[C320-list] Solar panels and shading

[Warren Updike]

Thanks for filling in the missing info. I wasn't sure how the installation is to be accomplished; but, it seems the solar panel is intended to attach to the sea hood, pg 58, after the wires are accessed and pulled up through the sea hood. 

I've only removed the sea hood twice: once to clean out the space (very dirty), and recently to clean and seal the joint with silicone. I got tired of dealing with rain water running into the cockpit from the deck. Maybe later models Catalina was sealing the sea hood; but, they didn't on mine. Cockpit much drier now. Should have done this years later. To answer your question, yes, if your panel is sealed, I would remove old sealant and reseal. 

Yes, the wires are hanging in the battery compartment, stbd side, overhead about where the poop-pump goes overboard. Whether panel access would be preferred might depend on how your batteries are wired-in, and whether you are using a charge controller or not. Other than On/off, my batteries are not switched, so I would probably connect a solar panel directly to the house bank. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian [mailto:ccaper at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018 7:05 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Solar panels and shading

"I assume is the sea cover. I did find the imbedded wires where they exit
in the battery locker under the settee. In my manual, there are several
diagrams re. installing a solar panel on/in place of the sea hood. To
access the wiring channel, there are dimensions shown on the diagram of
where to drill to find the wires. You drill down into the channel a
distance back from the fwd edge; but, I couldn't read the numbers. Also,
"earlier" models the channel is port side, later models on stbd side. As
ours is #62, not sure what is meant by "older models.""

Warren, now you have me really piqued as I'm contemplating panels right
now.  I wasn't aware about possible wiring under the seahood.  My manual is
on my boat, which is in a boat yard, but some good diagrams of this on
pages 56, 57, 58 at
https://www.c320.org/filemgmt_data/files/Hull645Manual.pdf

I think the number you couldn't read on one of the diagrams on where to
drill is 14" just aft of the fore side of the seacover cavity once you have
the cover removed, right in the middle of the of the channel which is 1" to
the side of the top lip of the seahood cavity..

Curious, does removal of the seacover require any rebedding when
reinstalled?

Warren, I assume when you say you found the solar wires in in the battery
locker under the settee, this was on the starboard side, correct?  It
appears the "older" models port side solar wiring is led to the DC panel
battery selector switch, which would be optimal.

Thanks,
Christian Caperton
1994 C320 "Canuck" #138
Monroe Harbor, Chicago, IL