How To July 10, 2025

Stern Light Adjustment

Q: How do I safely trailer a pontoon boat with a Bimini top?

Before trailering , always lower and secure the Bimini top using the short support arms or straps. This prevents wind damage and ensures the top doesn’t catch on tree branches or overpasses during transport.

Learn how to easily adjust the sternlight on your Bennington pontoon boat’s standard Bimini frame top with this quick tutorial. Whether you're navigating under low bridges, trailering your boat, or reducing glare inside the boat, this step-by-step guide shows you how to position your sternlight safely and effectively. Great tips for new and experienced boaters alike.

Timecodes

0:00 - Intro
0:14 – Adjust Stern Light Rod
0:59 – Adjust the Top Light

Hi. I'm Greg from Bennington Marine. Today we're here at the plant and we're going to talk to you about how to adjust your sternlight on a standard Bimini frame top.

[WATER SPLASHING]

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

You'll notice that we lowered the top down. We're actually using the support arms, the shorter support arms on there. So that's perfect when say you're going underneath a low bridge on the water, in and out of your boat lift, or it's actually for trailering down the highway as well so you won't hit any tree branches as you're moving around. So it's very simple as far as adjusting your sternlight. I'll just show you real quick here.

Basically, you just loosen your knob, and then you just pick the position you want, so it's easy to adjust it wherever you want. Just be careful if you go all the way down. If you ever lower the top, obviously, you don't want to be scratching your motor. So be aware of that.

But the thing I really like about this sternlight, not only can you adjust the up and down portion of it, as you can adjust that down or up. That way you can keep the light from shining in the boat too much if you want by simply just moving the top of the light.

For more tips go to https://www.benningtonmarine.com/en-us/articles/.

Stern Light Adjustment FAQs

Before trailering, always lower and secure the Bimini top using the short support arms or straps. This prevents wind damage and ensures the top doesn’t catch on tree branches or overpasses during transport.
Yes, all boats—including pontoons—must display proper navigation lights between sunset and sunrise or during low visibility. This includes a white sternlight, red and green sidelights, and sometimes an all-around white light.
The height varies by model, but most pontoon boats with the Bimini top fully extended range from 6.5 to 8 feet tall. Always measure your specific setup before passing under bridges or storing in a garage.
Yes, many sternlights are replaceable or upgradeable. Look for LED options for better visibility and energy efficiency, and ensure the new light meets U.S. Coast Guard regulations.