By Mitch Rice
Canada has the world’s highest number of lake areas, including around 31,752 small, medium, and large lakes. Besides lakes, the rivers and coastal areas also add to the beauty of Canada. Owing to that, Canadians are seen to take trips on lakes, rivers, and coastal areas actively, and these trips are often accompanied by solar-powered boats.
Solar boats allow Canadians to use solar panels to harness solar energy and get the needed electricity for all ship operations and basic electronics. This article will explore in detail the usefulness of solar-powered boats and how a solar-powered generator can make boat travelling even more convenient and joyful.
Different Amusement in a Solar-Powered Boat Trip
A solar-powered boat trip in Canada is not just a typical boat trip; it’s a complete package of relaxation, entertainment, and convenience. The solar panels on the sides of your boat provide an eco-friendly supply of electricity to have all the fun activities you want to do and make this trip with your friends and family worth remembering.
Some of the amusements you can enjoy in the boat supported by solar panels are as follows:
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Singing and Dancing at Onboard Parties
Is there a boat trip that can truly be complete without the accompaniment of music as you dance and sing your heart out with friends and family? Solar-powered boats make onboard parties a lot of fun by powering the complete sound system through the power harnessed from the sun. Without the concern of a power outage, you and your guests can set the boat music mode the way you like and create the most memorable and joyful boat trip.
- Onboard BBQ
Solar power generator boats empower owners to have onboard BBQs using electric grills. The sunlight harnessed by solar panels provides the consistent power you need to run electric grills and cook delicious meals for the guests.
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Onboard Cinema
With a comfortable setting, evening time, and pleasant weather, onboard cinema in a boat provides a movie night experience like never before. Everything from the movie projector, laptop, and sound system is powered through the solar system, ensuring an uninterrupted and excellent cinematic experience.
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Onboard Water Activities
A boat trip without water activities isn’t complete. Compared to typical boats, a solar boat can come equipped with inflatable water slides and small water fountains. This allows guests to have more entertainment for hours while the food is being cooked through electric grills.
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Soak in a Solar-Powered Hot Tub
Another relaxation activity a solar boat offers is a soak in a solar-powered hot tub. You can enjoy a warm bath with a stunning view of nature and the gentle touch of a pleasant wind.
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Dinner and Enjoy the Night Scene Onboard
Boat trips are not just fun in the daytime. Under the stars, you can have a romantic dinner and light up the boat with different lights for a pleasant night scene. Solar-powered boats are equipped with batteries that get charged with solar panels during the day. When it’s nighttime, you can easily power your boat appliances with battery power.
How Does Solar Panel Provide Electricity to Facilitate Boat Activities
All the amusement activities discussed above provide endless fun in solar-powered boats. It is important to know about the working principle of solar panels and ”how does solar energy generates power to maximize its benefits?”.
In a solar-powered boat, five main components drive the whole solar system of the boat, as follows:
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Solar Panels
Solar panels are the heart of the solar boat. They are photovoltaic cell panels that absorb sunlight and convert it into DC electricity. They are placed strategically on the sides or other corners of the boat to maximize sunlight exposure. The number of solar panels reflects the amount of electricity it can generate.
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Charge Controller
The electricity generated by solar panels is required to be controlled and regulated to avoid damage to the battery. This is what the charge controller has to offer.
As the name implies, a charge controller regulates the voltage and current from the panels and ensures that the battery receives consistent power from the solar panels. Think of it as an intermediary between the solar panels and the battery. It helps prevent overcharging and protects from power fluctuations during cloudy weather. Besides that, most charge controllers use MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) to accelerate solar charging.
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Battery
Solar panels are the source of generating electricity, but they need a reliable storage solution to deliver a consistent power supply to the loads. This is what the battery is about.
A battery provides the storage to store the DC electricity generated by the solar panels. It gets charged during the day when solar panels harness solar energy. The energy stored in the marine battery is then used to power all the necessary boat appliances. Besides that, the battery is very resourceful to power the boat at night or during cloudy days.
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Inverter
Another core component of a solar-powered boat is the inverter. The basic job of an inverter is to convert the DC electricity to AC electricity.
When solar panels generate electricity, it is in DC. The same DC electricity gets stored in the battery. However, many boat appliances, such as the electric grill, sound system, projector, etc., need an AC power supply. An inverter helps to convert DC power into AC and supplies the required electricity to appliances.
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Power Outlets
The last main component of a solar boat is the power outlet. Power outlets are placed across the boat strategically to power appliances. Some power outlets are connected to the inverter to provide an AC supply, while others are connected directly to the battery to provide a DC supply.
All the above five main components complete a solar system in a solar-powered boat. This way, solar panels convert solar energy into electricity, which gets stored and distributed to loads through the combination of battery, inverter, and power outlets.
There are now even solar power generators that include the battery, inverter, and power outlets in a single, compact structure for easy handling and usage. The next section talks in detail about solar power generators.
Solar Power Generators – The Best Companion for Onboard Activities in Solar-Powered Boats
A solar power generator is a complete solar system that includes solar panels and a portable power station. The portable power station includes the battery, inverter, and input/output ports.
Solar power generators are portable in nature, meaning that you can run any solar-powered boat with solar generators. All you have to do is pick the best solar power generator that delivers top-notch performance regardless of usage. This is where Jackery solar generators come into action.
Jackery offers a wide range of solar power generators(Canada) with feature-rich functionalities. Below is a quick glimpse of two of its state-of-the-art solar power generators for onboard activities in boats:
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Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is a 2200W output power and 2160Wh battery capacity solar power generator that can power almost all solar boat appliances, including sound systems, electric grills, projectors, laptops, etc.
The best thing about Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is its fast solar and AC charging. Its massive 2160Wh battery just requires 2 hours to fully charge through an AC wall outlet and 5.5 hours with 6x SolarSaga 100W solar panels.
The key features of Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro include:
- Power Output: 2200W (4400W surge) output.
- Battery: 2160Wh capacity.
- Charging Modes: 3 charging modes, including AC wall outlet, solar panels, and DC port.
- Charging Time: Fully charge in 2 hours with AC wall outlet and 5.5 hours with solar panels.
- Output Ports: 8 output ports, including 3x AC (2200W, 4400Wsurge), 1x DC (12V, 10A), 2x USB-A (18W), and 2x USB-C (100W).
- Safety: Intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) with 12 layers of protection from overcharging, overloading, overheating, short circuit, etc.
- Solar Panel Efficiency: High solar conversion efficiency of 24.3%, including waterproof and dustproof capabilities.
- Lifespan: 10+ years of lifespan on weekly use.
- Operating Temperature: Solar panels: 14-149°F (-10-65°C); power station: 14-104°F (-10-40°C)
- Portability: 43 lbs lightweight design with proper handle for easy transportation.
- Warranty: 3+2 years of warranty.
All the above features of Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro are what boat owners need to host the best boat trips with friends and family. They can charge the solar generator using an AC wall outlet before taking it to the boat or use its solar panels to charge the battery on the go. Afterward, its different output ports make it convenient to charge/power various boat appliances simultaneously.
In short, Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is an all-in-one power generator to fulfill the power needs of almost all boat activities.
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Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is another feature-rich solar power generator for solar boats. It features 2000W output power and 1264Wh battery capacity. However, it can expand the battery capacity to up to 5kWh with three add-on battery packs. This makes it capable of powering boat equipment for extended periods.
Even if you use Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus without battery packs, you can still get decent power and capacity to power all the major appliances. Moreover, it is even chargeable in just 2 hours with 4x SolarSaga 200W solar panels and 1.7 hours with AC wall charging. This way, it can charge and power appliances without any interruptions.
The key features of Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus include:
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- Power Output: 2000W (4000W surge) output.
- Expandable Battery: 1264-2000Wh expandable capacity with add-on battery packs.
- Charging Modes: 3 charging modes, including AC wall outlet, solar panels, and DC port.
- Charging Time: Fully charge in 2 hours with solar panels and 1.7 hours with AC wall charging.
- Output Ports: 8 output ports, including 3x AC (2000W, 4000Wsurge), 1x DC (12V, 10A), 2x USB-A (18W), and 2x USB-C (100W).
- Industry-leading Sustainability: First one to get verified by TÜV SÜD, reflecting its industry-leading sustainability.
- Long-lasting Reliability: LiFePO4 battery cells with 10+ years of lifespan.
- Safety: Intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) to protect from overcharging, overloading, overheating, short circuit, etc. It also showcases shock-resistant and fire-retardant capabilities.
- Solar Panel Efficiency: High solar conversion efficiency of 24.3%, including waterproof and dustproof capabilities.
- Smartphone App: Dedicated smartphone app for monitoring and controlling via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- Operating Temperature: Solar panels: 14-149°F (-10-65°C); power station: 14-113°F (-10-45°C)
- Portability: 32 lbs lightweight design with proper handle for easy transportation.
- Warranty: 3+2 years of warranty.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus distinguishes itself with its expandable battery capacity and high power rating, making it able to power electric grills, coffee machines, projectors, and all essential boat appliances.
Suppose your boat trip is going to last for 2-3 days, and you may get less sunlight exposure to charge the battery. In that case, the expandable capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus makes it a perfect companion in this journey.
In short, Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus should be your pick if you have plenty of appliances to power for an extended period. Just use its multiple ports and fast-charging capabilities to have an uninterrupted and continuous eco-friendly power supply.
Conclusion
Solar-powered boat trip with friends and family means a delightful experience, a chance to have fun, and spend quality time missed out during the daily hassle. As mentioned throughout the article, solar panels are the key to running all essential appliances and making the trip memorable. Harnessing solar energy by strategically placed solar panels and a proper solar power generator system to store and supply power guarantees an unforgettable trip.
The best way to utilize the full potential of solar-powered boats is to use a powerful and feature-rich solar power generator. This is what Jackery promises. Jackery is Canada’s leading supplier of solar power generators, featuring high capacity, multiple input and output ports, fast charging, portable, and safe solar power generators. So, check out Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro and 1000 Plus, and other solar generators of Jackery and find the best generator for your boat.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
