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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Center brake light for trailered boat - ideas?

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2003 : 01:30:01

I'm in the middle of relighting our trailer to California specs. I have the trailer almost done. Since the tail lights are so low and the back of our boat is considerably beyond the end of the trailer I thought I'd enhance my road safety by adding a set of lights that I can hang off the stern rail. I have a wiring harness set up on the trailer bow post that will plug into a four pin socket in the anchor locker. Another four pin socket in the stern will allow me to plug in the trailer lighting harness. My plan is to have a set of marker lights on each corner and a tribar and center mounted brake light in the middle. Here is where I need the help of someone more electronically literate than I. Is there a circuit I can make that will only illuminate the brake light when both the left and right circuits are activated, so that when I turn on the turn signal the brake lights will not flash? Or should I get another tail light and set up a full set on the rail?

Todd Hansen
Fior Gra'
San Luis Obispo, CA

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 07:25:22

Some newer vehichles are set up for electric trailer brakes and will have a seperate wire in the harness for brake activation , if you have this...use it.

Otherwise, isolating the wire under the dash or at the center brake light, tapping into it and running back would work.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 13:36:19

How 'bout rigging one of those stop signs that swing outward on school buses? Ya know, the ones with with flashing LEDs <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> ? In fact, you could rig it to the gudgeons <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> !

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 15:07:28

todd,

I won't claim to more lighting literate than you, but on my last trailerable boat I did what you are suggesting, and built a light bar that put all of the lighting on the transom of the boat. My logic was it kept the lighing circuit out of the water and dramatically improved the visability when trailering. If I were to have a trailer for my Cat25, I think I'd do essentially the same thing.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 22:17:16

Don, can you post a picture of the light bar?.. I am in the proces of reconditioning a trailor I recently purchased,
thanks,
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2003 : 01:44:26

Don that is where I think the idea originated with me too. The Cal Poly sailing club used to have a Thistle with a light bar that was attached to the transom. I am also inspired by those tour buses that have the lights near the top where everyone can see them. I was kind of hoping someone like Leon that knows electrical magic could devise a circuit with a couple of diodes etc.

The Suburban is wired with a flat 4 plug and I am not going to change it. It was the easiest harness install I have ever done, no black box, just unplug the provided plug and plug this one in.

As far as mounting the lights I am still playing with ideas. My initial thought was to mount the lights to small pieces of plastic with slot cut out for web straps with fastex buckles. Now I am thinking about something sewn with sunbrella. Before I am done I'll rethink that too I am sure. When I have it done I'll post some pics.

Todd Hansen
Fior Gra'
San Luis Obispo, CA

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2003 : 05:57:47

Steve,

I can't post a picture. But what I did was fairly simple:

I purchased a new trailer light kit and mounted the lights on a 2*4, running the wire to the light harness of my tow vehicle. I cut the 2*4 to fit the length of the cockpit combing. Really very simple.

I fastened the light bar to the outside of the cockpit combing with two sea clamps. And, rested the mast on it while towing.

If I were to do this for my c25, I'd use some large shackles to fasten the light bar to the stern rail, including a couple on the bottom of the light bar attached to the verticle stantion.

Others maybe able to give us a better design, but what I did would work, and its pretty simple.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2003 : 10:32:09

I like Don's idea a lot!

Maybe even simpler for the frequent trailer-sailor: How about mounting two red running lights, one on the back of each coaming, with wires to a connector in the anchor locker? (I'm only partly kidding...) If you don't have room there, you could fabricate a couple of fiberglass fins... <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2003 : 15:42:28

I went to see my buddies; Manny, Mo, and Jack. From them I got a light set you use for towing cars. The lights have magnetic bases and you can just stick them right on to the trailer. I would also use a couple of bungee cords to help keep them in place. If the cord is not long enough you can make a jumper from some extra wire. I use to keep an extra set incase my trailer went out. It is now on the admrials horse trailer.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2003 : 16:15:34

Matt,

When I built the light bar, I wrestled with where to put it. I felt for the sake of visability higher (on the boat) was better than on the trailer. And, if I forgot to remove the light bar when launching I had no risk of the lights getting wet - the trailer, and possiby the connection, but that was arranged to be inside the trunk of the car.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 02:12:51

Don,
I used the magenetic lights as a back up in case the main ones went out. I don't like messing with that stuff on the side of the highway. They were used with the boat only a few times, actually the time they were used out of necesity, rather than lazeness, happened on a trip to Catalina with some other boats. Our buddy Jay and his O'Day 25 had a rough time, two flat tires (different times), and lights going out. If I didn't have them he would have been stuck in LA without lights.
The horse trailer on the other hand is another story.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

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