Generation
Panels contribute energy whenever daylight and conditions allow.
Solar and off grid cruising
More life from every day of light.
Solar generation, battery storage and intelligent charging planned around the way you live and travel aboard.
Up to 3.2kWAvailable solar capacity, depending on the boat
3 sourcesSolar, shoreline and optional generator charging
1 systemGeneration, storage, consumption and monitoring
Real useSpecified around life aboard
Designed around demand
First understand what the boat must power.
A useful solar specification starts with an honest assessment of daily energy use. Propulsion, refrigeration, cooking, laundry, entertainment, working aboard and heating controls all affect the answer.
Oakums brings the panels, batteries, inverter capacity and charging sources together as one coordinated system. This can reduce generator use without pretending sunshine alone will meet every demand throughout the year.
The complete solar system
From the roof to the socket.
Each part is specified around the others, helping owners generate, store and use energy more effectively.
Storage
Lithium batteries store generated energy for propulsion and domestic use.
Conversion
Inverter and charging equipment supplies the appropriate onboard systems.
Monitoring
Live information shows generation, consumption and remaining capacity.
Roof planning
Use the available roof intelligently.
Solar capacity depends on boat length, roof profile, skylights, vents and other equipment. Optional Oakums arrays can provide up to approximately 3.2kW where the design allows. The largest headline number is not automatically the best installation.
- Plan panels around skylights and safe access
- Consider shading and seasonal output
- Match the array to batteries and charging equipment
- Protect the clean appearance of the roof
Panel choices
Rigid or semi flexible?
Both can be appropriate. The right choice depends on roof geometry, required capacity, appearance and how you intend to use the boat.
Rigid panels
Strong individual panel performance.
Rigid panels can provide airflow beneath each module, but their footprint and supports may limit the total capacity that fits around a narrowboat roof.
Semi flexible panels
Use curved or restricted space.
Semi flexible panels can follow the roof profile and may allow more total wattage to be installed while retaining a lower visual profile.
The Oakums approach
Choose against the complete brief.
Output, access, appearance, installation and future replacement are considered together before a panel type is selected.
Real Oakums observations
Performance measured aboard.
These examples show why total installed capacity and output per installed kilowatt need to be considered separately. Results change with conditions.
6.6kWhGenerated by an Oakums 2kW semi flexible array in the observed period
5.2kWhGenerated by a 1.35kW rigid array in the comparison period
Nearly 3kWAchieved on a curved roof project through careful panel planning
The rigid array produced more energy per installed kilowatt in that comparison, while the semi flexible installation produced more total energy because more panel capacity fitted on the roof. These are observations, not guaranteed yields.
Seasonal reality
Designed for summer and winter.
Solar is highly useful, but the British seasons change what it can contribute. A good system anticipates that rather than hiding it.
Brighter months
Use more of the available daylight
An appropriately specified array can make a substantial contribution to normal domestic consumption.
Winter cruising
Plan for shorter days
Lower sun angles and longer nights can make shoreline or generator support more important.
Changing journeys
Keep more than one charging route
A balanced system can adapt to weather, route and changing onboard requirements.
Start your Oakums
Build an honest off grid plan.
Talk to Oakums about your appliances, cruising pattern and mooring access before choosing headline battery or solar figures.