Premium Marine Solar Panels, Complete Solar Systems, and Lithium Iron Batteries
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Call/text:  ​248-705-8337
Email: [email protected]

We specialize in getting the sun's energy into your batteries.

Premium Marine Solar Panels and Full Solar Systems

Improve your cruising experience with the highest efficiency solar panels available. 
"Your customer service has been phenomenal by the way" - B. Nash   More Reviews
Reviews
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Custom Marine Products Logo, solar on a boat
*** CMP News and Events ***
Happy to help design your marine solar system, call 773-965-2546, email [email protected], chat or go here for in depth solar education
Are you new to solar? Watch our video covering all the basics of marine solar systems go here for solar system design worksheet and info and Call any time with questions 773-965-2546 or email [email protected]
​​FAQ
​Solar Panel Prices and Stats

​Products usually ship day after payment domestically. And yes we do ship internationally.
CMPower Logo
​10% off Lithium Iron batteries with solar system purchase
Flexible marine solar panel
155 Watt Shade Tolerant Flexible Bimini Solar Panels
Walk on solar panel mounted on sailboat
185 Watt Semi Rigid Walkable Solar Panels 25.4% Sunpower Cells
Rigid marine solar panel on boat
250 Watt Rigid Marine Sunpower Solar Panels

Getting the Sun's Energy into Your Batteries

​Collecting the sun’s energy

Years ago, we started out using off-the-shelf solar panels but soon found they are not up to the job of getting the maximum amount of the sun’s energy into storage batteries.  The marine and van environment demands on solar equipment require special features and capabilities.
What is unique about the marine environment:
  1. Significant shading from masts, equipment and boat structures.
  2. Tough environment with high winds, vibration and bending stresses.
  3. Excessive heat in the tropics and intense UV rays.
  4. Limited space for collecting the sun’s energy so high efficiency is essential.
  5. Unique shapes and sizes are necessary to fit panels in tight spaces.
  6. Need to walk on and put gear on the panels.
Our team continues to innovate and develop solar collectors to meet the unique needs of the marine and van environment.  More than just common solar panels, our solar collection units are designed to address each of the issues listed above and provide the maximum reliable power possible.
​Our solar energy collection units.

Getting the energy into the storage batteries

Batteries have various profiles for accepting charging power.  Solar controllers are devices designed to pull the maximum electrical energy from the solar collectors (panels) and feed it to the storage batteries in an efficient manner that will keep them healthy.  At CMP, we offer the best solar controllers on the market and have even designed a controller that will charge both the house bank and the starting bank.
Our solar controllers.

The storage batteries

An essential component of the solar system is a healthy and capable power storage system.  At CMP we have developed a generation of high power density storage batteries using LiFePO4 technology to store solar energy efficiently and address the unique demands of the marine and van environment.
Our LiFePO4 batteries.

Putting it all together
​

We freely share our expertise in getting the sun’s energy into your batteries. We help our customers determine their system requirements, design their solar system and guide them through installation.
Articles to assist you.

Contact us anytime to discuss you solar and power storage objectives.  We can help.  That's what we do!
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Simple Solar Collection System
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CMP Marine Solar Collectors
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Solar Controller to Charge Battery Bank
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LiFePO4 Marine Battery Bank
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Putting it All Together with CMP
Sailboat with rigid marine solar panel mounted with top of pole solar mounting systemEricson 38 with a Pole Mounted 175 Watt Solar Panel
Questions call 773-965-2546

​Recreational cruising sailboats and powerboats (and commercial) - Having plenty of electric power on board while cruising can make the difference between a fantastic experience and a marginal one.  We know; we are cruising sailors.

​If you are considering solar power for your sailboat or powerboat (or camper van) and want to learn more about the technology, check out our overview presentation titled Selecting the Proper Solar System for Your Boat  or our Cruiser's Guide to Selecting and Sizing a Solar Charging System under our Handy Info -> Manuals & Info section. Worksheets and tools to help size your system are also found here: Solar System Design & Installation

Marine solar panels are an excellent source of electrical power for your cruising sailboat or power boat (or camper van or houseboat or off-grid home).  We at Custom Marine Products have developed numerous approaches to installing marine solar systems easily and cost effectively.  Here is our full line of solar panels.

Our solar panels are custom made to our stringent specifications by leading and highly acclaimed PV solar panel manufacturers both in the USA and overseas.  The solar cells in our panels are of the highest quality and highest power output (per square inch) available and include SunPower Maxeon A+ Grade Gen III (24.4-25.4% efficiency, USA), PERC and HJT cells.  You will see on our solar panel page that our flexible solar panels have comparable performance to our line of walkable and rigid solar panels.  This is because we use the same high performance SunPower 24.4-25.4+% efficient solar cells in all of our solar panels. We use the highest efficiency cells commercially available because space on boats is at a premium, our panels deliver maximum power per square foot. We've also added a second line of panels with the same construction quality but with HJT technology cells, which are a bit less efficient (24.1%) and less expensive as the manufacturing of the panel is automated. HJT panels are excellent panels for houseboats that don't have the same space constraints as smaller recreational boats

Commercial Boats and Ships - Solar power is an excellent way to reduce costs on commercial vessels by significantly reducing the load on the onboard power generator. We have designed solar systems to supplement power to the onboard appliances.  These systems often include a marine grade solar array, control electronics and highly efficient LiFePo4 battery banks. Contact us for assistance in designing, supplying and implementing a marine solar system on your ship.

Complete Marine Solar System Kits -
Figuring out the size of solar panel(s) you need and matching it up with the various accessories required for a complete high performance solar system can be a daunting task.  That is why our engineers have developed easy to install complete solar system kits that contain everything you need for your solar system including: marine solar panels, mounting systems, solar wire, and solar charge controllers.  You will find the kits specific to flexible, walkable and rigid glass panels within each panel page.  We also supply high performance lithium marine batteries  and the full line of Victron products to round out your system. We understand most solar systems on boats are unique. We are always more than happy to help you work through your thoughts and design ideas and walk you through the process however you'd like, on the phone 773-965-2546, chat in the lower right corner, or email [email protected]. Work through as much as you can on your own (lots of support here and a boat solar power calculator tool here) and then give us a call to double check what you've put together will meet your goals, then we can put together a quote for you with a solar system specifically matched to your sailboat / trawler / tugboat / powerboat / yacht / pontoon / houseboat / van / RV / fishing boat / commercial fishing boat / off grid system.
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We offer top-of-pole solar panel mounting systems with an optional integrated  outboard motor lift crane that are cost effective, easy to install and robust enough for challenging weather conditions. We also offer mounting systems for flexible bimini and dodger mounted solar panels that can be mounted on a canvas bimini, dodger, curved hard top, houseboat roof, or van (or RV) roof rack.

Need help with your solar system installation?  Call us or go to our support page listing qualified solar system installation specialists around the country that have installed our solar systems on many boats.

​The walkable solar panels are becoming increasingly popular as van solar panels and van solar systems, call any time (773 965 2546) for help if you're a van owner, the design and systems are all the same as for boats. The walkable (semi rigid) panels are especially popular as they maximize roof rack space, you can have your solar and store your gear and sit/stand on top, no compromise needs to be made to accommodate as much solar as you'd like.

Ordering is easy.  Purchase directly from the store or email us or call 773-965-2546 with your requirements and we are happy to work directly with you to design a custom solar system specific to your needs.

We are quite open to exchanging a solar system on your boat for charter time, just give us a call to discuss and we can work it out.

We are always researching and designing the best products and technology.

flexible marine solar panel meant for canvas bimini mounting on sailboats
Showing Shade Tolerant Flexible Solar Panels in four quadrants vs two
SunPower Maxeon Cell - Shade Tolerant Series     ***** NEW *****

Solar panel shading is a major issue on many boats.  Shading can reduce a standard panel performance by over 60%.  Custom Marine Products has developed a series of semi-flexible shade tolerant solar panels that have superior performance when partially shaded by boat equipment or nearby objects.  These solar panels have high performance SunPower Maxeon cells.  The diagram to the left illustrates how these amazing panels work. The junction box is mounted in the center or the edge of the panel enabling the panel to have four quadrants of solar cells linked in series and isolated with diodes.  If one or two quadrants are shaded, the other quadrants perform at normal output.  The result is a panel that will provide up to three times the output of a standard panel when shaded.  These shade tolerant panels are ideal for bimini and dodger mounting where there is boom, mast and instrument pole shading.  Patent pending
Flexible marine solar panel meant for canvas sailboat bimini mounting
145 Watt Shade Tolerant Flexible Solar Panel
flexible marine solar panel meant for sailboat canvas bimini mounting
115 Watt Flexible Shade Tolerant Solar Panel
Learn more about the shade tolerant solar panel series

Walk on marine solar panel for boats and vansSemi-rigid Walkable Solar Panel
*** NEW ***  Custom Marine Products has released a new series of marine solar panels.  With a strong aluminum backing and very thick ETFE laminate non-skid surface, these panels can be walked on without fear of damaging the solar cells and can conform to a slightly curved surface (~5 degrees).  There is no glass and no aluminum frame so these panels are considerably lighter than our rigid panels but heavier and stiffer than our flexible panel series. These panels are ideal for mounting on a slightly curved rigid boat or camper van roof rack or on our top-of-pole mounting system for lighter weight than a rigid panel.   We use premium SunPower Gen III solar cells with an efficiency rating of up to 25.4%, the highest efficiency available anywhere.

Walkable Solar panel for boat decks and van roofs and camper van roof racks
Semi-rigid Walk On panels are 1/4" thick.
Learn More about semi-rigid walk -on solar panels

Picture190 W PERC Marine Solar Panel
*** NEW ***   Custom Marine Products has released a new 190 watt PERC cell rigid monocrystalline solar panel to replace the aging 135 and 145 watt Kyocera solar panels.  The Kyocera panels were very popular 10-15 years ago until Kyocera stopped making them.  The CMPower 190 watt PERC panel is the same size as the older Kyocera panel so it is an easy drop-in replacement.  A narrower 160 watt panel is also available.
*** NEW *** In addition we now offer 24% efficient 420 watt rigid solar panels with HJT cells.

learn more about the 190 watt replacement solar panel

Victron solar controller for boatsVictron Solar Controller
*** NEW ***  Custom Marine Products now sells and supports Victron's entire line of electrical equipment including MPPT solar controllers.  The Smart Solar series supports Bluetooth monitoring of the complete solar system via Smartphone or tablet.  These high performance controllers  integrate with the entire Victron product line including inverters, chargers, batteries and battery monitors. We will help you design a complete integrated Victron based electrical system for your boat, van or RV.

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Learn More About Victron smartsolar controllers

Lithium Iron Phosphate (lifepo4) marine battery by custom marine products for marine and solar useCMPower LiFePO4 Battery with Bluetooth Battery Monitor
*** NEW *** CMPower LiFePO4 Lithium high power density deep cycle marine batteries compatible with most lead acid battery chargers are a powerful drop in replacement for lead acid and AGM batteries. 
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Our next generation CMPower LiFePO4 High Power Density (HPD) series LiFePO4 batteries are designed for the rigorous and unique power demands of the marine environment.  High Power Density means more useable amp hours in a smaller space with less weight.  For example, compare our Group 31 size HPD 31 pound battery that offers 150 Ah of usable power to a premium Group 31size 65 pound AGM battery that offers about 60 Ah of usable power.  Learn about these next generation batteries on our website in our Batteries section.  We are excited to make these unique and powerful batteries available to our customers and we are offering them at a discounted price to get more out there on the water.  Learn about LiFePO4 lithium marine batteries with our narrated slide video and see how they performed during testing on our Blog.

Learn More About Our LiFePO4 LITHIUM Marine Batteries

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Flexible Solar Panel Mounting Solutions from Potomac Sailmakers
We are working with Potomac Sailmakers to develop innovative solutions for mounting our semi-flexible solar panels on canvas biminis and dodgers.

The many advantages of the Potomac Sailmakers system include: is lightweight, supports flexible solar panels across bows, provides cooling which increases efficiency and panel life longevity, quickly removable, secure in heavy wind and sea conditions, no Leaks, no screw hole penetration through canvas, makes handling and stowage safe (solar affixed to backer as “one” unit), modular and it provides chafe protection.
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CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POTOMAC SAILMAKERS TWINWALL MOUNTING System

Seminars Given To Boat Cruising Club

Marine Solar Seminar

Solar panel online Seminar given to sailboat club about marine solar panels and solar systems
Comprehensive Marine Solar Seminar

Marine Lithium Battery Seminar

presentation given online to sailing club about lithium batteries used for boats
Marine Lithium Battery Seminar

Click here for slides used in the video below

Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show - Seminar by Tom Trimmer
Selecting the Proper Solar System for Your Boat

Introductions to the basics of marine solar - system components. One below has better sound.

Our engineers will work with you to design a solar system specific to your needs including Lithium Batteries if you like. (Batteries are 10% off w/ solar system purchase)

Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can assist you with your marine solar equipment needs.

We work with a number of boat manufacturers to supply and design their solar systems.


The store is here.

Email us or call any time:
   [email protected]
248 705-8337
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Sample electrical system diagram for a boat / van / RV

Visit our Gallery of Installations, our Testimonials/Customer Comments and our Blog to learn how fellow mariners have implemented solar systems on their sailboats, trawlers, vans and powerboats and how they've mounted their boat's solar panels.  Use our Power Consumption Worksheet or our Solar Sizing Tool to determine what size solar panel(s) is appropriate to your needs.

​ If you are considering solar power for your boat, Custom Marine Products can help you assemble a system specific to your needs.
Gift cards available here.
Efficiently Powering Your Vessel/Van. Call/email/chat any time, we're happy to help you work through designing your solar system.
Home Page  Solar Panels  Mounting Kits   Product Page  Marine Solar Systems   Gallery of Installations    Customer Comments    Contact Us
Call 248 705-8337 or email [email protected]
Article On How To Size Your Solar Panels For Your Boat
Customer Reviews   ​Return Policy  Privacy Policy Shipping Times/Rates
  • Home
  • Marine Solar Panels
    • All Marine Solar Panels
    • Flexible Marine Solar Panels >
      • Flexible Panel Specifications
      • Flexible Panel Bimini Solar System Kits
      • Flexible Solar Panel Mounting Kits
    • Semi-Rigid Walk On Marine Solar Panels >
      • Semi-Rigid Panel Specifications
      • Semi-rigid Solar System Kits
      • Semi-rigid Panel Mounting System
    • Rigid Marine Solar Panels >
      • Rigid Panel Specifications
      • Rigid Solar System Kits
      • Mounting System - Top Of Pole
    • Van Solar Panels
    • Stern Rail Mounted Solar Panels
    • Discounted Solar Panels
    • Portable Solar Panels
    • Shop Our Store
  • Products
    • Marine Solar Panels
    • Lithium Batteries >
      • LiFePO4 Lithium Batteries
      • Portable Power Stations
    • Solar Controllers >
      • Victron MPPT Controllers
      • EP Solar Controllers >
        • DuoRacer Dual Output Series
        • Xtra-N Series
        • MPPT Tracer Series
        • PWM Duo Dual Output Controller
    • Accessories >
      • Wire & MC4 Connectors
      • Outboard Motor Lifting Crane >
        • Lift Crane Features and Specs
      • Solar Water Heating System For Boats
    • Victron Products >
      • Victron MPPT Controllers
      • Victron Electrical Components
      • Inverters
      • Victron Batteries
    • Shop Our Store
  • Reviews
    • Reviews
    • Gallery of Installations
  • Handy Info
    • Learn About Solar
    • System Design
    • Solar System Installation Pointers
    • Manuals & Information
  • Support
    • FAQ
    • Troubleshooting
    • Contact Us
    • Solar System Installers
    • Battery Exchange Plus
    • Handy Products We Don't Carry
    • Freight Forwarders for International Shipping
    • About us
    • Call (248)453-2433
    • Return Policy
    • Shipping Rates
  • Blog