lighting board

   Hi,
I'm looking for tips on designing a lighting board for trailering my dinghy (Phantom)

It has pintels on the transom - so was going to cut a bit of MDF to attach number plate and lights to - with a high 'U' shaped bit in the middle to take the mast.

However, I'm a bit worried about weather (will MDF just disintegrate over time) and weight (will it be too much strain on the transom)

Toying with the idea of buying a UPVC window board and fashioning it out of that

Another question - how wide should it be? is 4 foot wide enough?

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wolfram Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 21 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote wolfram Report Post Quote Reply Topic: lighting board Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 9:56am
	Hi, I'm looking for tips on designing a lighting board for trailering my dinghy (Phantom) It has pintels on the transom - so was going to cut a bit of MDF to attach number plate and lights to - with a high 'U' shaped bit in the middle to take the mast. However, I'm a bit worried about weather (will MDF just disintegrate over time) and weight (will it be too much strain on the transom) Toying with the idea of buying a UPVC window board and fashioning it out of that Another question - how wide should it be? is 4 foot wide enough?
	Wolfram

ClubRacer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 26 Sep 15 Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Post Options Post Reply Quote ClubRacer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 10:26am
	would it not be easier to get something like this? you can get different ones to configure to pintle spacing and type https://www.sailboats.co.uk/solo-long-length-mast-and-trailer-board-bracket-683255?gclid=CjwKCAjw8KmLBhB8EiwAQbqNoKxu469qINfmDba64os7BN7PGr_AG08WVUKxU30Jn-UGgrsEGngeKRoCUqoQAvD_BwE Edited by ClubRacer - 16 Oct 21 at 10:26am

NickM99 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 26 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 145	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM99 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 10:39am
	You probably can't get anything else these days but my life was transformed by buying a board with LED lights. The old ones sold e.g. by Halfords were very unreliable.

wolfram Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 21 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote wolfram Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 10:56am
	Hi - I've actually bought these wireless LED lights - they are working really well - just need to mount them - Edited by wolfram - 16 Oct 21 at 10:57am
	Wolfram

wolfram Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 21 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote wolfram Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 10:58am
	Thanks - that is cheaper than the ones I had seen before, I'll have to check sizes
	Wolfram

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Oct 21 at 3:54pm
	MDF is no good. you need decent quality ply or proper universal brakes which are available in metal or fibreglass

Old bloke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 03 Nov 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Post Options Post Reply Quote Old bloke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Oct 21 at 7:51am
	Those wireless lights look great. When cars were simple and I was poor I used to fit my own towbar and wire up the socket. I used to leave the socket inside the boot away from the rain mud and salt. With the wireless connection you could easily do the same and remove another cause of the bloody things not working.

Gordon 1430 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Jun 17 Location: Lee on Solent Online Status: Offline Posts: 310	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gordon 1430 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Oct 21 at 9:13am
	Wolfram I had a piece of MDF as you described t lasted for about 3 years befor moisture ot the better of it. I replaced it with 1/2 inch ply but whatever you can find. Most important thing it to make sure you can hold the board onto the pintels, I always secure mine with rope onto the transom bar and I now have a pin to hold the board in place
	Gordon Phantom 1430

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Oct 21 at 11:21am
	Old bloke, I still fit my own towbar and electrics, mornings work for best part of a thousand quid, dealers are rip off artists.
	Robert

Old bloke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 03 Nov 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Post Options Post Reply Quote Old bloke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Oct 21 at 3:01pm
	I'm sure you are right, but you get out of the habit. Ever since they started putting a big cover over the engine with"GO AWAY" in big letters on it, it became too stressful!