Top-of-pole Marine Solar Panel Mounting System - Solar Tracker
Our top-of-pole solar panel mounting system offers the best alternative for achieving maximum performance from your solar panel. The closer the panel is to being perpendicular to the rays of the sun the higher the performance. This is accomplished by both tilting and rotating the panel for solar tracking. We use this system on our sailboats and have found it to be very popular. It gets solar up and out of the way of rigging and deck space, plus the added bonus of often not being partially shaded and adding considerably more solar power in the morning and evening as you can tilt the panel near vertical to absorb optimal power, we estimate as much as 30% more power daily.
A solar panel should be easy to adjust without the use of tools.
. The panel mount design provides 13 tilt positions. Simply pull a pin, tilt the panel and replace the pin.
. The pole mounting system enables the panel to be rotated 360 degrees and locked into position.
Installation is easy and requires only basic tools.
. Simply attach the pole sleeves to the stern cockpit rail(s) and slide in the pole.
. The pole rests on our unique ball and socket base. All pole components are stainless steel.
. The panel tilt mechanism is easily assembled and attached to the solar panel using standard fasteners. All panel mounting components are anodized aluminum.
A solar panel should be easy to adjust without the use of tools.
. The panel mount design provides 13 tilt positions. Simply pull a pin, tilt the panel and replace the pin.
. The pole mounting system enables the panel to be rotated 360 degrees and locked into position.
Installation is easy and requires only basic tools.
. Simply attach the pole sleeves to the stern cockpit rail(s) and slide in the pole.
. The pole rests on our unique ball and socket base. All pole components are stainless steel.
. The panel tilt mechanism is easily assembled and attached to the solar panel using standard fasteners. All panel mounting components are anodized aluminum.
175 Watt Marine Solar Panel Kit - SunPower CellsThis complete kit will provide you with everything needed to install and operate the 175 watt solar panel.
Kit Includes:
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We offer ready-to-assemble kits for commercially available solar panels and for our CMP high performance marine solar panels. We also offer a complete kit that includes everything you need to install solar on your boat; solar panel, mounting kit, charge controller and wire. Our adjustable pole mounted solar tracking systems are easily customized to accommodate most solar panels and most boat stern rail configurations. Contact us for a quote to customize a system to your specific requirements or purchase a kit and do it yourself. A note about our high performance solar panels: Our experience indicates that adjusting a 140 watt panel 3-4 times a day will achieve power generation of up to 65+ amp-hours on a clear day. A 180 watt panel can produce 85+ amp-hours on a sunny day. Approximately 30% more than a panel generates when mounted statically. |
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Getting started (Call to discuss, 248-705-8337):
Our experienced staff will help guide you through this process. Call or email us.
- Determine your power requirements and select the solar panel that best meets your needs. (See our Blog and our Power Consumption Worksheet for ideas on how to accomplish this.)
- Select the panel mounting kit for your solar panel.
- Select the pole system that best fits your boat.
- Select a solar panel controller.
- Electrical Components to obtain your appropriate wire.
- Assemble and install your system.
Our experienced staff will help guide you through this process. Call or email us.
Top-of-pole Marine Solar Panel Mounting Kits

Top-of-pole mount assembly for 90+ watt solar panels
Our anodized aluminum solar panel mounting systems are modular and can be easily customized to fit most solar panels. All of our pole mounting systems include our unique 13 point tilt mechanism which inserts directly into the top of the pole. Assembly and installation is easy and requires only basic tools. See our Product Manual section for more details.
Top-of-pole mounting systems can be purchased as a standard kit for specific panels or custom fabricated in our shop to fit your specific solar panel. We offer two pole mounting kits to effectively accommodate both large and small solar panels. Each kit includes all the materials needed to mount your solar panel.
Top-of-pole mounting systems can be purchased as a standard kit for specific panels or custom fabricated in our shop to fit your specific solar panel. We offer two pole mounting kits to effectively accommodate both large and small solar panels. Each kit includes all the materials needed to mount your solar panel.
The top-of-pole solar panel mount is designed to set atop our 1.5 inch OD stainless steel rotating pole. The standard pole height is 66 inches. A custom pole height can be specified at the time of order.
The pole is attached to the stern rail(s) using our brackets. No drilling or machining is required. Brackets clamp onto the stern rail and attach to adjustable sleeves that hold the pole and allow it to rotate. The sleeves can be set to any of three distances from the stern rail for proper alignment. The center to center pole to stern rail distances are 1 1/4" (pole sleeve against the stern rail), 2" and 3". Custom extension links are available for greater distances. We offer several pole base designs to accommodate various boat configurations. Our ball and socket design is standard and our most popular. |
Purchase our complete top-of-pole mounting system and save.
![]() Each kit includes the following:
1 Solar panel tilt mechanism assembly 2 Beams to attach the tilt mechanism to the solar panel 1 Set of fasteners 1 Solar panel pole - 66 inches high, 1.50 inches in diameter (stainless steel) 2 Stern rail mounting brackets and pole sleeves (stainless steel, for 7/8", 1" or 1 1/4" rails). Specify at time of order. 1 Pole base deck mount ball and socket pole base. Assembly instructions |
CMP10100 Panel Mount and Pole - StandardThis panel mounting kit is designed for a solar panel under 27 inches wide including the CMPower 140 watt panel.
The kit includes a 66 inch long 1.5 inch OD stainless steel pole, all pole mounting hardware, the panel tilt mechanism and all panel mounting hardware. |
CMP10200 Panel Mount and Pole - Heavy DutyThis panel mounting kit is designed for a panel under 36 inches wide including the CMPower 175 watt panel.
The kit includes a 66 inch long 1.5 inch OD stainless steel pole, all pole mounting hardware, the heavy duty panel tilt mechanism and all panel mounting hardware. |
The Tilt Solar Panel Mounting Kit and the Pole Mounting Kit can be purchased separately.
For those who already have a pole mounted on their boat, the top-of-pole mounting kit can be purchased separately. Also, the pole and pole mounting hardware can be purchased separately.
CM10110 - Tilt Mount Assembly - StandardSolar panel mounting kit for CMPower 140 watt solar panels and panels under 27 inches wide.
Kit includes:
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CMP10210 Tilt Mount Assembly - Heavy DutySolar panel tilt mounting kit for the CMPower 180 watt solar panels and panels under 36 inches wide.
Includes:
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CMP10300 Pole Mounting KitThe pole mounting kit includes the following:
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Solar Panel and Lift Crane Pole Mounting System
Optional Lifting Crane - No Longer Available

Lifting Crane
Our optional lifting crane can be attached to the pole. It is ideal for moving an outboard motor from your dinghy to the boat stern rail. Since the pole rotates and is well secured to the stern rail, this is a logical option to add to your solar panel mounting system. The crane arm will support up to 150 pounds of weight (depending on the strength of your stern rails) and can be folded against the pole when not in use (see picture at top of page). It can be used to bring on board an overboard crewman.
The lifting crane kit includes the following:
1 Crane arm assembly - 18 inches in length
1 4:1 block and tackle
1 50 feet of line
The lifting crane kit includes the following:
1 Crane arm assembly - 18 inches in length
1 4:1 block and tackle
1 50 feet of line
Mounting Hardware - Split Side Mounts

Split side mount hardware can make mounting your solar panel above your bimini easy.
Split style mounts can be mounted anywhere on a frame — in the middle of a corner bend or even in the roof section. This creates a greater range of applications, including the use of split side mounts for installing solar panels on dodger and bimini tops.
In addition to mounting solar panels, the Split Side Mounts can be used for many applications including fixed grab rails, folding grab rails on dodgers and tensioning bars on biminis and dodgers.
For more information and to purchase go to geminicanvas.com.
Split style mounts can be mounted anywhere on a frame — in the middle of a corner bend or even in the roof section. This creates a greater range of applications, including the use of split side mounts for installing solar panels on dodger and bimini tops.
In addition to mounting solar panels, the Split Side Mounts can be used for many applications including fixed grab rails, folding grab rails on dodgers and tensioning bars on biminis and dodgers.
For more information and to purchase go to geminicanvas.com.