The best solar panels for boats, yachts, and similar sea or freshwater faring vessels, will provide enough power for your DC consumption devices.
We’re talking cabin lighting, anchor light, refrigeration, electronics, pumps etc.
As long as you have room on your upper level, there might be some suitable options on the market for you to consider.
Let’s have a look at some of those options …
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Top Rated List Of Solar Panels For Boats
Rigid/Hard Solar Panels
200 Watt Rigid Solar Panel Kit (2 x 100 watt panels) – RENOGY 200w Solar Panel Kit – 2 100w panels (on Amazon)
100 Watt Rigid Solar Panel Kit – RENOGY 100w Solar Panel Kit (on Amazon)
Flexible Solar Panels
100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel – Windynation 100 Watt Bendable Solar Panel (on Amazon)
Best Solar Panels For Boats: Reviews
Renogy 100 Watt Solar Panel Kit
We already reviewed this rigid/stiff solar panel kit in this guide.
But, some of the things that make this solar panel kit good for boats are:
- The solar panel kit is designed for off-grid applications, such as RVs, trailers, boats, sheds, and cabins
- Starter kit – friendly for all types of people to install on their boat
- Corrosion resistant aluminium frame – good for saltwater and marine environments
- Can be purchased with either a mono or polycrystalline solar panel options
- Junction box is protected against debris and water
- Wanderer controller has the following electronic protections for your boat battery – overcharging, overload, short-circuit and reversed polarity
- Wanderer controller allows up to 400 Watts in it’s system – room to use more than one 100 Watt panel with the controller
- Kit comes with 100W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel, a 30A PWM Wanderer Charge Controller, a 20ft 10AWG MC4 Adaptor Kit, an 8ft 10AWG Tray Cable, and a set of Z-brackets
So you know how much room to make space for on your boat –
Mono panel dimensions are: 47.0 X 21.3 X 1.4 inches
Poly panel dimensions are: 39.7 X 26.7 X 1.4 inches
Where Can I Check This Solar Panel Out?
View the RENOGY 100w Solar Panel Kit on Amazon
- You can also view the RENOGY 200w Solar Panel Kit on Amazon
Windynation 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel
We already reviewed this flexible solar panel in this guide.
But, some of the things that make this a good flexible marine solar panel are:
- Works at 18 volts and can charge 12 volt lithium and lead-acid batteries – good for RV’s, electric bikes etc. > use it with a solar controller though
- Can be curved to a maximum 30 degree arc
- Very lightweight – only weighs 4lbs – easy to transport, install and remove
- Frameless design, and 6 pre-fab metal reinforced mounting holes which can use temporary or permanent fixings
- Can be mounted using adhesive or velcro as well
- Weather resistant
- Comes with connectors and connector cable
So you know how much room to make space for on your marine vessel:
Panel dimensions are 41.7″ (length) x 21.3″ (width) x 0.1″ (thick)
Where Can I Check This Solar Panel Out?
Windynation 100 Watt Bendable Solar Panel (on Amazon)
Best Solar Panels For Boats: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
Potential Benefits Of Solar For Boats
Solar power is a great alternate energy source to charge your boat batteries without using the boat engine.
It’s clean, and it may help paying for part or all of itself in the long term (especially with potential savings on diesel fuel).
Types Of Solar Panels For Boats
Types of solar panels for your boat can be divided by four categories:
Rigid/Mounted solar panels
Flexible and bendable solar panels
Folding solar panels
Amorphous solar panels (shade protected solar panel)
If you have a sail boat for example and half your boat is consistently covered in shade from the sail – it’s worth looking at the option of an amorphous solar panel.
These types of solar panel tend to perform better in the shade or cloud cover, but do have their disadvantages too – the technology isn’t as established as mono and poly crystalline panels, so there might be a bigger discrepancy in quality and reliability of each product.
What Are Solar Panels Used For On Boats
As most boat users know, charging your battery/s the traditional way involves running the engine (using fuel!).
Some may also use a generator or connect into the marina shore supply.
A newer and alternate way involves using solar power – on sailboats, fishing boats, leisure boats and most marine vessels.
Solar panels are mounted on a spot on your boat above cabin level somewhere on the upper level deck, and charge your boat battery/s through a solar charge controller.
Cabin and anchor lighting, VHF/boat electronics, pumps, refrigeration can all be charged with solar panels – anything that runs on DC power.
All this can happen without using you boat engine and fuel.
There are massive advantages to having solar power on your boat – for example, what happens if the pump on your motor has a problem and you have to turn the motor off?
To save battery life, you’ll have to turn off alot of your DC powered devices like your refrigeration.
Solar can be hugely useful in a situation like this.
Which Solar Panel To Get For Boats – How To Choose?
Like we mentioned in this guide for figuring out size and number of panels for a 12v battery, figuring out solar panel requirements looks something like this:
List all the devices that use DC power
Estimate how many A/h they use per hour, and how many hours they run a day. OR, you can just find out the total A/h of your batteries
Multiply your total A/h of all devices by 12v (common DC power voltage – but, if you have a bank of batteries, it could be higher like 24v for example) = total watts you use in a day (watt hours)
Divide the total watts by number of available sunlight hours in a day (say 6-8 on average = the total wattage of solar panels you need
To be safe, increase that number by 20%
Most standard small-medium boats (up to say 20-30 feet), will probably be able to run on 100-300 watts.
So, to figure out which solar panel to get for your boat, take into consideration the above calculations, and consider some of these factors:
The type of solar panel you want – rigid, or flexible, or even folding?
How much room do you have to install solar panels on you boat? Pick a small enough panel in surface area to fit
The size in watts
Features To Look For, And Considerations To Make For Solar Panels For Boats
Check out these guides on flexible solar panels and rigid solar panels for features to look out for.
Specifically for boats though, look out for these features:
Voltage rating of the solar panel/s to match your battery
Total watts to be enough for your battery/s
Corrosion free frame and metal on the panel – for the saltwater if using your boat in an ocean
Water resistance
Junction box is water sealed and protected
3 or 4 stage charge protection
Designed to be installed and used on a boat specifically
Solar Panels On Boats – Accessories
Cables, connectors and adaptors
Solar controller
Solar LCD display – to display health and performance of panels and batteries
Sometimes an inverter
Best Solar Panels For Marine Use
The best solar panels for marine use need to be suitable for a saltwater environment, and marine type vessels.
They might be used on boats, yachts, sail boats, kayaks + more.
Most commonly, people seek to use solar panels for charging marine batteries – boat and yacht battery set ups (or any other vehicle with DC batteries).
These panels not only need to have the sufficient watts and voltage requirements, but features like water resistance and corrosion resistance are important too.
There are rigid (stiff) and flexible panel options which offer different benefits and drawbacks.
A big benefit for marine vessels with motors, like boats, is that solar is cleaner, and also cheaper in the long term than say diesel fuel.
Let’s have a look at some of the available solar options…
Top Rated List For Solar Panels For Marine Use
Rigid/Hard Solar Panels
200 Watt Rigid Solar Panel Kit (2 x 100 watt panels) – RENOGY 200w Solar Panel Kit – 2 100w panels (on Amazon)
100 Watt Rigid Solar Panel Kit – RENOGY 100w Solar Panel Kit (on Amazon)
Flexible Solar Panels
Best 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel – Windynation 100 Watt Bendable Solar Panel (on Amazon)
Foldable Solar Panels
Check out this guide where we explain a foldable solar panel option for small handheld devices like smartphones, radios, GPS’s, and USB devices.
Foldable solar panels (small 6-20 Watt panels) are a good option for sea kayaks.
Best Solar Panels For Marine Use: Reviews
Renogy 100 Watt, and 200 Watt Solar Panel Kits
We reviewed the Renogy solar panel kits in this guide.
Why would you get one of these kits?
- It’s designed to be used on a boat as one of its applications
- The frame is corrosion resistant
- You can get either a mono or poly crystalline panel – these types of solar panels are more efficient when in the sun than any other type of solar panel
- The junction box is sealed against water
- The solar controller included can handle up to 4 of these panels stacked together, and is 4 stage charge protected
- You will get a basic starter kit so you don’t have to
- Panel dimensions are:
Mono panel : 47.0 X 21.3 X 1.4 inches
Poly panel : 39.7 X 26.7 X 1.4 inches
Why wouldn’t you get one of these kits?
- A rigid solar panel is not bendable, and once installed, it is usually permanently installed unless you disconnect and re-fill any fixing holes
Where Can I Check This Solar Panel Out?
View the RENOGY 100w Solar Panel Kit on Amazon
- You can also view the RENOGY 200w Solar Panel Kit on Amazon
Windynation 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panels
We reviewed the ALLPOWERS 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel in this guide.
Why would you get one of these kits?
- It can bend, unlike the rigid solar panel
- It’s lightweight
- It can be temporarily or permanently installed – or even hung up
- It is designed for boat use, in addition to a number of other uses
- Frameless – no metal to worry about corrosion apart from the mounting points/holes
- Panel dimensions are 41.7″ (length) x 21.3″ (width) x 0.1″ (thick)
Why wouldn’t you get one of these kits?
- Flexible solar panels are more expensive per watt than solid solar panels like the Renogy
Where Can I Check This Solar Panel Out?
View the ALLPOWERS 100w Flexible Solar Panel on Amazon
Best Solar Panels For Marine Use: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
What Are Solar Panels For Marine Use
Marine means on the ocean – this can mean boats of different types, yachts, kayaks, and any mode of sea transport or use.
So solar panels for marine use are solar panels you can use on these sea faring modes of transport.
What Types of Solar Panels Are There For Marine Use
The main types are:
Rigid/Hard Solar Panels
Flexible and Bendable Solar Panels
A small form of solar panel for marine use would be the small 6-20 watt folding solar panels (Goal Zero does quality small 20 Watt panels)), or even the waterproof solar panels from Voltaic Systems.
What Are Solar Panels Used For In A Marine Environment
There would be two main uses:
1. Rigid and and flexible panels can be used to charge DC batteries that power boat lights, electronics, pumps etc.
2. Small solar panels can be used to charge USB devices, and small handheld devices like smartphones, tablets, radios etc.
Which Solar Panels To Get For Marine Use – How To Choose
It really depends on what you want to charge.
Read this guide on calculating your solar panel size and number for some tips.
But, when choosing the solar panel to get, consider the following:
1. Do you want a rigid, flexible or folding solar panel?
2. What size (in watts) solar panel do you want?
3. Are those solar panels rated for the voltage of batteries you want to charge?
4. Do you want to use the solar panel for any other application like camping, Rv’ing etc.? If so, check what the panels are designed for
If we had a regular boat set up of say 1 or 2 12v batteries, we would probably stick to a rigid solar panel setup – as they are most cost effective and efficient (as long as you are OK with a more permanent installation).
You also get more established companies with the rigid solar panels.
Flexible Marine Solar Panels
Flexible marine solar panels, semi-flexible, and even bendable marine solar panels can be a better option for some boat, yacht & sea faring people.
One of the significant advantages of a flexible solar panel is that they can bend up to a certain curvature – of say, 10 to 30 degrees.
This is great for surfaces that are uneven or curved when it comes to getting the solar panel installed.
Another benefit is that you can quite easily transfer the panels from your boat, to Rv, to car, to camping site – they can be temporarily hung or installed and uninstalled.
Let’s have a look at some flexible marine solar panel reviews in more detail …
Top Rated List Of Flexible Marine Solar Panels
100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel – Windynation 100 Watt Bendable Solar Panel (on Amazon)
Update – since first publishing this guide, ALLPOWERS and Renogy seem to have two of the better flexible panels on the market (which are worth you checking out). The Renogy panel is a 160 Watt panel currently.
Flexible Marine Solar Panels: Reviews
Windynation 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel
We already reviewed this flexible solar panel in this guide.
But, some of the things that make this a good flexible marine solar panel are:
- Works at 18 volts and can charge 12 volt lithium and lead-acid batteries – good for RV’s, electric bikes etc. > use it with a solar controller though
- Can be curved to a maximum 30 degree arc
- Very lightweight – only weighs 4lbs – easy to transport, install and remove
- Frameless design, and 6 pre-fab metal reinforced mounting holes which can use temporary or permanent fixings
- Can be mounted using adhesive or velcro as well
- Weather resistant
- Comes with connectors and connector cable
So you know how much room to make space for on your marine vessel:
Panel dimensions are 41.7″ (length) x 21.3″ (width) x 0.1″ (thick)
Where Can I Check This Solar Panel Out? View the Windynation 100 Watt Bendable Solar Panel (on Amazon)
Suaoki 100W Flexible Solar Panel
Similar to the ALLPOWERS panel, we already reviewed this flexible solar panel in this guide.
But, some of the things that make this a good flexible marine solar panel are:
- Designed for the water, home, travel, camping, and hiking – or, for mounting on a coach roof, RV, boat, cabin, tent, or any other irregular surface
- 23-25% efficiency
- Works at 18 volts for charging 12 volt marine batteries – use with a solar controller
- Has a diode that prevents reverse current drain
- Can be flexed to a stated max 30 degree curve (but in reality, it’s more like 10-15 – which is still better than a rigid panel)
- Pre drilled metal reinforced holes for fixing
- MC4 connector with 31 inch cables
- Frameless design
- Water resistant
- Weighs on 4.85 lbs – easy to install, remove and transport – great for portability
So you know how much room to make space for on your marine vessel:
Dimensions are 43.3 length x 22.4 wide x 0.1 inches thick
Where To Check Out This Solar Panel
View the Suaoki 100W Flexible Solar Panel on Amazon
Flexible Marine Solar Panels: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
What Are Flexible Marine Solar Panels?
Flexible marine solar panels are panels which bend to a certain curvature, and can be installed on uneven or curved surfaces.
They are made of an ultra thin plastic laminate, and are quite versatile in their use.
They are in comparison to stiff rigid solar panels which are usually permanently installed to a surface.
What Types of Flexible Marine Solar Panels Are There?
Flexible marine solar panels could best be categorised into their types by the Wattage rating:
1. 50 Watt Panels
2. 100 Watt Panels
What Are Flexible Marine Solar Panels Used For?
Solar panels in a marine setting can usually be either a rigid panel or a flexible panel.
A flexible panel would be used where you want a bendable solar panel that can fit to uneven or curved surfaces, and is easily used in several other environments like at home, on Rv’s, camping, and more.
One or several flexible marine solar panels can be used to charge one, or a bank of lead acid or lithium ion batteries.
One of the advantages to this, is that you can power your pumps, refrigeration, lighting etc. without using your motor and fuel to re-charge the battery.
Which Flexible Marine Solar Panels To Get – How To Choose
Before you buy a flexible solar panel – definitely check the tech/customer support and guarantee of warranty from the company you want to buy from.
After that it’s worth looking at the charging requirements of the battery set-up you have, and how many panels you might need to charge that setup.
You can read this solar load calculating informational guide for some tips.
Apart from that, choose the number and type of panel you want i.e. –
1. Do you want a 50 watt, 100 watt or bigger flexible solar panel?
2. How many of those panels do you want
3. Do they come in the voltage you require for your singular battery, or bank of batteries?
4. Is the solar controller you are looking at getting rated for the total voltage of the batteries and total wattage of the solar panels?
What Features To Look Out For, And Considerations To Make With Flexible Marine Solar Panels
You can read this flexible solar panel guide which gives you a great idea of features and considerations.
But, in particular with flexible marine solar panels, look out for some of the following things:
Make sure the panel/s have enough voltage and watts for your battery system
Some level of water resistance is required
A sealed junction box is required
Frameless (any metal needs to be corrosion resistant)
Check the degree of curvature if you will be installing the panels to an uneven surface
Make sure the size and the installation method of the panel fits your particular vessel i.e. how much curve and what anchors points for fixings do you have in the space where you want to put the panel? Is the space big enough for 1, 2, 3, 4 or however many panels you are after?
Flexible Marine Solar Panels – Accessories
A suitably rated solar controller for the voltage of your battery/s, and the total watts of your panels
A display to show the panel and battery performance and health
Cables and connectors which are long enough to run from you panel installation location to your battery bank
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For My Marine Vessel?
Read this guide about assessing your solar panel load calculations.
For most people, starting with 1 or 2 100 Watt panels is a good starting point – you can always add more panels from there if required.
Solar Panels For Boat Battery Charging & Marine Use
You’ve heard of solar for the home, but what about solar panels for boat battery charging & marine use?
Using solar power for a boat, yacht, sail boat or any sea vessel can have the following benefits:
- Solar is usually cheaper over the long term for charging marine batteries than using your boat motor and diesel
- Solar is cleaner energy than fossil fuels
- Some solar panels can be moved between your boat, and taken camping, put on you Rv, used on your car, and used at home
Below we’ve put together a short guide outlining the best marine solar panel options, what to look for in marine solar panel kits & setups, and what accessories to consider when charging boat batteries with solar panels.
1) Best Marine Solar Panel Options
You can read more in the following guides about the best marine solar panel options:
Best Solar Panels For Cloudy Days & Shade (consider if you have a sail boat or a boat with a mast)
Flexible Marine Solar Panel Reviews (reviews on flexible and bendable solar panels – as opposed to the stiff/rigid traditional solar panels)
2) What To Look For In Marine Solar Panel Kits
Solar panels for marine use come with either just the panel and connectors, or with a full starters kit to allow you to connect up to your marine battery straight away.
Solar Panel Only – comes with the solar panel, and usually some MC4 solar connectors that run from the panel’s junction box. You can add extras and accessories as you need. Can be good for those looking to add a singular panel to their existing system
Solar Panel Kit – can come with:
1 or several panels
connector cables (that run from the junction box) and branch connectors
a charge controller (to control the output from the panel to the battery’s via the tray cables)
tray cables (that run from the charge controller to the battery/s)
if you are purchasing a rigid/stiff solar panels, you’ll also get Z Brackets (to mount the panel to the surface you will install them to)
3) Charging Boat & Marine Batteries With Solar Panels – What Does A Regular Setup Look Like?
So, somewhere within your vessel, you will have a marine battery or batteries.
It might be a singular 6 or 12v lead acid or lithium ion battery, or several of them banked together.
A regular solar panel setup would look something like this (just a guide):
Solar panel, or solar panels gather solar energy > CONNECTS TO
There is a junction box on the solar panels which has MC3 or MC4 connector cables running from them > CONNECTS TO
A singular solar charge controllers or several solar charge controllers depending on the rated wattage your controller can take. The charge controller/s limit the amount of output/input from the panels to the battery/s so the batteries don’t get overloaded or damaged. > CONNECTS TO
The charge controllers usually have tray cables that run from them to the battery/s > CONNECTS TO
The cables connect to the battery or batteries if a whole bank of batteries. You may have a solar panel and controller for each battery, or you may have a number of panels and a rated controller to charge the bank at once. It’s important the single battery or bank of batteries has A/h and voltage specs. that match up with the capability of the controller and panels i.e. they need to be compatible > CONNECTS TO
The DC batteries can power your pumps, cabin lights, anchor light, refrigeration, electronics etc. depending on their output
Some people also choose to add a LCD display to their system to monitor the performance and health of their panels and batteries.
An inverter box is also an option if you have USB or AC power items you want to charge. And, a solar regenerator can store DC energy for when the solar panels are not in the sun. Some brands offer 2-in-1 regenerators and inverters (with DC, AC and USB outlets) like Goal Zero with the Yeti 400 (on Amazon)
NOTE: always check with the battery and solar manufacturers (plus check their product instructions) for compatibility and other requirements of your particular system.
Read more in this informational guide for figuring out the size and number of solar panels you might need for your setup.
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