Solar panel assemblies for marine vessels

A solar panel assembly configured for selectively provided shade for a marine vessel, the solar panel assembly comprising:

• a first frame configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel;
• and
• a second frame configured to be moveably coupled to the marine vessel to be moveable relative to the first frame into a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the first frame and the second frame each have upright poles that extend upwardly away from the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position;
• a flexible solar panel having a surface that extends between a first end and a second end and is configured to generate electricity;
• and
• a drum rotatably coupled to the first frame, wherein the drum is supported vertically above the marine vessel by upright poles of the first frame, wherein the first end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the drum, and wherein the second end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the first frame such that the flexible solar panel unrolls from the drum when moving the second frame towards the deployed position and rolls onto the drum when moving the second frame towards the stowed position, whereby unrolling the flexible solar panel provides shade for the marine vessel.

A solar panel assembly for a marine vessel, the solar panel assembly comprising:

• a first frame configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel;
• a second frame configured to be pivotally coupled to the first frame to be moveable into a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the first frame and the second frame each have upright poles that extend upwardly away from the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position, and wherein the second frame is farther from the first frame in the deployed position than in the stowed position;
• a drum rotatably coupled to the first frame, wherein the drum is supported vertically above the marine vessel by the upright poles of the first frame;
• and
• a flexible solar panel having a surface that extends between a first end and a second end and is configured to generate electricity, wherein the first end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the drum so as to rotate therewith, wherein the second end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the first frame, and wherein the drum is rotationally biased relative to the first frame such that pivoting the second frame towards the first frame causes the flexible solar panel to be automatically rolled onto the drum and pivoting the second frame away from the first frame opposes the rotational bias and causes the flexible solar panel to automatically unroll from the drum;
• and
• a conductor that extends through the first frame and/or the second frame for electrically coupling the flexible solar panel to the marine vessel, wherein when the second frame is in the stowed position most of the surface of the solar panel is inoperable to generate electricity, and wherein when the second frame is in the deployed position most of the surface of the solar panel to be exposed and operable to generate the electricity.