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News & updates
At Sun Powered Yachts we're here to help you go solar. Throughout our website we have useful information and this is where we add our news updates. It might be a topic we delve deeper into helping to answer some of those FAQs we touch on, we'll provide updates on solar panel options, what the team are up to and what boatshows we'll be at.
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Let us know if there are any topics ​you would like us to take a deeper dive into: info@sunpoweredyachts.com
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Case Study: Catalina 445 - 3x410W
After starting to sell the SunPower fixed frame solar panels earlier in 2020 we are now starting to receive more and more install photos...
Katie Burgess
Jan 19, 20212 min read
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Check out ABYC membership
Did you know over 90% of boats on the water are built to ABYC Standards? Sun Powered Yachts is proud to be an ABYC Member, ABYC is the...
Katie Burgess
Jan 15, 20211 min read
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Federal Tax Credit | 2 more years at 26%
Good news for the New Year! As part of a much larger Federal Spending Bill ($1.4 trillion) the renewable energy tax credits have been...
Lyall Burgess
Jan 6, 20211 min read
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Gift cards available!
At Sun Powered Yachts we're now happy to start offering Gift Cards that are redeemable in our store or towards an invoice with us. Why...
Lyall Burgess
Dec 18, 20201 min read
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Watts are Watts but not all Amps are the same!
I'll be honest I've been sailing on boats since 2004 and have lived off grid for 8+ years in Hawaii but it wasn't until a few years ago...
Lyall Burgess
Dec 11, 20203 min read
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What's a solar generator?
You may see the phrase 'solar generator' online as more and more brands come onto the market. They can also be called portable power...
Lyall Burgess
Dec 9, 20202 min read
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What's a wiring sketch?
As part of our solar consultation to help answer your questions about going solar and putting together a complete system we will email...
Katie Burgess
Nov 6, 20204 min read
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26% Federal Tax Credit reduced after 2020
The bar chart above is a good visual of what's happening to the Federal Tax Credit for going solar on your boat - yes, your boat! ...
Lyall Burgess
Nov 4, 20201 min read
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Can I make a flex/fixed hybrid panel?
We have had a few customers that have combined the advantages of the SunPower flexible solar panels (lower price, lightweight) to create...
Katie Burgess
Nov 2, 20201 min read
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Latitude 38 magazine - 'World of Chartering'
Check out November's issue of Latitude 38 magazine and on p.82 you'll find Katie's article about "Sailing Turkey's Turquoise Coast". Our...
Lyall Burgess
Oct 31, 20201 min read
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How should I disconnect my solar panels?
We often get asked the question how should I disconnect my solar panels. I would say for the majority of installs once the panels are up...
Lyall Burgess
Oct 27, 20202 min read
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SunPower flexible solar panel "bundles"
We often found that we were getting asked which MPPT controller would work for 2 panels and so we have put together a range of 'bundles'...
Katie Burgess
Oct 26, 20201 min read
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Bird B Gone!
Wowsers! We had an email from one of our customers Dave showing some before and after photos of an issue they were dealing with that was...
Lyall Burgess
Oct 22, 20201 min read
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Dufour Grand Large 382 or 412? Is it worth the extra cost?
When we were researching buying our Dufour 382 four years ago, there were little to no blogs or articles from owners on the features of...
Katie Burgess
Oct 22, 20204 min read
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What is EL testing?
Electroluminescence (EL) Testing for solar modules Electroluminescence (EL) imaging is used by SunPower to test every one of their...
Katie Burgess
Oct 19, 20201 min read
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Find us in Hawaii Boats & Yachts Magazine
We're super excited to start advertising with Hawaii Boats & Yachts magazine and help more boaters in Hawaii go solar with SunPower. The...
Katie Burgess
Oct 18, 20201 min read
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We're sailing in ARC 2021!
We have just this week signed up to take part in ARC 2021 and are super excited about it. We will be sailing aboard 'Blake', our Dufour...
Lyall Burgess
Sep 26, 20202 min read
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What is the Victron Community?
The Victron Community is an online, searchable knowledge base of questions and answers regarding Victron Energy products. It's a place...
Lyall Burgess
Sep 23, 20201 min read
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What does solar ready mean on my RV?
We often receive emails from owners saying that their RV or camper is "solar ready" or "wired for solar" asking if they can just hook up...
Lyall Burgess
Sep 9, 20203 min read
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Case study: Pedal powered or solar powered?
We wanted to share with you a case study for a customer with a pretty unique marine application! East Coast BrewBoat is a super fun,...
Lyall Burgess
Aug 13, 20203 min read
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'Out The Gate' Podcast with Katie Burgess | Episode: 10
It's been a little while now since Katie sat down with Ben Shaw and was interviewed for his Out The Gate Podcast episode 10 (he's now at...
Lyall Burgess
Aug 10, 20201 min read
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Sailing Turkey's 'Turquoise' Coast
I will start this off by admitting that this charter was one of the most challenging to book. I essentially booked three completely...
Katie Burgess
Aug 6, 20207 min read
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Jeanneau SO 389 Yacht Review
We had the pleasure of sailing a 2019 Jeanneau 389, our version was a fixed keel with three cabins, in Turkey for three weeks. I wanted...
Katie Burgess
Jul 28, 20203 min read
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What do all the flashing lights mean on my controller?!
The SmartSolar range of Victron Energy MPPT charge controllers all have a number of LEDs on the front, the smaller controllers have 2...
Lyall Burgess
Jun 6, 20202 min read
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