B00B00 310 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Anyone got a recommendation for a tube bending company or got any bending gear themselves and able to do some bending for me? More than happy to pay. I want to make an arch for some solar panels on the back of the boat. 2 frames made with a 6m length each frame, 90 degree bends 1.6m from each end leaving a 2.8m top section between the bends. Will have 2 x 150w pannels around 10kg each. I have some 6m lengths of 25mm 1.2mm wall thickness stainless. Hopefully that's strong enough? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla II 392 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 9 hours ago, B00B00 said: Anyone got a recommendation for a tube bending company or got any bending gear themselves and able to do some bending for me? More than happy to pay. I want to make an arch for some solar panels on the back of the boat. 2 frames made with a 6m length each frame, 90 degree bends 1.6m from each end leaving a 2.8m top section between the bends. Will have 2 x 150w pannels around 10kg each. I have some 6m lengths of 25mm 1.2mm wall thickness stainless. Hopefully that's strong enough? Give Sam a call 027 447 5017. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 632 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 I had a mate who had an engineering company making SS work for the dairy industry. Hes retired so cant help but maybe thats the one of place to look for non marine premiums? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 959 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 https://www.autobend.co.nz/tubular-products.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 12 hours ago, B00B00 said: I have some 6m lengths of 25mm 1.2mm wall thickness stainless. Hopefully that's strong enough? Booboo, you should be using 40-50mm tube, 25 will flex too much Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B00B00 310 Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 Thanks for all the info guys. Yeah I did think that tube might not be up to it but I already had the tube kicking around home so might just give it a go if the bending is not too expensive. I was going to make the bends less than 90 degrees so the top was actually forced into a slight bend to help stabilise it a bit. If it doesn't work I can make a proper MKII version. It needs to be light enough that I can remove it easily for racing. It's just s summer cruise temporary setup. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 959 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 built as a two-hoop cross-braced frame it should be fine. As a single hoop frame its a Len Lye sculpture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B00B00 310 Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 I was planning on a 2 hoop setup like a Bimini top with the aft frame attaching to the main frame just above the pushpit and a fore and aft brace. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,586 Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 I wrestled with this and finally went for thin flexible panels on top of the canvas Bimini. The cost of the extra framing negated the extra cost of the panels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
1paulg 17 Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 51 minutes ago, Black Panther said: I wrestled with this and finally went for thin flexible panels on top of the canvas Bimini. The cost of the extra framing negated the extra cost of the panels. The economics change when you consider that the flexible panels arent nearly as efficient and will most likely need to be replaced within 5 years Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,586 Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 I got more watts per square metre and no noticeable drop in performance at 3 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marshy 30 Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 If you remind me tomorrow Booboo i might have a frame already bent up that could work. The old Bimini top off the flybridge of the launch when we converted to hard top might be close to your measurements. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DoT 31 Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 How are you planning to connect it at the base? For my 1020 I made a 3-panel arch that matches the curve of the cabin top - which is where it lives most of the time. The three panels are connected in parallel, so at least one panel is producing well even with some shading from the boom. The curve is intended to also work as an arch behind the back stay, supported on posts from the pushpit. But I haven't got around to building the supports yet. Downsides so far: sharp corners on the panels; less standing room on the cabin top; doesn't provide summer shade Must get around to finishing the project.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smithy 1 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I made this out of 25mm tube, it flexes a little but strong enough to winch a small outboard up. I would be reluctant to go much bigger without increasing the tube size. The pipe bender I used needed a 2m piece of scaffold to get enough purchase to bend the tube. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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