Hamish,
I like your solar thinking too. I wish my boat were larger to consider that. Here's food for thought on that matter. Obviously the more efficient cells you can use the more power you will get per square metre but efficient cells cost. Now consider going from 2D to 3D solar so for the same footprint you can add some vertical panels, which increases output to that over and above that of two dimensional solar. Use separate MPPT controllers for each plane and use high panel voltages to keep losses down. If you had a 3D box or rectangular shape you'll start charging earlier in the day and continue later in the day. There may also be reflected light too to help from the water. Much will depend on your boat, money and weight but a variation of 3D solar and regen from a motor is certainly a way to save on genset use. The best implementation I have seen of 3D solar is cells in the usual places plus some on the boom and the mast with the lovely solar cloth panels from Alain Janet in France, in the mainsail. If I were a rich man....
John
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John.Rushworth.Com - Rushworth.Co.UK - Rushworth.UK - Rushworth.Org.UK
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