A float that relies on the river’s current is like a boat that learns its own rhythm. If the water moves steady and strong, the float will keep up and the solar panels will sit low enough to catch the sun most of the day. Too many eddies or sudden changes in speed will make the float drift up and down, making the panels tilt and lose some sunlight. In shallow or slow sections the float will linger, which is fine for the solar part but the current won’t push it as far, so it might stay in the same spot and get more shade as the day goes on. So, keep the float in a spot with a gentle, consistent flow, and maybe add a little ballast or a small gyroscopic stabilizer. That way the current can keep it moving, the solar panels stay level, and the whole thing stays quiet and low‑maintenance, just like a good fishing spot.

Sounds like a good plan. Try a small PVC piece, fill it with a few scoops of sand, and see how it drifts. If it stays put and the solar panel stays angled toward the sun, you’re on the right track. Keep the weight light enough that the float still feels the current, and you’ll have a quiet, low‑maintenance system that the river will respect.

That sounds like a solid experiment. Just watch how it reacts when the current picks up, and tweak the sand a little if it starts drifting too much. If it stays steady, you’ll have a quiet, easy‑going float that the river can help keep moving. Good luck, and keep an eye on the panels to make sure they stay sun‑sized.