Customer Comments
See our Gallery of Solar Panel Installations to see how owners have installed their solar panel systems.
The CMP 90 Watt solar panel keeps our refrigeration running.
September 10, 2011 by John of Murray Time an S2 36 - Duncan Bay, Michigan
Tom,
I am pleased to report that the 90 Watt solar panel performed as expected during our four week cruise this summer. It supplied sufficient power while we were at anchor to power our refrigeration, lights and select instruments. Only on those really cloudy days did we have to run our diesel to charge the battery bank. The remote display that links to the dual battery bank solar controller is terrific. It provided me with all the information I needed to monitor my battery banks and solar panel performance.
I'll send you my panel performance data as soon as I get it summarized.
Thanks,
John
Tom,
I am pleased to report that the 90 Watt solar panel performed as expected during our four week cruise this summer. It supplied sufficient power while we were at anchor to power our refrigeration, lights and select instruments. Only on those really cloudy days did we have to run our diesel to charge the battery bank. The remote display that links to the dual battery bank solar controller is terrific. It provided me with all the information I needed to monitor my battery banks and solar panel performance.
I'll send you my panel performance data as soon as I get it summarized.
Thanks,
John
 CMP 90 Watt Solar panel on an S2 36 |  CMP 90 Watt Solar Panel on an S2 36 |
"Panel mounts work GREAT!"
August 28, 2011 by Brian of Cat2Fold - Tetonia, Idaho
Hey Tom,
Panel mounts work GREAT! So do the 90 watt panels!
Check out these pics I got sailing this week in Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Last Sunday I reached 15 knots peaking at 15.8!
Fastest this nos so experienced sailor has ever gone under sails!
Thanks,
Brian
Hey Tom,
Panel mounts work GREAT! So do the 90 watt panels!
Check out these pics I got sailing this week in Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Last Sunday I reached 15 knots peaking at 15.8!
Fastest this nos so experienced sailor has ever gone under sails!
Thanks,
Brian
 Two CMP 90 Watt Panels on Freestanding Poles |  Cat2Fold on Jackson Lake with two 90 Watt Panels |
 Cruising on Jackson Lake. |  Not much wind but plenty of power |
"Nice custom installation"
August 21, 2011 by Erich of Enchantress a Hunter 410 - Duncan Bay, Michigan
Tom,
This is the second boat you have done a custom installation for me. Combining the solar pole with the outboard motor hoist has really worked out well. I am impressed with the output of the 130 watt panel. Thanks for another job well done. Check out the pictures.
Erich
Tom,
This is the second boat you have done a custom installation for me. Combining the solar pole with the outboard motor hoist has really worked out well. I am impressed with the output of the 130 watt panel. Thanks for another job well done. Check out the pictures.
Erich
 CMP 130 Watt Solar Panel on a Hunter 410 |
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"The solar panel's performance exceeded my expectations."
August 19, 2011 by Tom of Melusina an Aloha 32 - Bemus Point, New York
Tom, Just returned from our three week cruise to the North Channel. We got as far as Little Current after several nights at Baie Fine. It took us a bit longer to find our way up than I anticipated but great sailing none the less. The solar panel's performance exceeded my expectations. It was out of the way and didn't interfere with sailing in 30kt+ on Lake Huron. We sailed in those squalls that hit Goderich on our way to Sarinia. Thanks again for all the info on the North Channel. The GLCC membership was money well spent for the cruising guides.
Attached is a picture of Melusina in Baie Fine.
Tom, Just returned from our three week cruise to the North Channel. We got as far as Little Current after several nights at Baie Fine. It took us a bit longer to find our way up than I anticipated but great sailing none the less. The solar panel's performance exceeded my expectations. It was out of the way and didn't interfere with sailing in 30kt+ on Lake Huron. We sailed in those squalls that hit Goderich on our way to Sarinia. Thanks again for all the info on the North Channel. The GLCC membership was money well spent for the cruising guides.
Attached is a picture of Melusina in Baie Fine.
Melusina, Aloha 32 in Baie Fine, North Channel, Lake Huron (90 Watt Solar Panel)
"The custom bracket you made worked out great"
August 11, 2011 by Christian B of Cobalt Blue - Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Hi Tom, find some pictures attached. The custom bracket you made worked out great and the installation went smoothly. Unfortunately I have not been able to perform a meaningful long cruise that really stress test the installation with a lot of appliances running. I am still mainly working on the boat to get here ready for bigger plans and just take her our once or twice a week for day cruise. I have two battery banks with about 1200 ah capacity which are always topped off since I installed the solar panel. I intend to go cruising for one or two week in September and expect to use the radar and the electric autopilot and overnight anchor light which should give me a better idea how much engine running in need to complement the solar panel. Overall, the panel system has been serving me very well.
Hi Tom, find some pictures attached. The custom bracket you made worked out great and the installation went smoothly. Unfortunately I have not been able to perform a meaningful long cruise that really stress test the installation with a lot of appliances running. I am still mainly working on the boat to get here ready for bigger plans and just take her our once or twice a week for day cruise. I have two battery banks with about 1200 ah capacity which are always topped off since I installed the solar panel. I intend to go cruising for one or two week in September and expect to use the radar and the electric autopilot and overnight anchor light which should give me a better idea how much engine running in need to complement the solar panel. Overall, the panel system has been serving me very well.
 CMP 90 Solar Panel |
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"I am very pleased with the panel and mast."
July 5, 2011 by Mark C - Hollywood, Florida
Hi Tom, here are a few picts. I am very pleased with the panel and mast. The installation went smoothly. Thank you for sending the bolts to replace the ones that jumped into the water.
I finally found a quick-disconnect system that I liked (heavy duty, heavy guage, etc). I purchased the Marinco male and female 120 v plug ends. I waterproofed all the internal hardware of the plugs with liquid electrician's tape and will wrap this in a Sunbrella/velcro system that I need to make. The system connects and disconnects EASY. I have a feeling that this feature will be important when it comes time to taking the panel down in heavy weather.
As you can see I felt that it was more seaworthy/ esthetic to run the cable through the mast itself as opposed to wire-tying it to the outside. This has worked great since I put a loop of cable at the base to allow for mast rotation.
Regarding your blog: I believe that this only applies if one has a "smart alternator" right? I have a "dumb" 80A one so I don't think I need to shut down the panel while the auxiliary power is on. Is this correct?
Thanks Tom for a great product,
Mark C
Hi Tom, here are a few picts. I am very pleased with the panel and mast. The installation went smoothly. Thank you for sending the bolts to replace the ones that jumped into the water.
I finally found a quick-disconnect system that I liked (heavy duty, heavy guage, etc). I purchased the Marinco male and female 120 v plug ends. I waterproofed all the internal hardware of the plugs with liquid electrician's tape and will wrap this in a Sunbrella/velcro system that I need to make. The system connects and disconnects EASY. I have a feeling that this feature will be important when it comes time to taking the panel down in heavy weather.
As you can see I felt that it was more seaworthy/ esthetic to run the cable through the mast itself as opposed to wire-tying it to the outside. This has worked great since I put a loop of cable at the base to allow for mast rotation.
Regarding your blog: I believe that this only applies if one has a "smart alternator" right? I have a "dumb" 80A one so I don't think I need to shut down the panel while the auxiliary power is on. Is this correct?
Thanks Tom for a great product,
Mark C
Mark,
Thanks for the pictures. Nice installation. I think wires inside the pole may become an option for us to offer as that is a request we are often getting. I like your installation. MC4 connectors do give you the ability to quickly disconnect the solar panel.
Regarding the conflict between your controller and your alternator - Two thoughts:
1. You will know if you have a conflict between your controller and alternator if your tach starts jumping around. This would indicate a conflict due to pulse width modulation (PWM) of the alternator and controller.
2. If you see the alternator is not charging the battery bank, it may be due to artificially high voltage from your wind and solar your alternator regulator is seeing and thus putting it in float mode.
Tom
Thanks for the pictures. Nice installation. I think wires inside the pole may become an option for us to offer as that is a request we are often getting. I like your installation. MC4 connectors do give you the ability to quickly disconnect the solar panel.
Regarding the conflict between your controller and your alternator - Two thoughts:
1. You will know if you have a conflict between your controller and alternator if your tach starts jumping around. This would indicate a conflict due to pulse width modulation (PWM) of the alternator and controller.
2. If you see the alternator is not charging the battery bank, it may be due to artificially high voltage from your wind and solar your alternator regulator is seeing and thus putting it in float mode.
Tom
|  My Quick Disconnect Idea (Could have used MC4 connectors)  Controller for both the Wind Generator and the Solar Panel |
"I am a well satisfied customer."
June 19, 2011 by Bruce of Okaga - Ontario
Hi Tom. We went out on the anchor for a day this weekend, and I played with the solar panel most of the day. Every good sailor is a "type A" and needs to be fiddling, adjusting, resetting something and I am no exception. Anyway as to results, much better than expected. We left the dock fully charged, of course, with the panel connected and producing, under a clear sky. I can adjust the pole setting from the helm as needed according to boat angle. We ran fridge, lights etc over night while on the anchor. The day on the anchor was a bright, full sun day in which I regularly adjusted tilt and angle for max output. The panel charged at 20.2V; I clocked between 5.5- 5.9 A most of the day. By 15:00 hours, the batteries were fully charged and the amps had dropped to 1.5A. I am a well satisfied customer and I took the attached photos for you.
I do have a question. After leaving the dock, I noticed that my engine Tach was bouncing around, non responsive. ( I spoke to another boater with a large panel and an electricity background who had the same issue when his batteries were fully charged and the panel operating). This effect disappeared on the return sail, when the panel and engine were actively charging. Odd, ehy?
Hi Tom. We went out on the anchor for a day this weekend, and I played with the solar panel most of the day. Every good sailor is a "type A" and needs to be fiddling, adjusting, resetting something and I am no exception. Anyway as to results, much better than expected. We left the dock fully charged, of course, with the panel connected and producing, under a clear sky. I can adjust the pole setting from the helm as needed according to boat angle. We ran fridge, lights etc over night while on the anchor. The day on the anchor was a bright, full sun day in which I regularly adjusted tilt and angle for max output. The panel charged at 20.2V; I clocked between 5.5- 5.9 A most of the day. By 15:00 hours, the batteries were fully charged and the amps had dropped to 1.5A. I am a well satisfied customer and I took the attached photos for you.
I do have a question. After leaving the dock, I noticed that my engine Tach was bouncing around, non responsive. ( I spoke to another boater with a large panel and an electricity background who had the same issue when his batteries were fully charged and the panel operating). This effect disappeared on the return sail, when the panel and engine were actively charging. Odd, ehy?
Bruce,
I recently had a similar experience on my boat and did some research. Most high output alternators and many controllers charge batteries using a technology called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). The Tach uses PWM to determine the alternator (and thus the engine) RPM. The two PWM sources may, at times, create an interference. Thus the sporadic readings on the Tach. The solution to this is disconnect the solar panel when the alternator is running so the controller doesn't function. This can be easily done by putting a switch in the positive wire leading from the solar panel to the controller. Alternatively, you could put in relay on this wire and wire it so the relay is open when the engine is running and closed when it is not.
Another reason to put a switch in is this. The smart regulator reads the battery charge condition and sets the output of the alternator accordingly. If the solar panel is producing power, the regulator will see the net of the battery charge and the panel output and thus prematurely put the alternator in float mode.
Tom
I recently had a similar experience on my boat and did some research. Most high output alternators and many controllers charge batteries using a technology called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). The Tach uses PWM to determine the alternator (and thus the engine) RPM. The two PWM sources may, at times, create an interference. Thus the sporadic readings on the Tach. The solution to this is disconnect the solar panel when the alternator is running so the controller doesn't function. This can be easily done by putting a switch in the positive wire leading from the solar panel to the controller. Alternatively, you could put in relay on this wire and wire it so the relay is open when the engine is running and closed when it is not.
Another reason to put a switch in is this. The smart regulator reads the battery charge condition and sets the output of the alternator accordingly. If the solar panel is producing power, the regulator will see the net of the battery charge and the panel output and thus prematurely put the alternator in float mode.
Tom
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An Awesome System!
Two 85 Watt Panels on Poles
June 25, 2010 by Ian of BriCat - Bahamas
We cruise in the Bahamas and have always had power issues - we used to have a fairly useless Airex wind genny that never gave us enough power - so we finally decided on solar. Having done lots of research online we came to the conclusion that the best, most efficient and yet simple way to go was with Custom Marine Product's design! It was easy to set up and we flipped the switch on and got an instant 11amps! With just 2 or 3 adjustments a day, we're able to run our power thirsty fridge, our inverter and all the electronics without having to worry about power. It has transformed our lives! Other cruisers in the bay are always stopping by to admire the system, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when we can have them tilted all the way down for maximum power input. The system is outstanding value and we recommend it to everyone we meet on the water! Thanks Tom
We cruise in the Bahamas and have always had power issues - we used to have a fairly useless Airex wind genny that never gave us enough power - so we finally decided on solar. Having done lots of research online we came to the conclusion that the best, most efficient and yet simple way to go was with Custom Marine Product's design! It was easy to set up and we flipped the switch on and got an instant 11amps! With just 2 or 3 adjustments a day, we're able to run our power thirsty fridge, our inverter and all the electronics without having to worry about power. It has transformed our lives! Other cruisers in the bay are always stopping by to admire the system, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when we can have them tilted all the way down for maximum power input. The system is outstanding value and we recommend it to everyone we meet on the water! Thanks Tom
85 Watt Solar Panel Works for Us
July 24, 2010 by Gene of SunCat - Lake Huron
I purchased the top-of-pole solar panel mount several months ago and am very pleased with it. I am using a Kyocera KC85TS 85watt panel and a controller I purchased from foster-wills.com as suggested by Custom Marine Products. This has almost eliminated my need to run the engine to charge the batteries when we are at anchor for several days at a time. The panel is easy to tilt and rotate for optimum sun angle. I also purchased the outboard motor crane. What a great concept; two functions from one pole. Nice job CMP!
I purchased the top-of-pole solar panel mount several months ago and am very pleased with it. I am using a Kyocera KC85TS 85watt panel and a controller I purchased from foster-wills.com as suggested by Custom Marine Products. This has almost eliminated my need to run the engine to charge the batteries when we are at anchor for several days at a time. The panel is easy to tilt and rotate for optimum sun angle. I also purchased the outboard motor crane. What a great concept; two functions from one pole. Nice job CMP!
Great Custom Installation
Two 75 Watt Solar Panels on a Frame
August 3, 2010 by Erich of Enchantress - Lake Huron
I purchased two 75 watt solar panels from a factory outlet and couldn't figure out how to mount them. I asked Custom Marine Products for advice and they custom designed and built a mounting system that is perfect for my needs. It is above the bimini out of the way and enables me to tilt the panels for proper sun angle. Now I don't have to run the engine to charge my batteries.
I purchased two 75 watt solar panels from a factory outlet and couldn't figure out how to mount them. I asked Custom Marine Products for advice and they custom designed and built a mounting system that is perfect for my needs. It is above the bimini out of the way and enables me to tilt the panels for proper sun angle. Now I don't have to run the engine to charge my batteries.
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