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Docking Lights for Trailering - Worth it? 25 LSV


Raleigh

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Hey all! So I am purchasing a 2016 25 LSV tomorrow which I will be trailering. Often this will mean loading up the trailer at night. The boat does not have docking lights. Dealer is quoting me around $400. I have a small gelcoat repair I am having done as I bought the boat as is and would like to get the work done prior to the season starting. 

Are docking lights worth it for trailering?

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In my opinion.... given the choice between docking lights and trailer runway and guide pole lights I would go with trailer lights every time. My 10 had the docking lights and I added the pole lights which was a great help for my wife who loads a majority of our outings. My 19 has the high and low beam docking lights and the trailer runway lights and the trailer lights are a lot more help when loading up at night. 

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ahopkins22LSV

That’s a fair price for the docking lights and in my opinion they are very helpful to pull up to a dock or trailer at night. The trailer runway lights are very nice too but not as easy to add after the fact. 

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Agree with @ahopkinsVTX the newer docking lights are really very good. The difference between the ones on our 2011 to the 2019 is night and day, pun intended.

And where are our pics????? You picked a boat! Congrats. 

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1 hour ago, asnowman said:

Agree with @ahopkinsVTX the newer docking lights are really very good. The difference between the ones on our 2011 to the 2019 is night and day, pun intended.

And where are our pics????? You picked a boat! Congrats. 

Great advice, thank you! Yes finally@asnowman took me forever... I’ll post it up when the deal closes!!

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1 hour ago, Raleigh said:

Great advice, thank you! Yes finally@asnowman took me forever... I’ll post it up when the deal closes!!

Not that bad, took us 3 years to pull the trigger on the 25lsv.

My better half took less than 3 minutes to decide she needed a direct drive though...

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On 3/6/2020 at 3:12 PM, wdr said:

In my opinion.... given the choice between docking lights and trailer runway and guide pole lights I would go with trailer lights every time. My 10 had the docking lights and I added the pole lights which was a great help for my wife who loads a majority of our outings. My 19 has the high and low beam docking lights and the trailer runway lights and the trailer lights are a lot more help when loading up at night. 

I've never had the luxury of trailer lights but I think it's important to note that docking lights have other important uses such as navigating a marina, near shore, signalling others, and of course docking.  I simply can't imagine some of those evenings in the marina or around the docks without them...I've even seen some rogue swimmers that I definitely wouldn't have seen without them.  If you're never doing that kind of stuff then I'd probably agree with @wdr but for me there's no way I'd go without them.  YMMV.

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18 hours ago, formulaben said:

I've never had the luxury of trailer lights but I think it's important to note that docking lights have other important uses such as navigating a marina, near shore, signalling others, and of course docking.  I simply can't imagine some of those evenings in the marina or around the docks without them...I've even seen some rogue swimmers that I definitely wouldn't have seen without them.  If you're never doing that kind of stuff then I'd probably agree with @wdr but for me there's no way I'd go without them.  YMMV.

Ok yeah that’s my thinking! I’ve definitely been out late. Sure a handheld spotlight works but driving such a large boat at night while holding a spot light seems illogical for me. Sure someone else could hold it but I’m thinking docking lights are a yes. Thanks for all the great comments! I’m making a decision this week. 

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28 minutes ago, Raleigh said:

Sure a handheld spotlight works but driving such a large boat at night while holding a spot light seems illogical for me. Sure someone else could hold it but I’m thinking docking lights are a yes.

I did that my first season with this boat and it got old real fast since I'm usually not off the lake before nightfall.  My install was stupid simple since the factory wiring and switch were already there, so bought LED surface lights and was only a 2-beer project.  I use them often...having said that, there are times on cloudless nights with the moon where they simply aren't necessary.

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Ok cool! Decision made! I’ve ordered the lights to be installed. Figured it is worth paying $500 to avoid much more in liability if I’m out at night. 
 

Thank you all! 

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23 hours ago, wdr said:

 My wife will hold the spot light, but half the trip looks like a Star Wars light saber battle while she is swishing bugs off of her.

Absolutely fabulous analogy there.  Probably the funniest thing I have read today.

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14 hours ago, Pnwrider said:

They will also blind and ruin the night vision of any one else out on the water. It’s also illegal to use tower and docking lights in most states while under way. 

Agreed, I would never just leave them on to travel down the lake. The one time they did come in very handy....we arrived at the campground very late (midnightish) and needed to launch the boat before we could set up our campsite. We were the only ones on the lake and there was a low foggy mist on the lake. The big logs surrounding the dock to break the waves are not marked well. As we idled towards the dock I would bump the tower lights on just to get my bearings from those logs and find the entrance to the docks. Very helpful.

Bob

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  • 2 months later...

Used these once so far and the Wildlife Officer told me that he’d pull me over if I used them on the lake. Started rambling about drunks and docking lights.

I’m like oh, great! I love excuses to get hassled by the water police.

Cost to install came out more than quoted $683. TBD if it’ll come in handy this summer but I’m thinking I made the right move. Bought a $30 spotlight from Harbor Freight I’ll end up using as well. 

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ahopkins22LSV
23 minutes ago, Raleigh said:

Used these once so far and the Wildlife Officer told me that he’d pull me over if I used them on the lake. Started rambling about drunks and docking lights.

I’m like oh, great! I love excuses to get hassled by the water police.

Cost to install came out more than quoted $683. TBD if it’ll come in handy this summer but I’m thinking I made the right move. Bought a $30 spotlight from Harbor Freight I’ll end up using as well. 

They are blinding for others on the water and are practically useless in the middle of the lake too. Mine only get used at shore and quickly at that as they are blinding lol.

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Its also Illegal to use them underway here in CO.   Docking lights was one of those features I agonized over when I ordered the boat - and decided it was easier/cheaper to add them on the original build than to come back later and add them.

I GUESS I am glad I have them, Ive probably only used them a half dozen times in three full seasons.   Most days, I am off the lake before it gets dark enough to use them.    I dont find them terribly helpful when loading - just a statement of where the light is, and that they dont really help me see the bunks under the water.    However, we also do a two week cabin trip every year.   They are VERY useful for navigating into the spot where I anchor outside the cabin.   I have my anchor line buoyed off, and they make it EASY to spot that in the dark.    But... the same story is that I usually am off the water before they are necessary.

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The trailer runway lights are awesome for getting boat on the trailer at nighttime. I also have docking lights and its hard to use them since they reflect light off the water, sometimes its harder to see with them on rather than off. They are handy at times tho

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  • 7 months later...
On 6/4/2020 at 2:17 PM, phinz said:

Does anyone have a supplier, outside of the dealer, for getting the newer high/low docking lights?

@phinz  Did you ever find a supplier (outside of the dealer) for the the newer high / low docking lights?  Thanks!  

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19 hours ago, Eagleboy99 said:

Tecniq products are all over the Internet.  I doubt Malibu has a custom build.

When I talked directly to Tecniq they said Malibu did, but that was only for the docking lights with high/low beams. If you find it out there somewhere else please let me know.

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