Disconnecting Power Before Getting Trailer Wet

T

tcontic

Member
Feb 27, 2008
76
Smithtown, NY
Boat Info
2001 230 Signature Select BR
Engines
7.4 MPI Bravo III
I’ve heard conflicting opinions about disconnecting the power to my trailer before putting it in the water for put in or pull out. I’ve always left the power connected and seeing as I have surge breaks I must since backing up causes the breaks to actuate without the override provided by the electrical connection. Other “experts” have said I’m risking shorting out the system by getting it wet. What’s the proper procedure?

Thank you,
Tom
 
I would and do disconnect the power before putting the trailer in the water. It is in my opinion, and me just being extra cautious, but if you get a loose connection or a frayed wire you run the risk of blowing a fuse. If you have no problem with your breaks when disconnected I would disconnect.:smt043
 
As a kid, on my parents trailers, we always used to unhook it, but when I got my last Sea Ray, I normally leave it connected. These newer (better) light systems on the Sea Ray ShoreLander trailers are built to handle it from what I've seen. Also, like the OP said, with Surge Brakes, I'll need it plugged in on this new trailer.

-Garth
 
On a new tandem (mine anyway), the brakes are locked without power . I have to keep it plugged in.
 
I guess I'm just old fashion I still unplug mine when I can. The only time I don't is when the ramp is not steep enough to keep the surge brake off. Most of the time would stop just before the water unplug the trailer, back in, unload the boat then pull away from the ramp before I stopped and plugged them back in.
 
for me with my King Trailer, I'm told that everything is soldered and sealed. The only exposed short would be at the connection at the truck, and it won't even get close.
Everything else is getting wet anyway so I supposed if there's a leak I may short, but so far so good(granted it's still new), we'll see.
My old Trailer I didn't have too many issues either, but I did replace the bulb lights with the sealed LED's, soldered and heat shrank.
 
If you have LED lights, it's not a problem, their completely sealed, I have to keep connected ,because the boat will pull the truck into the water without using the trailer brakes...I wouldn't want that even a a good day......
 
I've always left mine plugged in. I think in the REALLY old days the hot light bulb got dunked in the cold water and broke. I don't know that it was necessarily due to a fuse blowing. Those crappy old trailers in the 60's and 70's used regular tail lights and they weren't made for dunking in the water. With my current trailer and electric brakes, I wouldn't even think about unplugging them since the boat would drag me to the water edge.
 
I unplug and put in the manual brake lockout for the surge brakes. I just don't trust the light bulbs, not sure if they are sealed or not, they do not looked sealed.
 
I don't unplug mine. I really don't care if it gets wet!

RIP.jpg
 
I've been taking a boating safety course and last week we covered trailering. The instructor insisted that the electrical connection must be disconnected before dunking. When I told him about the surge break problem he instructed me to leave the electrical plugged in but make sure your trailer tail lights don't touch the water. :huh:

I don't think I can launch and/or retrieve the boat without getting those light in contact with the water.

This is the reason I posted the question in the first place.

Maybe my instructor, an old timer, just isnt' familiar with these new fangled trailers.

Tom
 
If the trailer is under the boat and the lights are on the trailer, how can you load and unload without getting lights wet. The instructor wasn't with it when he made that comment. I have never disconnected and have never had a problem blowing light bulbs or anything else.
 
If you are in cold water I bet your lights get zapped pretty easy. I have found in the salt it doesn't matter because they all go bad sooner or later. I leave my lights on because of the brake issue but I wonder if there is anyone on the site with some insight on the issue from an electrical issue. My bulbs seem to be okay and none the worse but for the salt.
 
I've never unplugged my trailers.
 
Which brakes is it that locks up when backing if unplugged cause the release value for pressue on surge brakes will not work. the disk brakes or drum brakes. I was thinking it is drum brakes.

thanks
art
 
Sundancer said:
I've always left mine plugged in. I think in the REALLY old days the hot light bulb got dunked in the cold water and broke. I don't know that it was necessarily due to a fuse blowing. Those crappy old trailers in the 60's and 70's used regular tail lights and they weren't made for dunking in the water. With my current trailer and electric brakes, I wouldn't even think about unplugging them since the boat would drag me to the water edge.
Click to expand...

Thats what I had always heard too ... and I have never unplugged mine either.
 
greenstreak said:
Which brakes is it that locks up when backing if unplugged cause the release value for pressue on surge brakes will not work. the disk brakes or drum brakes. I was thinking it is drum brakes.

thanks
art
Click to expand...

Art
IMHO it would not mater what type (disk or drum) if the surge value/switch activates it is going to engage either type.:huh:
Chuck
 
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