Solar panels can cut your energy bills by £465 per year, which is refreshing with how the current cost-of-living crisis affects them.

Here’s our step-by-step guide to installing solar panels on your narrowboat to help you save money and do your bit for the environment whilst cruising on the waterways.

 

The benefits of narrowboat solar panels 

So, why should you fit solar panels to your narrowboat? Besides saving you a heap of cash on your energy bill, there are some surprising benefits you may not be aware of, such as:

  • a reduced carbon footprint
  • you won’t need to rely on running your engine or generator to charge batteries, which cuts excess noise and saves you time and fuel
  • your batteries will charge when you’re not on the boat, so you’ll never be without power
  • high power electricals won’t put as much strain on your batteries

If you use a lot of electricity onboard, you can kiss goodbye to the battery anxiety many narrowboaters face. Solar panels give you much more freedom than relying on your engine or generator.

Related: Complete guide to narrowboat fuel consumption

 

The best types of solar panels for narrowboats 

The two main types of solar panels for narrowboats are:

  • adjustable solar panels mounted on the deck (example)
  • flexible panels that fit the shape of the narrowboat (example)

The first option is inexpensive and the most common, while the latter is an alternative for those who want something a little more bespoke that stays out of the way of mooring lines and other obstacles.

Aside from the solar panels, you must choose a solar charge controller to regulate the current before it reaches your battery. This ensures the battery isn’t overcharged.

If you’re choosing between a PWM or an MPPT solar charge controller, we suggest choosing an MPPT.

They work much better in low light conditions and produce more energy when the sun isn’t shining—particularly useful with the UK’s changeable weather.  

Most people opt for a narrowboat solar panel kit, as this is usually the cheapest and easiest way to install a system yourself. They typically contain everything you need to get started, including:

  • solar panel(s)
  • connectors
  • extension cables
  • mounting system
  • waterproof cable covers
  • adhesive (for attaching the panels to the roof)

A range of options are available online to suit all budgets, wattage requirements, and the roof space you have available. Here are some examples to give you an idea of how these kits can vary:

Related: How to fit out a narrowboat (DIY)

 

What size solar panel should you buy?

Here are the most common wattage options:

  • 100 watts—suitable for trickle-charging your batteries
  • 200 watts—popular with most boaters, provides significant extra power
  • above 400 watts—ideal for those living off-grid

You’ll want to install panels with wattage in the 200-400 range to see a significant difference, especially if you have many mod-cons onboard.

That’s not to say you need to stop there, however. There are many boats on the waterways with more than one panel to boost efficiency—you can install multiple panels to get the most out of your investment.

If you upgrade your narrowboat solar panel system, ensure they use the same monocrystalline technology for the best efficiency.

Depending on your budget and the space available, you might find it useful to buy a dual or triple-panel kit.

Related: Narrowboat bedroom ideas (design & layout tips)

 

 

Fitting a solar panel to your narrowboat (step-by-step)

Step 1: Clean the roof 

You don’t want to attach your new solar panels to a dirty roof.

Give it a thorough clean with warm soapy water and allow it to dry before you begin. Once dry, you might also want to use a solvent cleaner to remove any remaining dirt or grease.

 

Step 2: Establish the entry points  

Deciding where to install your narrowboat solar panels is one thing, but double-checking the logistics is another.

While it may be aesthetically pleasing to have them on a particular area of the roof, it may not make sense when it comes to connecting them up with the internal solar charge panel or your battery.

It’s a good idea to unbox your kit and test exactly where everything will go, especially if installing multiple panels.

Place the panel(s) on the roof, and mark where you want them to go with a pen before the next step.

 

Step 3: Attach the solar panel to your narrowboat 

Once you’re happy with the circuit and the external location of the solar panel(s), you can mount them to the narrowboat using adhesive.

This is supplied with most kits; otherwise, this product is ideal.

If you’re installing an adjustable solar panel, you’ll likely be gluing down the mounting system, whereas flexible panels can be fixed directly to the roof.

 

Step 4: Drill through the entry points in the roof and thread the cable through

This is often the most nerve-wracking part of the job, but you shouldn’t have an issue if you take your time and ensure you drill the right spot.

If you can, ask someone else to step inside the boat and ensure everything is properly aligned while you’re drilling.

During this step, it would also be helpful to have them hold up a piece of timber to the ceiling to prevent damage to the cabin’s interior.

You should drill two adjacent holes large enough for the cable supplied in your kit—one for the cable running from your solar panel to the boat’s interior and one to complete the circuit from the battery back to the solar panel.

Once the scary part is over, thread the cable running from the solar panel to the narrowboat’s interior so it’s ready to be connected to the solar charge panel.

 

Step 5: Install the solar charge controller 

You shouldn’t skip this step, as the solar charge controller regulates the current so the battery isn’t overcharged.

That said, it’s a bit of an eyesore, so you may want to install it inside a cupboard so it’s out of sight.

Remember to ensure it’s close to the cable entry point you established in Step 4, but don’t connect anything up just yet—you’ll cut the singular cable to create two in a moment.

 

Step 6: Cut your cable, and route it to your narrowboat’s battery 

Carefully cut the cable from the solar panel, so it has enough slack to connect to the solar charge controller.

The new longer section will run from the solar charge panel to the narrowboat’s battery, completing the circuit. It would help if you routed it neatly, preferably inside trunking, to keep it tucked out of the way. 

 

Step 7: Install an inline fuse, and connect the solar panel to your narrowboat’s battery

If your narrowboat solar panel kit didn’t come with a fuse, you might want to purchase one to ensure your circuit is safe.

You might find this battery connection harness with a fuse holder useful, as it makes connecting the panel to your battery simple if you haven’t done this before.

Once the fuse is installed and the cable is properly routed, you can prepare to connect the cable to your battery.

You’ll need to bare the ends of the cable, expose the separate wires, and attach them to the battery, ensuring the polarity is correct on either side. But don’t connect it yet—you’re just lining things up at this stage before making the circuit live.

 

Step 8: Connect the narrowboat’s battery to the controller 

Finally, the end is in sight—you can complete the circuit and finish fitting the solar panel to your narrowboat.

Before connecting the terminals to the battery, go back inside and connect the cable from the battery to the solar charge controller. Then, connect everything up and place the battery back in place. 

 

Step 9: Connect the solar panel to the solar charge controller 

You can now thread the second cable running from the solar charge controller to the solar panel through from the interior to the roof.

Head outside and use a screwdriver to wire the cable from the solar panel to the controller.

The controller should now have power and be fully functional. This means your narrowboat solar panel is installed! 

 

Specialist narrowboat insurance from Insure4Boats

Since you’re investing so much in your floating home, you may want to protect it through specialist narrowboat insurance.

At Insure4Boats, we arrange cover that protects your boat against theft, accidental damage, malicious damage, and salvage charges.

Each policy comes with £3m Third Party Liability cover as standard, so you’re protected if someone makes a claim against you for damage or injury to their boat following an incident on the waterways.

Find out more about how we can help, or click the button below to get an instant online quote. 

 

 

Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.