Boat Trailer Lights NZ - what matters for summer builds

Boat trailers are lighting’s harshest workplace. If a normal trailer gets dust, vibration, and rain, a boat trailer gets all of that plus repeated immersion and salt. NZ summer use only makes it more intense.
 

Why sealed LED lights are the standard

Sealed LEDs handle boat-trailer conditions better because they:
  • keep water and dust out
  • resist vibration
  • don't rely on fragile globes
  • draw less current
The key is sealing quality. Not all 'waterproof' lights are equal, which is where IP ratings help.
 

IP ratings in plain English

  • IP66: dust-tight and protected against water sprayed from a nozzle at high pressure.
  • IP67: dust-tight and protected against water immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes.
For boat trailers that actually dunk lights at the ramp, IP67 provides a more realistic safety margin.
 

Build-stage tips that prevent future failures

Most summer lighting failures come from wiring runs and connectors, not the lamp body.
In production builds:
  • Route the loom high, avoiding low dips that sit in water.
  • Protect earth points from corrosion - clean metal contact, then seal.
  • Use grommets through steel and allow service slack.
  • Avoid exposed joins where water can creep in.

NZ summer WOF rush - what customers complain about

When summer arrives, your customers start launching and retrieving weekly. That’s when:
  • old plugs fail
  • earths corrode
  • cheap lights ingest water
  • wiring gets torn at flex points
A sealed LED kit plus smart wiring design reduces those callbacks dramatically.
 

Recommended kits for boat trailer builds