Hi all,
Looked good for a sail this morning so I rigged the mat on my cat and loaded everything up. Hooked the trailer on and asked my son to check the lights, not working hmm.
Went round to check and noticed condensation in the lights. Pulled the caps off and wow so corroded the metal was just mush on the bottom.
Must have got some water in last sail.. before winter.
The trailer lights are just standard and had been siliconed up by the previous owner. Thinking about it after it was bound to happen I suppose.
Now I'm thinking of solutions and am deciding between a light bar I can take off or submersible lights. Any thoughts on either?
The trailer being for a hobie 16 is pretty wide and has an additional 4 side lights, 2 on each side. So if I put on a bar the side lights won't be working and I'm not sure of the regs for the road.
Waterproof LED's, Tail, stop, turn and side lights ... job done.
Have to admit I don't understand why this needed a response from the forum, this is basic CDF.
Yeah, Led Lights are the way to go but they are not cheap. The other thing you need to get on top of is the connections for the cables that come out of the Led lights. If you can get you hand on some, Resin cored heat shrink, it's great for sealing the connections. Another way is to squirt (neutral cure) silastic up inside normal heat shrink before shrinking it down.
I still like the idea of having a light bar that is removable. You could custom build you own out of cheaper light fittings and incorporates some side lights on to it.
No such thing as a dum question. The dumb thing is not to ask the question.
What's cdf?
I've never had a boat trailer before, so what can't ask questions?
Ya know it all.
Thanks Crusoe,
Yeah I was thinking about the cheaper option of the bar but not sure if I'm gonna run foul of the law not having side lights.
Wasn't sure if the submersible were legit or not so don't want to spend the cash if they have problems.
The led lights off eBay from the trailer parts shops are surprisingly cheap and are excellent on all trailers. I just wish we could use plastic number plates!
If I was in your position, I'd put waterproof lights on instead of a removable light bar. Why? Because I know one day, I would forget to take the light bar off and ruin it. :p
Thanks for the replies,
The lights on ebay are pretty good price wise Ramona.
I only checked out a couple of car shops and BCF which were about 150. The reason for me to think of going for the light bar to keep costs down. However seems if the led lights off ebay are reliable its easily affordable and I should be out on the water soon. And I agree would be a better idea than than dunking a light bar Knights.
Keeping the process simple is winning me too. I already have to set up my catamaran each time I go out so adding to that.. Well you know what I'm mean.
A plus to all this a while back I changed my enduro mc lights for LEDs after the exhaust kept eating the right rear and had to install resistors in the relay to slow the flash. Does anyone know if I need to do the same for the lights on ebay or do they come with the lights/not need them?
Ok l,ll quote Pauline Hanson ....please explain ..... CDF ? I Still don't understand !
Well, CDF could be a Cumulative Distribution Function in statistics, but it is also Common Dog F..., street talk for common sense. However trailer lights are a problem, as even submersible lights can be hit by the boat when loading. So in the end it is not CDF.
Select to expand quoteYara said..
Well, CDF could be a Cumulative Distribution Function in statistics, but it is also Common Dog F..., street talk for common sense. However trailer lights are a problem, as even submersible lights can be hit by the boat when loading. So in the end it is not CDF.
Well thank you for explaining that Yarra . But I sort of wish Id not learnt that .... Very ordinary
Select to expand quotesimmrr said..
Thanks for the replies,
The lights on ebay are pretty good price wise Ramona.
I only checked out a couple of car shops and BCF which were about 150. The reason for me to think of going for the light bar to keep costs down. However seems if the led lights off ebay are reliable its easily affordable and I should be out on the water soon. And I agree would be a better idea than than dunking a light bar Knights.
Keeping the process simple is winning me too. I already have to set up my catamaran each time I go out so adding to that.. Well you know what I'm mean.
A plus to all this a while back I changed my enduro mc lights for LEDs after the exhaust kept eating the right rear and had to install resistors in the relay to slow the flash. Does anyone know if I need to do the same for the lights on ebay or do they come with the lights/not need them?
No they just work normal. I have them on two trailers. On my boat trailer for my Windrush yacht tender I have used some plastic chopping board cut so that the lights are protected from the boat bows as I winch the boat up. It's amazing how often the bows would float up and clout the tail lights! Buy a number plate light as well.
