Seavolt LED Tail Lights

Our Penobscot 14, ST. JACQUES, was next on the list to get her own trailer so we could explore the waterways of the Mid-Atlantic states. We set her up on an EZ Loader 14′ rig with an 800-lb capacity and, as usual with this type of small boat trailer, the frame box only extends about 2′ beyond the axle. This configuration places the tail lights underneath the boat, about 3′ forward of the transom and partially hidden from sight, so we decided to add LED tail lights to the trailer’s guideposts to augment the frame-mounted lights.

Photographs by the author

There are 10 red LEDs per side, mounted on a printed circuit board. Fixed on thick-walled PVC tubing, the lights can fit onto the top of any standard trailer guidepost.

We searched for trailer guidepost light kits and found an economical option, the Seavolt LED Trailer Guide-On kit. The kit consists of two LED light assemblies made from thick-walled PVC that mount to the top of standard 2″ PVC guideposts. The LEDs are red, covered by a clear acrylic lens. The wiring harness is 10′ long for each side, and an easy-to-follow instruction guide explains how to splice the guidepost light into the existing 12-volt DC trailer wiring. Six total wire connections must be made for each ground, brake, and tail light per side. The kit provides butt connectors as well as snap connectors. We prefer to splice with butt connectors and then tape the connections with self-fusing silicone-rubber tape to minimize water intrusion. The tape also insulates the wire connection, remains flexible, and withstands road temperature extremes. Trailer-frame clips and heat-shrink tubing to cover the butt connectors are also included.