I gave up on using the trailer frame as a ground and ran a white ground wire to each fixture. That doesn't mean there aren't any trailer wiring problems, but it seems there are fewer. Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: Mark House Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 6:26 PM To: Montgomery Sailboats Chat Subject: M_Boats: Trailer Day It's been so quiet on the chat group that I thought I'd share my day with y'all. I decided to fix the trailer lights on my 1977 M-17. They are almost new, LED's that I thought would never need maintenance. I had trouble with the ground at each light last year, but the ground wires and attaching bolts looked new. So I checked out the car circuits, then the ground, then the trailer to car ground. All good, but still no light. Then I noticed the former owner had several crimped connections in the wriing. One was loose, so I figured it was the problem. I soldered the connections together on one side, but still no light. So I took the light fixture off the other side and tested it on the boat battery in my garage. Worked great! So I rigged a new ground at that light and tested. Yes, it was the same old ground problem. Even though the bolt looked good, It wasn't connecting with the trailer. So I drilled and tapped new grounds. Then on the side I started on, I realized that the license plate was rubbing on the wiring and could not be adjusted where it wouldn't. So I built a new light bracket positioned far enough away from the license that it wouldn't be a problem. Then I had to paint the new steel parts and install. Then prime and paint again. I broke a drill bit. I cut my thumb with a knife and bled all over my wiring. I dripped Rust-Oleum on my driveway. Tomorrow I need to go get some fender washers to remount the license plate. I'm trying to get epoxy filler to set on the deck for my new jib track. But it gets into the 20's at night. So I set up a heater under the tarp over the boat. If it doesn't burn down, I should be able to set the track by the end of the week. Now I'm enjoying a nice glass of red wine. After many decades of boating, most of my worst days still involve a boat trailer. Fair Winds, Mark House Durango, CO _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats When posting, remember that there is no privacy on the Internet!