Hey everyone! I have a 32-foot sailboat that currently doesn't have any solar power setup, and I'm looking to get that sorted. I'm considering installing two 100-watt mono flexible panels on top of the bimini and two thin hard panels in front of the boat under the boom. My boat is equipped with a Gen 3 Starlink and a small fridge. Does this setup sound good to you? I've been browsing Amazon and honestly, it's pretty overwhelming with all the options. I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer!
3 Answers
Do you already have an inverter on your boat? Or are your Starlink and fridge running on DC?
If you don’t already have an inverter, you might want to look into getting a power station that comes with a built-in battery and inverter. Those often come with cooling fans too. Since your main loads will be the fridge (which uses about 2 kWh/day) and Starlink (around 70 watts continuously), I’d suggest going for a unit that has at least 2 or 3 kWh. For proper performance, you’ll want a total of at least 400 watts of solar panels. Here’s a link to one option that could work well: https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-3600-4500W-Generator-Emergencies/dp/B0C1Z4GLKS. Make sure to do your homework before purchasing, though!
You should definitely check out the SunPower 100W flexible solar panels! They're really easy to install on top of the bimini. Plus, there’s a list with over 250 boat installations that you could browse to see what other owners have chosen for their setups. It might give you some good insights!
Yes, I have an inverter! I've mostly been using the Starlink while docked with shore power so far.