LED Trailer Lights, My Experience

thataway · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

We have light bars made of PVC pipe (I think it was 2"--on the C Dory 25 in Calif). We have a 4 pin trailer connector spliced into the regular trailer lights on the right side of the trailer--and keep the regular lights on the trailer--the LED lights on the light bar. It lays on the aft part of the deck, and held in place with bungee cords--the "bar" is kept from rotating by stubs of PVC pipe in "T's" which rest on the side decks.

As for tabernacling masts--never did trailer any of my large sailboats--but we did tabernacle a 60 foot mast, and it laid on a "Crutch" which was fitted into a crutch which was placed in a socket on the top of the transom...The boat was too large to easily trailer (45 feet long, 13 foot beam, and 8 foot draft, plus the freeboard and cabin would have made an "air draft" of +at least 15 feet off the ground when on a trailer...)

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject:

Our trailer light bars/mast carriers went through three generations. They were first made of wood, then aluminum, and then PVC pipe, like Bob's.

2 inch Schedule 40 PVC is rigid enough for most light bar applications.

As a matter of fact, PVC pipe and all the associated fittings are a wonderful source of building materials for a lot of boat and trailer projects. They don't rust, mildew, or delaminate, and the myriad of fittings and pipe are like a giant Erector Set to tinker with! The pipe cuts easily and glues together strongly. Few tools required, only your imagination.

Joe. Thumbs Up

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

I made my light bar based on a 1" aluminum square heavy wall tube. It is 6 yrs. old and still works great.
This spring I am going to look into replacing the lights with LED type. They are not so fussy about grounding etc. as the filamant type.
Right now my boat is buried under 2' of snow so it is not a problem yet.

journey on · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

Journey On's trailer came with LED lights. After 2 launches, one of the lights crapped out, with water inside. I replaced it with one I bought off the internet (don't ask me what kind.) However, I sealed all the joints with RTV silicone, including where the wires went in. That includes where the various parts of the lens, etc. joined. Also sealed the connections with silicone, and the ground connection. Still working 2 years later. Used both blue and red silicone, didn't try clear.

The Southern Boris (which means I can't go the the Seattle Boat Show, but just like Seattle, it's raining here.)