Solar celled Sunbrella or a bimini that uses the sun it blocks

[Mike8560]

I wonder how long bofore im asled to retro fit a top with this.
It will probly be quite expensive.

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/component/content/article/4-features/505899-a-bimini-that-uses-the-sun-it-blocks

[Mojo]

One of those jobs would scare me. Imagine messing up one of those solar panels. Those things cost major dollars. Yikes.

I am sure you will sooner or later get asked. :)

Chris

[Grebo]

I have sewn tags onto sprayhoods / dodgers for panels to be tied to.. Not quite the same  ;D

[fragged8]

hi

i have a way to sew LED lights into canvas that are almost invisible until you turn them on,
i've been experimenting with it for a while now but can't find a suitable way of making the
connection to the boat supply.

Rich

[Peppy]

I'd be keen to try it. I bet it leaks though. They can't have thought of everything.

It can't be any worse than trying to build a hangie-dooie off the back of a sailboat with tube and fittings to mount an array on. I've done that a couple of times. It gets to be a camperback's worth of fittings pretty quick. And dumb looking.

[Mike8560]

Rich I'd like to see thoose LEDs. Have  you seen theese bimiini tops with a anchor light on the frame. The run the wiring inside the tubes then at the bottom exit the tubing and plug into the boat.

[JuneC]

Rich I'd like to see thoose LEDs.

Me too.  Sounds very kool.  I'm going to be building a bimini for my own boat very shortly.  Any suggestions?  I'd love to include something "hi tech" like LEDs in the design.

June

[Bob T]

If I were keen to expand my business, I'd develop "installing solar cells"  as a specialty.  The demand is going to be high and buyers will be looking for experienced installers and the pay should be good.  Imagine being the only shop around with actual experience installing those panels on Sunbrella.

My reality is, I'm mostly retired and have more business than I want or need so I won't be one to pursue it.  Truth be known, usually, I dread seeing another job walk thru the door.  There goes the time off I was going to use for my own projects.  Then, I see the new work as a form of respect for the work I do, so I give it my best. 

[Mojo]

My reality is, I'm mostly retired and have more business than I want or need so I won't be one to pursue it.  Truth be known, usually, I dread seeing another job walk thru the door.  There goes the time off I was going to use for my own projects.  Then, I see the new work as a form of respect for the work I do, so I give it my best. 

Bob, I agree with you 100 %. I often times wonder why I even started this business during my retirement in the first place. It wasn't for the money but rather for something to do. My wife for some reason or another had a major problem with me becoming a Gigolo. :) But I admit, I love sitting down at the machine and sewing. All my worries in life leave me and I find it very relaxing.

I am just very careful of the jobs I take on. I will sew solar screens all day long as they are a quick buck and easy to do. But when customers start requesting full boat or auto interiors I send them elsewhere. It is just something I do not want to get into nor have any desire to do.

My project list is so long that if I never die till it is all completed, I reckon I will live to be 110 years old. :)

I should be laying on a beach in Aruba with a young and pretty island girl serving me Diet Cokes all day. Instead I am tied to an oily sewing machine.

Isn't retirement great ?   8)

Chris

[Miami Mike]

Solar > I have been looking at these for several years. I would love to see Miami offer these. I have several Sail boaters that use these now, But the just roll them out, charge the batteries and move on. Yes it is some $$$$ but they are good for 15 to 20 years.

[fragged8]

i have some of the LED's on my boat so next time i'm down there
I'll pick them up and mock up a panel with them in.

it's very easy to do an you hardly have to change the way
you make the canvas.

Rich

[fragged8]

hi

sorry Mike i've not yet mocked up the Led in the fabric thing yet
but check this out

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8549

they even sell washable electronics for sewing into clothes

there conductive fabric too :-)

Rich

[JuneC]

Thanks for that link, Rich.  Last year when I made that backlit liquor cabinet for the 32' Sundancer I used a strip from these guys...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/led_prods.htm&gclid=CNbIus-4xKQCFcbD7QodHzHJDg

I'd like to see how you go about putting individual LED's into the canvas though...  The thread is a pretty kool idea.

June