Why are we driving around in the bed of a truck in Mexico? Our solar panel broke.
January 21, 2026 · 14 min · 217 views · La Paz
Crew installs solar panel on sailboat Hiraya at anchor.
What this video covers
A failed 200-watt solar panel on a Tartan Marine 34 C forces a solar array rebuild at anchor in La Paz, Baja California.9:11 The panel, only three years old, had been troublesome for four to five days before the crew confirmed it was dead, cutting the boat's 500-watt array to 300 watts — a 40% capacity loss that made running onboard internet difficult.8:47 The crew located a solar store a few blocks from the anchorage, bought a replacement panel, and rode in the bed of the store's pickup truck to ferry the oversized panel back to the dinghy.6:22 Because the new panel's dimensions differed from the existing ones, the entire bimini-mounted array had to be reconfigured: all four panels came off, the frame was redesigned, and the layout was rotated to accommodate the larger panel.8:47 Sourcing mounting hardware in La Paz proved slow — stores often lacked needed parts.10:42 After a couple of days of work, the rebuilt array totaled 620 watts.13:54 The episode also covers sailing off the anchor at Bonanza Bay on Isla Espíritu Santo and a 21-mile passage into La Paz, where the crew attempted to check in with the Capitán de Puerto without success.2:09
Boats in this video
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