Solar Power & Installation by Mike Beemer/Mike Resse

Cruiser College offers this popular course taught by local experts helping you to understand the benefits of solar power aboard your boat.

We all love our creature comforts, and nothing transforms a boat from a ‘weekend camper’ to an extended ‘comfy cruiser’ quite like having plenty of power. . Did you know that a solar array can pay for itself in as little as three years compared to charging with an internal combustion engine? And, your batteries will love you for it!  We have lots of new technologies and options for boaters – come spend a few hours with us learning about sun power!

A sample of topics covered:

• Designing a solar array for any boat
• Series vs Parallel installations
• How to control your solar energy
• Comparison of solar panels, costs, and batteries
• Installation requirements and options

After this 3 hours course, you will understand how to install, or upgrade a solar installation and the many options available to the modern boaters. Let’s keep the batteries charged!

Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.

Michael Beemer is the department chair for Skagit Valley College’s marine maintenance and repair program. Michael has been presenting and teaching professionally for almost 20 years and holds a master’s degree in education. At the college he teaches all the systems courses, including ABYC certifications. He and his wife have cruised extensively from Anacortes to southeast Alaska for many years on their motor-sailer. In the cruising community, Michael is well known as “The Boat Doctor” who can diagnose and fix almost anything on a vessel. Some of the many topics he has done include: diesel engines, electrical systems, solar, new battery technologies, extended inside passage cruising, and more.