Hey Charlie,

Looks like a nice, robust system - but get that setup in anything much above 30 knots or so, where the windage on a panel of such size will become significant, that would make me extremely nervous...

I'm a big believer in the value of fully articulating panels, they can greatly increase your output, especially in places like the Bahamas in wintertime, where the sun doesn't spend much time each day high in the sky. But I think a single point mounting that allows full articulation only works for a smaller panel like my 35 watt panels pictured below, you really start to get into significant constructions to handle larger panels that must remain in place permanently...

I'm also much in favor of smaller arrays like mine that can be stowed below when not in use, many of the large arrays I see out there today have got to be a real detriment to a boat's sailing performance... But stowing and re-rigging solar panels is probably more trouble than most people want to bother with, of course (grin)... And, my modest energy demands make that easy for me to say, there are few good options that satisfy the larger energy demands that most cruisers have today...

And, like Brian, I think a towed water generator is great, I'm really surprised more cruisers don't use them... I've never found mine to be particularly difficult to retrieve, but then again, I don't move at the sort of speed Brian's boat does... (grin) I consider my water generator that converts to a wind generator at anchor to be one of the best pieces of gear I have aboard - again, another unit that can be completely stowed away when not in use...

Glad to hear you're heading south - good luck, and best regards,

Jon