The Salt Water Trailer?

[Wally]

It looks like the galvanizing was done well on our King trailer. But what about the tail lights? After 3 years (one launch/one take-out per year in salt water) the lamp is corroded to the socket. Now I notice there never was any seal where the wires entered the housing.

Is this normal? Are there any solutions?

Stainless steel sockets and lamps? Well-sealed light units?

How about drilling holes in the unit and flushing the innards with fresh water?

Also, the screws holding the red lens aren't SS. That must have saved 50 cents per trailer.

Thanks!!

[pathfinderz1]

There are some good water proof Led lights out there that are suppose to stand up to most anything. They run about $40 a set wire and all. Horbor Fright has them
Mike aka pathfinderz1

[Skagitguy]

Ed, Did you purchase it new 3 years ago ? i would send them a e-mail about your problem. I would also get Marine LED's to replace them. When i get the King trailer i purchase used ( it a 1999 ) ready to go with the Skagit 2011 i will get some LED's. Chuck

http://www.kingtrailers.com/contact.html

[Tim_Mattson]

Wally,
You can spray lube the bulb assy when new and get a few years of hard use out of them.
You also can find SS bulbs at the Auto parts store with a "" LL" in front of the usual bulb number ,say , LL 1164 for example.Stands fro Long Life.Stainless also is NOT Stain Proof.Just takes longer...
I also like the LEDs......brighter and keeps people from tailing you too close as they appear closer than they actually are.
One buddy used a light or non-colored grease and just pumped the housing until it was full,but still glowed when lit.Seemed extreme but changing yearly is reason to try something.
Also remember to UN-Plug Lights when dunking or the wires take a charge while energized.
Had a guy at a ramp give me trailer once as he was swapping a boat onto a new one( for his 2 year old boat).The painted trailer wasn`t the best but would have lasted longer had he known.......he had his new one plugged in and deep in the water when I strolled up and asked why he would be giving away a trailer.
Some wiser guys also put the lights on Guide-ons (or brackets that remove),up and out of the water but that get a little un-wieldy.
TimM

[Wally]

I like the LED idea.

We bought the King trailer new in 2007 for our older Bay****r. Perhaps King uses LED's today.

We had a painted Escort trailer for the above boat for years. It held up surprisingly well in the salt since I could run a small hose-end sprayer up the frame tubes right at the launch site (Summertide Resort on Hood Canal). The King trailer has bolts sticking through the frame tubes and I can't get a spray up the full length but, then again, it's galvanized.

I've had the Sande Ace on a painted trailer since 1985! It's a tilting Balken trailer but even the axle has never been in the salt water. I like those tilters for small, light boats.

Thanks, guys.

[Skagitguy]

Ed,I would still call them tomorrow. That's to new to have those problems. I had a 2003 KB 2110 and never had any problems. Chuck


http://www.kingtrailers.com/contact.html
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[Lootas1]

LED lights ordered for Rosario

After reading this thread, I have ordered LED lights for Chuck's old King trailer. Yesterday I put a transponder for my new GPS/sonar in the bilge. Expoxied it in place. It had better work there. Don't imagine removing it would be possible. Directions said build a caulk dam, pour in 1/8th inch of epoxy and set the transponder in place and weight it down. The epoxy I bought at a marine store wasn't liquid. It was about the consistency of pancake batter. I mixed it long and hard and shoveled it in place and put the transponder in it and pushed down on it. Put a bunch of chain on top to weight it down. This morning I'll see if the transponder is attached to Rosario's hull or to my anchor chain. Wish me luck!