Where is a good place to mount a Solar Power Tender?

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Tarheel28 · #1 Post by **Tarheel28** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:29 am

Just got a Deltran Solar Battery Tender. We keep our boat covered in an open wet slip. The tender weighs about 3lbs. I'm not sure where to mount it. I thought about just sitting it on the bimini top but am concerned with the weight or if it blew off in a storm. It came with four screws but not sure where I could permanently mount it. I don't think the marina would let me permanently mount it to the dock.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

NonHyphenAmerican · #2 Post by **NonHyphenAmerican** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 9:44 am

velcro on the cover in a sunny spot?

The marina might not like you permanently mounting things to the dock, but you could always use a worm gear clamp or two to hold it to an upright.

ralph · #3 Post by **ralph** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:21 pm

Perhaps you can use some heavy duty zip ties and mount it to the dock posts??? Not permanent and you won't have to make/drill any holes.

zoom650 · #4 Post by **zoom650** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:03 pm

I google searched "solar panel mounting brackets for boats" and got a bunch of hits.

You got tons of choices out there. If it was me, I'd rail mount a folding unit to the fence. If you have a ski tow bar, I saw one mounted off that. There's a kit for on top of a sailboat binimi.

Xscash · #5 Post by **Xscash** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:06 pm

I made a bracket and mounted it permanently....

MH Hawker · #6 Post by **MH Hawker** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:37 pm

i put mine on the back fence

Tarheel28 · #7 Post by **Tarheel28** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:07 am

Lot of good options. Thanks for all the tips and pictures. Sounds like I could go in a lot of different directions.

Tarheel28 · #8 Post by **Tarheel28** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:56 am

For those of you who mounted it permanently to the boat, this may be a stupid question, but do you leave your tender attached to your battery constantly or do you only connect it when you are done boating? I'm new to battery tenders, especially solar powered ones.

Xscash · #9 Post by **Xscash** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 6:40 pm

I leave mine connected at all times. I have had solar on my 2 boats since 2011. be careful installing them where they may be partially blocked by the sun, it can drop the entire panel voltage.

Tarheel28 · #10 Post by **Tarheel28** » Sat Jun 25, 2016 6:04 am

Xscash wrote:I leave mine connected at all times. I have had solar on my 2 boats since 2011. be careful installing them where they may be partially blocked by the sun, it can drop the entire panel voltage.

Good to know. Thanks!

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Where is a good place to mount a Solar Power Tender?

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