eder]

I put my last set on using snaps...has worked fine even in winds over 40.
SS nut & bolt cw large washers at each grommet is fine as well and easiest.


I have used the heavy velcro sewn on method but after a few years it gets weaker.

[CarlF]

Do not mount your solar panels across a bimini stainless bow or it will quickly fail from flexing.

Even if between bows, I think the panels will last much longer if you mount them first to twin wall polycarbonate panels using 1" pieces of 3M VHB tape. These panels are very light and will flex enough to follow your bimini but not so much as to hurt the solar panel.

I mounted mine by simply sewing six loops of bimini fabric onto the bimini and then tying the panels to the loops with light dyneema. To take them off for storms (when I also take down the bimini) I just cut the string.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sunlite-...2506/202091947

Finally, be aware that these flexible panels can fail in as little as two years. Buy ones with a good warranty - you're likely to need it.

[Svsumurun]

I used these -secure and easy to remove if needed

https://www.sailrite.com/Loxx-Pull-I...Assemblies-Set

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Svsumurun

I used these -secure and easy to remove if needed



https://www.sailrite.com/Loxx-Pull-I...Assemblies-Set

+1, they’re quick, easy, and secure

[facciatosta]

Originally Posted by Cthoops

I used industrial strength Velcro, although I did have to sew one half of the Velcro to the Bimini. The other half has adhesive that sticks onto the panel. 30 months of full-time cruising, anchored out the vast majority of the time in all kinds of weather, and they haven’t gone anywhere.

I did the same, it worked fine.

[facciatosta]

Originally Posted by Eder

I put my last set on using snaps...has worked fine even in winds over 40.
SS nut & bolt cw large washers at each grommet is fine as well and easiest.


I have used the heavy velcro sewn on method but after a few years it gets weaker.

Did you drill more holes in the panels or used what they have? Amount of the holes did not seem adequate to me. 4 holes in in each corner and 1 hole in the middle along long side.

[Rubicon King]

Originally Posted by Cthoops

I used industrial strength Velcro, although I did have to sew one half of the Velcro to the Bimini. The other half has adhesive that sticks onto the panel. 30 months of full-time cruising, anchored out the vast majority of the time in all kinds of weather, and they haven’t gone anywhere.

Thanks for the advice. The wife and I have some thinking to do for sure. She certainly was against punching holes in our brand new bimini, but I told her we can make it leak proof.

[Rubicon King]

Originally Posted by Svsumurun

I used these -secure and easy to remove if needed

https://www.sailrite.com/Loxx-Pull-I...Assemblies-Set

OK we are sold on these they look great and will provide the strength needed as well. we are going to use 6 per panel


Thanks to all for your input. That's the beauty of this forum.

Mark

[kas_1611]

I tie our 100w semi flex panel to the split rear stays, the webbing straps and the steel frame of our bimini. This means I can remove it when we leave the boat and tie the panel on to the coachroof to keep the battery charged when the bimini is stowed.

The panel has survived 50kt winds with no damage to either it or the bimini.

[Chris Cringle]

Lace them on. Using marling hitches

[Bradlesh]

Magnets. Attach one to panel , secure in place with magnet on otherside of bimini

https://www.custommarineproducts.com/blog/an-innovative-way-to-mount-flexible-solar-panels#:~:text=Attach%20magnets%20to%20each%20corn er,the%20underside%20of%20the%20canvas.

[Eder]

Originally Posted by facciatosta

Did you drill more holes in the panels or used what they have? Amount of the holes did not seem adequate to me. 4 holes in in each corner and 1 hole in the middle along long side.

It was enough...fo far to 40 knot or so. Should prob remove them anyway over 35.

[j.g.evans]

When I researched solar panels many years ago I found that the amorphous flexible panels had half the output of rigid panels. You don't want the boom to shade any panels or the output will be zero. My solution was a arch on the aft end. I had 4 rigid solar panels on the top and a hoist for the dinghy underneath.