Ok. I'm helpless. I can only assume that this has been discussed before. For some reason I cannot get anything to come up by searching. Somedays I feel retarded...

Anywho. I just bought my first boat. Yay for me!!!! Well beside the tinyt 8' jon boat that was to unstable for me to take out.

It is a 1985 14' Lowe modified 'V', 40" bottom.  New floors already installed. 1980s 15hp Evinrude. New foot controlled Minn Koto 40lb thrust troller. Hummingbird 525 fish finder. All in excellent to new condition. The motor starts on the first pull every time and is in pristine condition.

The trailer is the roughest part of the whole deal but it just needs some TLC. It has no working lights. I have to rewire the trailer and install new lights. What are some good submersible lights. I only want to do this once. What trailer lights do you guys use? I don't want to constantly replace bulbs and deal with shortages.

Thanks,

You only want to do it once?  Then use LED's.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?id=0013341&navCount=1&parentId=cat21388&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat21388&parentType=index&indexId=cat21388&rid=

X2

The LED's are the best

I was looking at those in the their catalog. Are they worth the money or is there a cheaper alternative? Let me rephrase my thoughts. I don't mind replacing the bulb every once in a while. I just don't want to replace them every other time I take my boat out.

I like LEDs but for some uses they are still way over priced for what they are. Are the LED tail lights worth the extra or are there some comparable traditional lights that are just as water tight?

Like these:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_18356_225005004_225000000_225005000_225-5-4

I don't mind paying more for LEDs as long as they are actually worth the extra amount

You only want to do it once?  Then use LED's

Right on. Wayyyy brighter light along with wayyyy less electrical current draw. A couple more bucks up front, but they will pay for themselves. Another tip: use tinned wire for marine applications. Regular copper strand wire will work, but it won't stand up to the elements. Use heat shrink type connecters, don't let that green corrosion cancer get into the wiring.

Are the LED tail lights worth the extra

Yes.

or are there some comparable traditional lights that are just as water tight?

No.

If you want trouble-free use, buy LED's.  If you want to skimp and buy cheap lights, then get PO'ed when they crap out and you have to spend more money, then by all means by the cheap regular lights.

There is ABSOLUTELY no reason to buy traditional tail lights.

It is like the whole cheap reel/quality reel argument.  You're either going to spend the money now or spend it later.  Why not spend it now and get a quality product?

Thanks for the heads up on the tinned wire. I just assumed regular wire would be fine. I never thought about the green corrosion.

Thanks for the Help LEDs it is then!

I solved the problem by mounting the trailer lights and license plate on a 2X4.  I used an extension cord that reaches the tow vehicle so there is no wiring attached to the trailer at all.  I made an attachment that held it securely to the stern of the boat, or could also be attached to the rear of the trailer if running without the boat.

It only takes a few moments to detach it and pop it in the back of the truck before launching the boat, and a few seconds to replace it after hauling out.

No water, no corrosion, no popped light bulbs, no waterproofing problems and use the cheapest lamps you can find.

is there a cheaper alternative?

Harbor Freight has complete kits for $40.

I use them and a lot of guys around here use them and no one has had any problems.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95974

Here is another style.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94137

I went through two sets of lights in about a month before switching over to LED.  They are waterproof, ridiculously bright and I haven't had any problems with them.  It is worth the extra money to switch to LED.

LED all the way

thats a smoking deal at harbor freight.

Ah. I have a harbor freight about 4 miles from me. Has anyone compared them to the Bass Pro lights? I just paid $60 for a set from Bass Pro. Looks like I will be taking them back and going to Harbor Freight.

Ah. I have a harbor freight about 4 miles from me. Has anyone compared them to the Bass Pro lights? I just paid $60 for a set from Bass Pro. Looks like I will be taking them back and going to Harbor Freight.

Why on earth would you do that? :-?

thats a smoking deal at harbor freight.

Buy those lights and your trailer may be smoking after a dunk in the lake...

Think there is that big of a difference in quality?

Think there is that big of a difference in quality?

They are fine. Good quality and never had a problem.

Quote

Think there is that big of a difference in quality?

Harbor Freight sells cheap junk.  I wouldn't buy a candy bar from them.

I solved the problem by mounting the trailer lights and license plate on a 2X4. I used an extension cord that reaches the tow vehicle so there is no wiring attached to the trailer at all. I made an attachment that held it securely to the stern of the boat, or could also be attached to the rear of the trailer if running without the boat.

It only takes a few moments to detach it and pop it in the back of the truck before launching the boat, and a few seconds to replace it after hauling out.

No water, no corrosion, no popped light bulbs, no waterproofing problems and use the cheapest lamps you can find.

I used to do this but always had a problem getting a good ground, so the lights were always dim!

So I went ahead and made some out of 1.5 inch pvc, bent the pvc over a tire after heating it then clamped it on and rewired the trailer.

If you want more specific instructions let me know I'll try and help you out.

Also this way your lights stay out of the water and double as a guide to put the boat on the trailer

We heated the ends of the PVC when we clamped it to the trailer to stop the lights from moving.

Hope this helped!

Try lead and rat poison.

Try lead and rat poison.

I thought they saved that stuff for baby food.

MADE IN China.  What ain't these days.  There is a very good chance SeaSence LED lights sold by BPS, plus Cabela's and Wal-Mart are made in China also.

I've actually had more problems with LED lights going out than the old fashion $25 - $30 kits.   I put the LED lights on my Stratos a few years ago, after the third one went out in less than a year, at $30 each I went back.  I just gave that boat to my son and it still has the same bulbs three years later.