Best Solar Panels For Sailboats

There are many solar panels that work well with sailboats, but some are better than others. So, what are the best solar panels for sailboats? Let’s find out!

Michael Moris

Updated

October 17, 2023

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

There are many solar panels that work well with sailboats, but some are better than others. So, what are the best solar panels for sailboats? Let’s find out!

Sailboats are notorious energy hogs, and the cost of running them can be prohibitively expensive. Most sailboat owners don’t want to install a big diesel or gasoline generator in their boat, but they also don’t want to spend a lot of money on fuel every year.

Renogy, Windy Nation, SunPower, and Newpowa offer some of the best solar panels on the market that are specifically designed for use on boats. These powerful yet compact solar panels produce enough power to reduce or even eliminate the need for a generator, saving you big bucks on fuel.

Solar power has been growing in popularity over the last few years because it is a clean and renewable energy source that can be used at any time. The prices of solar panels have also become more affordable, making them an even better choice for many people. In this article, we’ll go over how these panels work and what features you need to look at before purchasing one.

While compiling the list of best sailboat solar panels, our energy experts ensured that all of these solar panels were highly efficient, lightweight, and compact. We also took into consideration how easy they are to install on a sailboat, their value for money, and their durability in different weather conditions.

Table of Contents

‍1. Renogy Flexible Solar Panel

Renogy Flexible Solar Panel comes with impressive features, along with the price tag. This is one of the best solar panels for boats, suitable for marine environments. This is because it has greater flexibility and can be installed on curved roofs because of its uniquely designed frame. The frame offers great durability while making the panel lightweight at the same time.

The cell type used in Renogy Flexible Solar Panel is monocrystalline silicon. These cells are considered stable and efficient enough to provide optimum performance throughout their lifespan. The panel’s aluminum frame adds additional strength to prevent damage when mounted onto the surface or exposed to harsh weather conditions. The best part about these flexible panels is that even if they get damaged by accident, they are easy to repair.

The installation is quick and hassle-free due to its pre-drilled holes, making it easier for the user to install without any difficulty, even on uneven surfaces. Also, with the help of included installation kit that comes with the Renogy Flexible Solar Panel, you can easily mount it with ease on all kinds of sailboats.

The Renogy Flexible Solar Panel also comes with a 3-phase 30 amps battery charger that can be connected to any battery type and is compatible with most devices. It also works well in low-light conditions. However, you must know that the output will diminish greatly when the sunlight does not hit the solar cells directly. Also, installing this solar panel requires very little effort. You don’t have to make arrangements for manpower or tools, which reduces your overall expenditure even more.

According to Renogy, users can expect to get up to 400 watts of solar power on a bright sunny day, but it also depends upon the charging device output that you are using to charge your battery. The Renogy Flexible Solar Panel can charge around 200 watts of power on cloudy days, which is quite impressive.

Furthermore, you can even download the Renogy DC Home app from the Google Play Store for your Android devices. This app helps you track real-time performance of this flexible solar panel. Even though it is not required for this solar panel to function, but its presence can help you understand the technical details in a better way.

The only downside to this product is its slightly low efficiency compared to other rigid solar panels of the same wattage, but its efficiency is greater than what you will get with the normal Solar Panels.

Although it comes at a price, I would still say that the performance offered by Renogy Flexible Solar Panel is quite impressive. It performs excellently in low light conditions as well, which makes the product worth every dollar spent on it.

If you are looking for the best solar panels that can be easily installed on sailboats and at a reasonable price, then the Renogy Flexible Solar Panel is one of its kind and will serve all your purposes.

Specs

Panel type: Flexible monocrystalline panel
Max Power: 175W
Peak Voltage: 23V
Max Current: 8.83A
Dimensions: 59.2" x 26.5" x 0.08"
Weight: 6.2 lbs.

Pros

Flexible - Can be mounted onto any surface
Easy to maintain
Lightweight
Available in 50W, 100W and 175W
IP68 waterproof

Cons

Less efficiency compared to other rigid models
A tad expensive (but well worth the investment)

2. Windy Nation 200W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit

If you are looking for a complete and easy to set up solar panel kit for your sailboat, then Windy Nation 200W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit is one of the best options for you. This off-grid solar panel kit consists of two 100W fixed polycrystalline solar panels and a PWM 20W Solar Charge Controller.

This complete kit provides you with an excellent way to power and charge your boat, even during harsh weather conditions and cloudy days. The included charge controller will regulate solar input and prevent any kind of damage to its batteries from overcharging.

Not just this, but the Windy Nation 200W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit also comes with LED lights which can be used as a backup source of light or even as a warning device during emergencies or disasters like tsunami or hurricanes. These lights also come with backlit switches for ease of use during low-light conditions.

The included 20A controller is a 12/24V auto-sensing device that can easily connect with any battery. The control panel also has an LCD screen through which you can monitor the charging information of your boat batteries.

The Windy Nation 200W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit comes with all the necessary equipment and components required to set up your solar system on your sailboat or for other outdoor purposes. You will also get mounting brackets, cables, and screws for easy installation.

The build quality looks very good for a product in this price range. Instead of cheap aluminum frame mounts common for many Chinese manufacturers, these panels come with robust anodized aluminum brackets that will definitely last for many years. The front of the panels is covered with a strong white laminate that protects them from sunlight and reduces the strain on internal components during transportation while increasing their life cycle.

Windy Nation claims that the power output of these panels is slightly higher than their rated power at peak sunlight, which means they’re more efficient than other manufacturers’ products within a similar price range.

The charging performance of this solar panel kit was tested under both clear and partly cloudy skies (the best working scenario for solar energy generation) at an average temperature of 77°F, and it produced 800 watt-hours of energy during the process. This number may vary depending on the weather conditions in your area, your geographical location, etc.

This solar panel kit also comes with an instructional manual for beginners, which is very helpful, especially when setting up such devices for your boat. The installation doesn’t take too much time or effort, and if you follow all instructions carefully, you won’t face any issues at all during installation.

Some users complained that Windy Nation doesn’t offer a replacement for defective parts, and they have to purchase new ones every time they encounter any issue. This can be time-consuming and expensive for customers, so we hope the company will take note of this problem and start offering spare parts replacement.

Overall, the Windy Nation 200W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit is an excellent purchase for anyone who wants complete control over their boat’s power supply when they are out on the water. With this kit at your disposal, you will no longer need to worry about running out of battery power miles away from the closest marina or shoreline.

Specs

Panel type: Polycrystalline rigid panel
Max Power: 200W
Peak Voltage: 17.4A
Max Current: 5.75A
Dimensions: 40" x 26.4" x 1.2"
Weight: 40 lbs.

Pros

Robust anodized aluminum brackets
Great value for money
Produces enough electricity to handle all power needs
Can be upgraded

Cons

Heavy - Takes up a lot of boat space
No replacement offered by the manufacturer for defective parts

3. SunPower 110W Flexible Solar Panel

Of all products in our top four list, SunPower is probably the highest quality solar panel you can get for your sailboat. The company has been around for more than 36 years, and they have built their reputation by delivering some of the finest solar solutions on the market today.

The SunPower 110W Flexible Solar Panel is a great product for anyone who wants to ensure that they will never run out of power when they are on the water. This kit includes everything you need to set up a small off-grid energy system for your boat while being extremely budget-friendly, considering its high quality.

The SunPower comes with a 110W monocrystalline flexible panel made of tempered glass, making it highly resistant to scratches, wind, and heat. It is also waterproof, which means it can endure any kind of weather conditions without losing its power-generating abilities. This makes the product ideal for both outdoor and marine applications.

In terms of power generation capabilities, this solar panel can produce 6.25 amps during peak sunlight hours, which means it can easily meet the energy needs of an average sailboat owner.

The SunPower 110W is also resistant to low light conditions, producing a stable output even in overcast conditions. This makes it great for off-grid applications that rely on solar power generation because you can rest assured knowing that your devices will always have enough power regardless of external weather conditions.

This product comes with two cables, mounting brackets, and other accessories needed for installation right out of the box. The instruction manual included in this bundle is well-written and easy to follow, so you won’t have any problems understanding how to set up this system correctly during installation

This flexible monocrystalline marine solar panel comes with all necessary cables, connectors, and clamps that you will need to connect the panel straight to your battery banks. You can set up this solar panel system in less than 30 minutes by following user manual instructions.

What really makes this product interesting is an exceptional warranty policy from SunPower. They offer a two-year warranty on solar panels, while the power inverter comes with a full five-year warranty! This means that you can use it for a long time without worrying about any power issues.

The only thing we didn’t like about this solar panel is that it is not compatible with all battery types. Some batteries may require an additional converter to work with the inverter. This means that you will need to purchase this item separately, which can be expensive for customers. But overall, SunPower delivers a high-quality product, and we hope they will find a way to make their solar panels compatible with more battery systems in the future.

Specs

Panel type: Flexible monocrystalline panel
Maximum Power: 110W
Peak Voltage: 18.8V
Max Current: 5.83A
Dimensions: 45.9" x 21.9" x 0.8"
Weight: 4.4 lbs.

Pros

Highly reliable and efficient at converting solar energy into electricity
Extremely lightweight
Fairly easy installation
Durable construction
Can flex up to 30 degrees
Five-year warranty provided by the manufacturer

Cons

Minor battery compatibility issues
May require separate tools for disconnecting from the boat

4. Newpowa 100W x2 Polycrystalline PV Solar Panel

Newpowa is a company that is very well known for producing some of the best solar panels on the market today. Their work can be seen all over different parts of the world as they have been very active in supporting green energy projects around the world.

The Newpowa Polycrystalline solar panel is one of those products that have been designed with sailboat owners in mind. This product comes with a durable yet lightweight design that doesn’t require a big investment from your side but still contains enough power to keep small off-grid systems running for many years without any issues whatsoever.

This particular solar panel is made using polycrystalline cells, which are well known for resisting high temperatures and low light conditions. This makes the panel extremely efficient at converting solar energy into electricity over a long period. You will be able to enjoy a high-efficiency rate in optimal lighting conditions.

Newpowa claims that its 100W solar panel can produce around 5.4 amps per hour under direct sunlight, which means that it is powerful enough to provide power for charging devices on your sailboat without any problems.

What really makes this particular set stand out from hundreds of other alternatives is its long lifespan. Newpowa offers an amazing 25 years of power output warranty on these panels. This means that you can install them and forget about having to replace them anytime soon. They will work for many years without any issues!

The Newpowa 100W x 2 unit also comes with 3ft MC4 cables which are necessary for connecting the solar panels to one another. Each cable is made using high-quality material, which increases durability and can even resist harsh weather conditions, so you don’t have to worry about your cables getting damaged anytime soon.

The unit also comes with a pair of mounting brackets that allow you to install the panels onto any marine-grade surface easily. Once installed, you can move the panel up and down as needed, providing increased versatility.

The only downside to this solar panel is that, unlike other solar panels on our list, this one doesn’t include a charge controller, so you will have to purchase one separately.

Overall, this is a great choice if you want to get started with installing solar panels on your sailboat. The price is reasonable, and the performance is excellent.