How to Install Solar Panels on a Bimini

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Solar panels are a great asset on any boat, whether you're a day sailor or a full-time cruiser. They provide clean, ready energy for your boat and, depending on the panel size you choose, can provide electricity for everything from keeping your batteries charged to running appliances. There are many different types of solar panels and a variety of ways in which to mount them on your boat. In our video tutorial, we're going to demonstrate one way to install flexible solar panels on a bimini top.

Video Chapters:

Positioning Panels on Bimini – 0:41 min.
Cutting & Sewing Facing Strips – 3:06 min.
Creating Facing Frame – 10:55 min.
Installing Fasteners – 21:38 min.
Patterning Solar Panels on Bimini – 30:36 min.
Sewing Facing Frame to Bimini – 34:17 min.
Creating Passage for Cables – 46:59 min.
Installing Solar Panels on Bimini – 57:57 min.
Materials List – 1:01:06 min.

Materials List:

Shelter-Rite^® Black 61" Fabric – #1120121
Sunbrella^® Marine Grade Marine Blue 60" Fabric – #6078-0000
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) – #129
Sailrite^®Tex 92 Black PTFE Lifetime Thread 4 oz. (825 yds.) – #107130
Loxx^® Pull It Up Fastener Upper Head With Regular Washer (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #121356
Loxx^® Pull It Up Fastener Locking Key – #121357
Loxx^® Pull It Up Fastener Lower Stud With Regular Washer (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #121349
Nylon Hook Black – #100255
Nylon Loop Black – #100256

Tools List:

Sailrite^®Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" – #102400
Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter 60mm – #965511
Sailrite^®Self Healing Double-Sided Cutting Mat 24" x 36" – #123113
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler – #107040
Scribe-All^® Water Soluble White Marking Pencil – #120681
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife Package (110V) – #103800
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) – #311602
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide – #103597
Gingher^® 8" Scissors Right Handed – #19104
Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
Sailrite^® #2 Drill Hole Cutter 3/8" – #121820
Sailrite^®Cutting Block & Die Holder – #121597
Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) – #102985
Straightedge, Drill

How to Install Solar Panels on a Bimini 2

The solar panels installed in the video are for a soft bimini top onboard our powerboat project, which belongs to Brian, a manager at Sailrite®. Brian’s main goals for his solar panels were to have the panels be secure enough on the bimini that they wouldn’t flap in the wind, while at the same time being easily removable so the bimini can be folded if necessary. To accomplish this, Brian created reinforced frames on the bimini top for the solar panels to lock into via Loxx® Pull It Up Fasteners.

The frames for the solar panels are designed to blend into the bimini top while providing reinforcement for the top itself. They feature highly abrasion resistant Shelter-Rite® vinyl strips underneath a Sunbrella® Marine Grade cover to prevent the corners and sides of the solar panels from chafing the Sunbrella bimini top. In the video, we also demonstrate how to create a reinforced opening in the bimini top to accommodate the solar panel wiring. We also discuss the importance of proper placement of the solar panels on a soft bimini top to ensure that water will still be able to freely run off the top.

This is just one possible way to install solar panels that suited Brian's needs for his boat. Techniques from the video can be adapted to better suit your particular vessel.

This project is part of our Regal Ambassador 245XL Powerboat Makeover series.