UK-Cherub Forum

Cherub Chat => Sailing Stories => Topic started by: roland_trim on November 11, 2011, 10:53:15 AM

Title: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: roland_trim on November 11, 2011, 10:53:15 AM: Those who know just how many lighting boards I've toasted in the past year may be amused to read that last night Sgt. Murphey and myself got pulled over by the police.

Strangely I had a brand new board on the rear and had therefore not fitted the standard bike lights that adorn EJ. After driving cross country the lights board had gone with the exception of a single brake/indicator.

After escorting me 2 1/2 junctions done the M4 (the other two were closed) they kindly set me on my way with two torches strapped to the back and the following message -
"following the M5 incident we will be twitchy about anything being dark from the back - technically you don't need brakes/indicators just a visible number plate and two red lights at night"
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Hayley_Trim on November 11, 2011, 11:36:18 AM: Hmm. Meanwhile Crootie and I had a pleasant chat and R's dinner was in the dog. Or it would have been if we had one. Hamster didn't fancy it much.
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Phil Alderson on November 11, 2011, 01:55:51 PM: How are you wrecking so many lighting boards?

If it is the bulbs, you could try fastning the board to a heavy bit of wood, which would damp some of the vibrations.

I have thought about using LED bulbs for a bit of extra brightness, however the cost is a bit high at the moment, and just replacing the bulbs still leaves you open to corrosion.
A while ago I found a pair of fully integrated rear LED lights for approx £60 and was tempted but am not towing enough to justify it..
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: simon_jones on November 11, 2011, 02:53:21 PM: It seems that you are not alone, they just don't make em like they used to. We found that often the stamped out metal bulb holders can have sharp edges, leading to the insulation on the wires wearing through and shorting out.
Last year I had to have the car tow bar rewired due to this happening.
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: phil_kirk on November 11, 2011, 03:25:57 PM: Due to having 3 boats with different lighting board mounting arrangements we have three lighting boards. The enterprise one probably gets the most abuse on local roads an occasionally one indicator doesn't work. Otherwise no probs. I do have an old lighting board that I can scavenge for spares.

Just means we keep having to move the number plate from one board to the other a lot depending on the boat and car combination.
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Will_Lee on November 11, 2011, 03:31:32 PM: http://www.thelightingboardcompany.co.uk/index.php

Quite pricey. Well very pricey.
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: paul_croote on November 12, 2011, 10:48:30 PM: Interesting, been looking closely at the blurb on the add, makes me wonder if "The evoboard is a result of four years research and development during which time a number of options and technologies were explored and discarded" means they haven't bothered with indicators or brake lights, as Roland discovered the only legal requirement is for two lights!
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: dave_ching on November 13, 2011, 11:45:51 AM: A deffinate case of less is more
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Banshee Ambulance on November 13, 2011, 08:03:43 PM: Quote from: Born Slippy on November 11, 2011, 10:53:15 AM
Those who know just how many lighting boards I've toasted in the past year may be amused to read that last night Sgt. Murphey and myself got pulled over by the police.

Strangely I had a brand new board on the rear and had therefore not fitted the standard bike lights that adorn EJ. After driving cross country the lights board had gone with the exception of a single brake/indicator.

After escorting me 2 1/2 junctions done the M4 (the other two were closed) they kindly set me on my way with two torches strapped to the back and the following message -
"following the M5 incident we will be twitchy about anything being dark from the back - technically you don't need brakes/indicators just a visible number plate and two red lights at night"

Will a numberplate made from yellow and black electrical tape count?
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: simon_jones on November 15, 2011, 04:36:11 PM: Our number plates have heavy duty velcro stuck on them so if you need to change cars just take one off and replace it. Saves on different boards
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Graham Bridle on November 15, 2011, 05:20:18 PM: I havnt towed with a number plate matching my car since about 1994 - should I start practicing my soap retrieval techniques in the shower ?
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: BenR on November 15, 2011, 06:15:26 PM: I'm pretty sure your trailer's number plate doesn't have to match your car as long as the number plate you use is registered to the same address.
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: Tim Noyce on November 16, 2011, 11:35:51 AM: Thought that we should start as we mean to go on with Numb and have already upgraded the towing arrangements. What we have here the mast support which attaches via the gantry but due to the stump I have had to offset it so that the mast can sit without fouling it. Kate has also made a funky bag to keep all the wires from swinging about and it has some super hi-vis reflective tape so that other folk can see it protruding out the back. Think this should solve the problem!
Title: Re: Lights, flashing lights and action
Post by: phil_kirk on November 16, 2011, 12:39:36 PM: Well given our experience at Largo last year I would certainly support being as visible as you can reasonably be. Nice mast bag though.

Ours dosen't overhang by more than 2 inches and the mast is secured with bungees. The lighting board is as far back on the boat as it can go at the back of the racks and also secured with strong bungee. Some additional high vis onour cover and trailor mud gaurds would help.

Thanks for the Velcro tip Simon.