New solar arch installed, St Augustine FL

[Nahbrown]

We have a 2005 Lagoon 440 and have been looking to get an arch made for four solar panels to have a total of 1520 watts of solar. I looked at Atlantic Towers DIY installation and a local Was recommended to us to check out before ordering. Williams Welding gave us a quote that was extremely competitive and included installation, framing the Solar panels and mounting our BBQ. This custom arch was $500 more than the Atlantic Towers arch Which did not include insulation or framing for the solar panels. We are happy with it, and have already claimed all over it. Right now I have some straps on the panels until I get them bolted down tomorrow.

We went with anodized aluminum for weight and the arch is estimated at 180 pounds. You can see from the pictures that he used an angle aluminum two totally in case the panels to protect them and also give me plenty of attachment points to secure them.


Zeke Williams is a young go-getter in the Saint Augustine area if you want his contact send me a message because I highly recommend him. Once everything is wired and the panels are bolted down I will post more pictures. But it’s raining cats and dogs right now so we’re gonna leave the straps on for the night.

Edit** I see some of my pictures are turned sideways, when I upload more I’ll try to make sure they’re not turn.

[Boatguy30]

What the deal with all the welds just a few inches up from all the mounting flanges?

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

What the deal with all the welds just a few inches up from all the mounting flanges?

I don’t understand what you’re asking. Tell me which picture you’re speaking about.

[Dulcesuenos]

I think boatguy is referring to the side picture, that shows the bottom of the arch legs.
You guys will love the arch!!!!!

[tkeithlu]

Beautiful! Cheers to you for completing a complex project. I hope you enjoy having it for many years.

[Boatguy30]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

I think boatguy is referring to the side picture, that shows the bottom of the arch legs.
You guys will love the arch!!!!!

Yes, and overall that seems like a bit much structure to just hold solar and a grill? Anyway, happy solaring!

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Yes, and overall that seems like a bit much structure to just hold solar and a grill? Anyway, happy solaring!

Oh, ok. Those are where the arch can be removed in the future if need be. All 4 legs have them, Im not sure what they are called. (Pic below)

As far as being over engineered, perhaps. The davits are Tied
to the rear cockpit roof with cables due to the weight of the dinghy the that came with the boat. Now they will be supported by the arch thus freeing up the walkway.

Ever have a dinghy fall off your davits? At night? 40 miles off shore?
I have, thats another story though. So this arch can support the weight of the dinghy and will have safety lines run to the dinghy so it can’t ever fall again. The davits hold the weight but the arch is the safety.

[Boatguy30]

If concerned about the dingy, an arch that would replace the davits and hoist the dinghy farther above the water is the way to go. Anyway, like most welders in NE Florida his work seem competent, but the design details are lacking.

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

If concerned about the dingy, an arch that would replace the davits and hoist the dinghy farther above the water is the way to go. Anyway, like most welders in NE Florida his work seem competent, but the design details are lacking.

If I want to replace the davits I could with this arch. I want two points of failure to make sure Im never again in our dingy at 11 oclock at night, way off shore, bailing the water out so we can tow it.


“ Design details “ is a pretty vague criticism. You are in Saint Augustine as well who would you recommend? You?

I think I got a pretty good value for $4800 when the Atlantic arches cost $4400 (without any way to mount solar panels) and I would have had to Install it myself. Zeke Williams gave me what I asked for and more.

I told him I wanted the following
1) support the davits to get the cable off the roof of the rear cockpit.
2) Build it robust enough that if I want to hang the dinghy from it I can
3) Mount the panels high enough that I can walk underneath them

He threw in the extra things like the BBQ mount and Detachment points.

[Boatguy30]

I'm in Panama at the moment, the guys that build good custom arches all seem to be in the Caribbean and the med.
For 5k you can get one hell of an arch made! I had mine made by a guy in the same town as the tower in a box folks.



At the time there extra wide was about 2k and his was $1800 with truck shipping to my canal side residence in Treasure Beach. Had custom feet welded to it after fitting to the exact deck angle for $200 from an excellent welder in St Augustine that I believe passed away or retired about 4 years ago.

The tower in a box sales lady had a lot of negative stuff to say about other arches and I had observed the significant sway of their product and there have been a few reports of weld failures on theirs due to how much they flex.

Love to see folk spending ��!!

[Pir8te]

nice professional job ��

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Nahbrown

If I want to replace the davits I could with this arch. I want two points of failure to make sure Im never again in our dingy at 11 oclock at night, way off shore, bailing the water out so we can tow it.


“ Design details “ is a pretty vague criticism. You are in Saint Augustine as well who would you recommend? You?

I think I got a pretty good value for $4800 when the Atlantic arches cost $4400 (without any way to mount solar panels) and I would have had to Install it myself. Zeke Williams gave me what I asked for and more.

I told him I wanted the following
1) support the davits to get the cable off the roof of the rear cockpit.
2) Build it robust enough that if I want to hang the dinghy from it I can
3) Mount the panels high enough that I can walk underneath them

He threw in the extra things like the BBQ mount and Detachment points.

Looks to be a nice job and he gave you what you asked for. I'd make sure the mounting brackets to the deck had backer plates behind them - i/4" aluminum should do it to avoid any galvanic corrosion from stainless steel. I'd much rather have the backer plates than the detachment points. Those solar panels are going to create a lot of windage and possible stress so you don't want anything ripping a chunk out your deck.

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by joelhemington

Looks to be a nice job and he gave you what you asked for. I'd make sure the mounting brackets to the deck had backer plates behind them - i/4" aluminum should do it to avoid any galvanic corrosion from stainless steel. I'd much rather have the backer plates than the detachment points. Those solar panels are going to create a lot of windage and possible stress so you don't want anything ripping a chunk out your deck.

Thanks. I made sure there are backer plates under each leg. I learned that here a few years ago.haha

[Brewgyver]

It looks great, robust design for your current needs, and you got it for a price you're happy with. It would be a better boating world if that happened more often.
https://youtu.be/BLJ0X5_-oxU

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by Brewgyver

It looks great, robust design for your current needs, and you got it for a price you're happy with. It would be a better boating world if that happened more often.
https://youtu.be/BLJ0X5_-oxU

THAT IS HORRIBLE! Wow. Our arch was delayed weeks due to materials but with the covid Situation I can’t blame my fabricator for that. I feel for you.


How do you like your batteries and exactly what fireflies did you go with? We will probably be looking at replacing our AGMs next year.