1) Understanding your energy needs is essential to determine how much solar you need. Start by making an "energy budget". List all your consumers and their daily usage. For example, if your LED lights use 1W per bulb and you have eight bulbs on for 5 hours a day, that would be 8 Watts for 5 hours or (8x5) 40 Wh (Watt hours). I like to use kWh to keep things consistent. 40 Wh = 0.040 kWh. It's a good idea to list what you're using while at anchor and another list of what you're using while underway (for instance, you don't use your autopilot at anchor). Remember to list everything: fridge, freezer, watermaker, autopilot, nav lights, chart plotters, etc. For example, here aboard Athena, with an electric galley, fridge, freezer, watermaker, two computers, etc, we use an average of 5.5 kWh per day. 2) To give you a quick estimate, use https://globalsolaratlas.info/ to find "Global horizontal irradiation" per day for your location. Take your daily energy consumption from step 1 and divide that by the number of solar hours. In the case of Athena, located in the Caribbean, that would be 5.5kWh per day / 5 sun hours = 1.1 kW solar array. Keep in mind that this is a theoretical number that does not take into account the shading or degradation of the panels over time. Let's add 30%. 1.1 x 1.3 = 1.43 kW. You can now divide that number by the panel's Nominal Power output. In the case of Athena, our panels are 400W SunPower panels. 1430W / 400W = 3.6 panels needed to cover our 5.5 kWh per day consumption. 3) Understand that the amount of solar you can install on a small sailboat is limited by the size of the boat and heavily influenced by shading and, of course, the boat's location. The size of the panels might also be defined by the height of your stanchions or the size of an existing solar arch. Figure out where you're able and willing to install panels. That will dictate the size and number of panels. 4) Use Victron Energy's MPPT Calculator to calculate what MPPT is ideally sized for your solar panels and expected output based on location. Based on our experience in the Caribbean, the estimate provided by the guide is reasonable. https://www.victronenergy.com/mppt-calculator. Remember that it's best practice to avoid combining panels with different specs on the same MPPT. #sailboat #sailboatproject #boatwork #saillife #liveaboard #liveaboardlife #saltlife #sailing #sailingadventure #travel ingcouple #livingonaboat #solar #sailboatsolar

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18,950

It's easy to go overboard with upgrades you might not need... 🙃 Don't get caught in the boat buying "Spending Frenzy"

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3,994

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471

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562

After the huge success and excitement last year, we’re thrilled to bring this offer back for another season. 🌟 Win Your Charter for FREE! 🌟 When you book your 2025 charter with 45 Degrees Sailing, you'll be entered into a draw to WIN YOUR CHARTER FOR FREE! How amazing is that? ✨ Why Choose 45 Degrees Sailing for Your 2025 Charter? Feeling lost in a storm of charter deals? 🌊 We know how overwhelming it can be to find the perfect yacht for your dream sailing holiday. That’s where 45 Degrees Sailing comes in. At 45 Degrees, we focus on quality over quantity, ensuring your charter isn’t just a trip—it’s an unforgettable adventure tailored to you. We’re here to simplify the process, cutting through the noise and guiding you to the yacht that fits your unique vision of the perfect getaway. It’s not about chasing the lowest price; it’s about creating experiences, discovering beautiful destinations, and crafting memories that last a lifetime. ✨ The 45 Degrees Difference: Tailored to You: Your sailing adventure, your way. We’ll help you find the yacht and itinerary that matches your dreams. Quality Yachts: Partnering only with trusted charter companies, we ensure top-notch yachts that prioritise your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Memorable Moments: With us, it’s not just about sailing—it’s about crafting moments you’ll treasure forever. ✨ Let’s Plan Your Dream Holiday No more charter overwhelm. Let us guide you to the perfect yacht and set sail for a stress-free, personalised adventure in Croatia. 💥 BOOK NOW & BE IN TO WIN: Enter the draw to win your 2025 charter for FREE when you book with us. Don't miss out! 👉 https://go.45degreessailing.com/bareboat-charter Set sail with 45 Degrees Sailing and let the adventure of a lifetime begin! AND REMEMBER BOOK BY 31 January AND BE IN TO WIN YOUR CHARTER FOR FREE 👉 https://go.45degreessailing.com/bareboat-charter

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823

#lydiayachts #midascruises #shorts #ytshorts #sunset #santorini #greece #cruises #sunsetcruises #private #yacht #sailing #catamarans #santorinicruises

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