Solbian has a wide lead for flexible solar panels designed for marine use. Sungold Solar is also recommended for marine-grade modules with walkable designs and custom manufacturing.
Yes. I found several manufacturers that are specifically relevant to flexible/semi-flexible solar panels for boats, yachts, and other marine applications.
My strongest candidates
Solbian — Italy
Probably the first manufacturer I would contact for a serious marine/OEM project.
Specializes in lightweight flexible PV and has extensive marine experience dating back to competitive sailing.
Offers custom shapes, dimensions, voltages, wiring layouts, and mounting solutions, which is particularly useful if you're developing a boat-specific product.
Their SP and SR series are designed for demanding marine environments; the SR series is described as waterproof and salt-water resistant.
Several prominent manufacturers and brands specialize in flexible (semi-flexible) solar panels engineered to withstand harsh marine environments, saltwater exposure, and curved boat decks.
Here are the top options to consider:
If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:
How much wattage/power you are trying to generate
Where on the boat you plan to mount them (e.g., coachroof, Bimini, deck with foot traffic)
Whether you need a complete kit including a charge controller
I can help you select the best specific model for your setup.
I need to source flexible solar panels for boats. Who are the manufacturers?
A very marine-focused manufacturer; they have been developing and producing solar modules and charge controllers specifically for use at sea since 1987.
Their products include ultra-slim, walkable marine panels, foldable Bimini panels, and OEM panels for offshore applications.
They use a fluoropolymer surface rather than glass, specifically to withstand marine conditions.
Particularly interesting if you need custom-shaped panels made around the geometry of a boat rather than standard rectangular panels.
They manufacture custom PV modules for sailboats, catamarans, motorboats, RIBs and tenders, with the panels designed around the available deck area.
If you're looking for an actual manufacturing partner
I'd narrow the initial RFQ list to:
Manufacturer
Best fit
Solbian
Premium marine / custom OEM
SunWare
Established marine specialist / offshore
Sungold
OEM/ODM + volume manufacturing
GAF Solar
Custom marine panels + private label
Fly Solartech
European semi-flexible marine panels
MR WATT
Highly customized boat-specific shapes
For a new marine product, I'd pay particular attention to ETFE/fluoropolymer construction, salt-mist testing, waterproofing/encapsulation, UV resistance, maximum bending radius, walkability, partial-shading performance, and the method of attaching the panel to the boat. Those characteristics matter considerably more at sea than simply choosing the panel with the highest wattage.
There are also some off-the-shelf marine products if you're looking to evaluate samples—for example, Solbian flexible panels are currently sold in sizes such as 112–145 W, while Custom Marine Products offers flexible marine panels using high-efficiency cells.
If you tell me (1) the approximate panel size, (2) desired wattage, (3) whether it needs to be truly flexible or just semi-flexible, and (4) estimated annual quantity, I can dig further and identify 5–10 manufacturers capable of OEM production, including country, certifications, cell technology, bending radius, minimum order quantity, and contact information.
The top manufacturers providing flexible solar panels tailored for marine environments and boat deck installations include specialized brands known for durability against saltwater and shading performance:[1][2][3]
Watch this overview of marine solar panel options to see how flexible panels perform on curved boat surfaces:
Leading Manufacturers & Brands
Sol-Go : Known for designing marine-grade lightweight flexible panels using high-efficiency SunPower Maxeon back-contact cells, engineered specifically to be saltwater corrosion-proof and handle high ambient deck temperatures.
Renogy : Offers advanced polymer/ETFE-laminated monocrystalline flexible modules capable of extreme bending angles, built lightweight and slim for irregular boat surfaces.
BougeRV : Produces the Yuma series utilizing CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film technology, which offers superior shade and low-light tolerance alongside extreme flexibility for curved vessel roofs.
Go Power! : Specializes in marine-grade, low-profile Solar Flex kits engineered to withstand harsh marine environments and conform smoothly to sailboat Biminis or curved cabin tops.
Eco-Worthy : Provides economical flexible HJT (Heterojunction Technology) and monocrystalline panels layered in protective ETFE coatings suited for budget-conscious mobile or marine off-grid setups.
Installation & Compatibility Considerations
Cell Technology : Back-contact (such as SunPower-based cells) or CIGS thin-film panels generally outperform standard flexible monocrystalline panels if your boat experiences partial shading from booms, rigging, or masts.
Adhesion & Venting : Flexible panels trap heat if stuck directly flush to a non-ventilated fiberglass deck, reducing efficiency. Ensure you use marine-approved structural adhesives or leave a tiny air gap if recommended by the manufacturer.
If you'd like, I can help you with:
Estimating the total wattage based on your boat's DC electrical loads
Selecting a compatible MPPT charge controller (such as Victron)
Comparing ETFE vs. traditional lamination durability for marine use
For sourcing flexible solar panels for boats, I’d look at manufacturers in three groups: marine-focused solar brands, specialist flexible-panel manufacturers, and OEM suppliers that can provide panels for private-labeling or volume purchasing.
For marine use, the important distinction is between panels that are merely flexible and panels designed to tolerate saltwater environments, vibration, repeated flexing, and deck-level heat. If you're sourcing for resale, boatbuilding, or a fleet, it's also worth separating established brands from factories that offer custom specifications.
Manufacturers worth contacting first
1. Solbian — Italy
(Best marine specialist)
Manufactures lightweight, semi-flexible panels specifically for boats, yachts and catamarans. Offers premium high-efficiency panels, ruggedized versions and custom shapes, sizes and electrical configurations.
Best for: premium marine installations and custom OEM projects.
2. Merlin Solar — U.S. commercial presence, manufacturing in the Philippines
Specializes in rugged, lightweight solar panels for mobile and demanding environments, including marine applications. It offers direct OEM manufacturing, custom panel engineering and supply-chain integration.
Best for: boatbuilders, larger volume orders and differentiated panel designs.
Its B2B division offers custom flexible solar solutions for yachts and other mobile platforms, with OEM/ODM development, custom dimensions, electrical configurations and repeat production.
Best for: private-label products, customized specifications and wholesale sourcing.
A marine solar brand offering semi-flexible and conventional glass solar panels. It is worth investigating for applications where ruggedness and long-term marine installation matter.
Best for: established marine solar products and alternative panel constructions.
Offers flexible solar panels using high-efficiency cells in multiple wattages. A potential candidate to investigate for direct sourcing, although marine-specific durability and OEM production terms should be verified.
Best for: comparing alternative suppliers and standard flexible-panel formats.
Other brands to include in your supplier comparison
These are useful names to investigate, but they aren't all verified direct manufacturers of the finished panel. Some primarily sell branded products or distribute products made by other companies.
Brand
Why investigate
Renogy
Broad flexible-panel range and established retail distribution.
Xantrex
Solar Max Flex panels for mobile and marine power.
SunPower / Maxeon
Important high-efficiency cell technology used in some premium flexible marine panels; distinguish the cell maker from the finished-panel manufacturer.
Custom Marine Products
Marine-specific flexible panel offerings across several wattages; a useful benchmark for finished products and pricing.
For a marine application, I would start with Solbian, Merlin Solar and Lensun Energy, then approach Solara for comparison. Those three cover premium marine engineering, rugged OEM supply and custom wholesale development, respectively.
What to ask each manufacturer
For a useful first round of sourcing, send the same RFQ (request for quotation) to each supplier and compare responses on these points:
Product construction: ETFE or other UV-resistant top layer, encapsulation, cell interconnect design and saltwater resistance.
Flexibility: Minimum bend radius, maximum permitted deflection and whether the panel is designed for a curved deck, bimini or walkable surface.
Electrical specifications: Rated wattage, efficiency, voltage, bypass diodes, shading performance and temperature coefficient.
Commercial terms: MOQ, sample cost, pricing at 100/500/1,000 units, lead time, payment terms and shipping to the United States.
Quality assurance: Warranty, production testing, traceability, applicable IEC certifications and salt-mist test documentation.
One important caution: don't assume a panel is safe to walk on just because it is flexible, and don't assume a marine marketing claim guarantees a particular service life. Request the test reports and installation limitations.
Let’s narrow down the supplier list
I can make the next round much more targeted if you tell me one thing: Are you sourcing panels to resell under your own brand, supplying boat manufacturers, or buying panels for your own boats?
That will determine whether to prioritize factory-direct OEM/ODM manufacturers, established marine brands, or wholesale distributors.
