Walkable semi-rigid marine solar panels — supplied and installed by LIME.
SunPower A+ Grade Maxeon cells. 24.4% efficiency. Four millimeters thin. Flat on the deck — and you can walk right over them. LIME supplies and installs these panels on boats across Nassau County and Suffolk County.
These aren't flexible stick-on panels that delaminate in two seasons. They're not aluminum-framed panels that stick up three inches and snag your lines. Semi-rigid panels give you the efficiency of a rigid panel in a low-profile, walkable form that fits boats other panels don't.
Panel Construction
Why semi-rigid outperforms rigid and flexible panels on boats.
Rigid aluminum-framed panels were designed for rooftops. Flexible stick-on panels were designed for RVs. Semi-rigid panels were designed for boats — low profile, walkable, and built to handle a marine environment for years.
Aluminum-framed panels stand 1.5–2 inches off the deck, snag sheets and lines, and add windage. At just 4mm thick, these panels sit nearly flush with the surface. Nothing to trip on, nothing to catch a line on.
Flexible solar panels bond directly to deck surfaces and are prone to delamination, heat buildup, and cell cracking when walked on. Semi-rigid panels have a polycarbonate backing that holds its shape, allows airflow underneath, and handles foot traffic without damage.
SunPower A+ Grade Maxeon cells deliver 18–20 watts per square foot. Standard polycrystalline panels run 11–14 W/ft². On a boat where every mounting inch is limited, that difference means more power from a smaller footprint — critical on Long Island boats where hardtop space is at a premium.
Shade Tolerant Technology
Three times the output of a standard panel when you're in partial shade.
Available on the 100W and 325W models — the biggest issue on sailboats and any powerboat with a T-top, arch, or hard bimini. Patent-pending 4-quadrant isolation keeps unshaded sections at full power.
Each shade-tolerant panel divides into four electrically isolated quadrants via a central or edge-mounted junction box. When a boom, mast, instrument pole, or bimini frame shades one section, the other three continue producing at full output. Traditional panels lose power across the entire panel string when any part is shaded.
If your panel mounting area ever sees shadow from a boom, arch, or windscreen frame, shade-tolerant panels pay for themselves quickly. Custom Marine Products' shade-tolerant models deliver up to 3× the output of a standard panel under the same partial-shade conditions. Available in the 100W and 325W models.
Panel Lineup
Five panels. 100W to 325W. Supplied and installed by LIME.
All panels use SunPower A+ Grade Maxeon cells. All include J-Mount brackets for deck or hardtop mounting. LIME supplies the panels — you don't source them separately.
16.5″ × 48″ · 6.8 lbs
24.4% efficiency · 37.2V Voc · 46Ah/day at 6 hrs sun. Patent-pending 4-quadrant shade tolerance. Ideal for: trickle charging, starting batteries, tight cockpits on center consoles and runabouts across Nassau County and Suffolk County.
20.8″ × 42.1″ · 8.6 lbs
25.4% efficiency · 25.1V Voc · 55Ah/day at 6 hrs sun. Nearly square shape fits hardtops and side decks well. Ideal for: running lights, VHF radio, phone charging, and keeping AGM batteries topped between marina visits.
27.6″ × 35.6″ · 9.7 lbs
24.4% efficiency · 27.8V Voc · 58Ah/day at 6 hrs sun. Compact footprint, easy to place on most hardtops. Ideal for: weekend cruisers running a small fridge, navigation instruments, and cabin lighting on Long Island overnight trips.
26.4″ × 48″ · 12.3 lbs
24.4% efficiency · 37.6V Voc · 76Ah/day at 6 hrs sun · 18.8 W/ft². The most popular size for mid-size cruisers. Ideal for: extended cruising with fridge, navigation, and lighting loads — pairs well with a 100–200Ah LiTime lithium bank on Nassau County or Suffolk County boats.
34.3″ × 55.5″ · 17.9 lbs
24.4% efficiency · 55.6V Voc · 120Ah/day at 6 hrs sun · 19.7 W/ft². Maximum output with shade protection. Ideal for: offshore, extended anchoring, full electronics loads, watermakers, and inverter use. One panel covers most cruising boats' complete daily draw.
Ready to talk? Or keep reading below.
Sizing Guide
Which panel fits your boat?
We do an electrical audit before recommending anything — what loads you run, how long you're off shore power, what your battery bank is. Here's a quick guide by use case.
The 100W or 120W keeps the starting battery topped and runs lights and VHF on a day trip. Simple hardtop or gunnel mount, quick wiring run to the helm panel. Low cost, minimal install time — a half-day job for most boats.
The 165W handles fridge, navigation, lighting, and phone charging on a typical Long Island Sound day. Pair with a 100Ah LiTime LiFePO4 battery and you can run two to three days without shore power or running the engine to charge.
The 325W shade-tolerant panel — or two 165W panels — covers full electronics loads including watermakers and inverters. LIME designs the complete system: panels, Victron MPPT controller, LiTime lithium bank, and monitoring display.
The Installation
What LIME handles — site visit to final test.
We evaluate your boat for the best panel placement — hardtop, side deck, or bimini frame. We check shading sources, measure available surface area, audit your existing electrical system, and calculate daily amp-hour draw to size the right panel or combination.
J-Mount brackets are included with every panel. We mount to fiberglass, aluminum, or teak using marine-grade stainless hardware. All cable runs are concealed in conduit or existing cable trays. Tinned marine wire, properly fused, labeled, and neat throughout.
Every install is load-tested before we leave. We confirm correct panel voltage and current, verify the charge profile matches your battery chemistry, and walk you through the monitoring display. Written service report included. Call 516-448-6221 to schedule.
Customer Reviews
Five-star reviews from Long Island boat owners.
Had LIME install two 165W semi-rigid panels on my hardtop with a Victron MPPT. Three weeks into summer and I've run the engine maybe twice just to charge. Batteries are always full when I arrive at the boat. Clean install, no complaints.
Sailboat with a main and dodger — shading was always a problem with regular panels. The 325W shade-tolerant from LIME changed everything. Even with the boom crossing the panel I'm still getting strong output. Exactly what they promised.
Wanted something I could step on when I go up to clear the anchor. These panels are solid — you'd never know you were walking on a solar panel. LIME handled the whole thing in one day. Clean work, great result.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I actually walk on these panels?
Yes. The polycarbonate backing and reinforced construction are designed for pedestrian traffic. These panels lay flat on a deck that crew walks on regularly. That's the point of the semi-rigid design — no raised aluminum frame to trip on, and you can step directly on the panel surface without damaging the cells.
How are these different from flexible solar panels?
Flexible panels bond directly to a surface and delaminate over time, trap heat underneath, and crack when walked on. Semi-rigid panels sit on J-Mount brackets that allow airflow, stay cooler, hold their shape for years, and handle foot traffic. Better long-term performance and much easier to replace if needed.
What does shade tolerant actually mean?
Traditional panels drop output across the entire panel string when any section is shaded. Shade-tolerant panels divide each panel into four electrically isolated zones via a patent-pending junction box. If a boom or mast shadow covers one zone, the other three keep producing at full output — up to 3× the power of a standard panel under the same partial-shade conditions. Available on the 100W and 325W models.
How are semi-rigid panels mounted?
J-Mount brackets are included with every panel. LIME mounts the brackets to your hardtop, deck, or bimini frame using marine-grade stainless hardware bedded in appropriate sealant. The panel sits on the brackets with a slight angle for self-draining and airflow underneath. No drilling through the panel itself — brackets grip the panel edges.
How much does installation cost?
LIME charges $140/hr portal-to-portal with a 4-hour minimum. A single-panel hardtop install with a charge controller typically runs 3–5 hours. A full system with a lithium bank and Victron monitoring can take a full day. We provide a written estimate before starting. See our pricing page for rates.
Which panel size is right for my boat?
We do a brief electrical audit before recommending any panel — what loads you run, how long you're away from shore power, and what your battery bank can store. For most Nassau County and Suffolk County powerboats, the 165W handles typical cruising loads. For sailboats or extended use, the 325W shade-tolerant is usually the better choice. Call 516-448-6221 and we'll size it quickly.
Do you install complete marine solar systems too?
Yes — semi-rigid panels are one part of a complete install. LIME designs and installs full systems including SunPower Maxeon panels, Victron and Mastervolt MPPT charge controllers, Xantrex inverter/chargers, LiTime lithium battery banks, and Victron BMV monitoring. See our marine solar installation page for the complete system overview.
Get Started
Ready to add walkable solar to your boat?
NMEA certified. ABYC electrical standards. Serving Nassau County and Suffolk County marinas. When you call LIME, you're calling the person doing the work.
Portal-to-portal billing · $140/hr · 4-hour minimum · Written estimate before we start