Best Bird Deterent yet: Flying a Flag

McIntoshUSA

McIntoshUSA

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Jun 5, 2014
209
Capital Yacths Newport MKIII 30 Punta Gorda, Fl
Bird Deterrent!
It seems that having a flag waving at the top of the mast really helps to keep the birds away!
I put a flagpole at the top of my mast to fly a small flag up above the wind vane. I used a piece of aluminum I got at Home Depot, added a small block and line to the base of the mast.


You can see my neighbors mast below my spreaders. He strapped a stick with a flag on the end of his halyard and raises it to the top. Does the same thing.
This really seems to be working for both of us. This is the best thing I have found that works. I plan to leave mine up flying all the time.
 

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31seahorse

31seahorse

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Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Nice idea, BUT........There will be flocks of birds flying around Punta Gorda looking for a place to rest their weary wings! I hope the SPCA does not pay you a visit.;)
 
R

Rick486

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Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
McIntoshUSA said:
Bird Deterrent!
It seems that having a flag waving at the top of the mast really helps to keep the birds away!
I put a flagpole at the top of my mast to fly a small flag up above the wind vane. I used a piece of aluminum I got at Home Depot, added a small block and line to the base of the mast.


You can see my neighbors mast below my spreaders. He strapped a stick with a flag on the end of his halyard and raises it to the top. Does the same thing.
This really seems to be working for both of us. This is the best thing I have found that works. I plan to leave mine up flying all the time.
Click to expand
What happens if no wind?
 
Sailm8

Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,750
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
A neighbor used flags like used car dealers string around the lot (for the same reason). Had to deal with the s$%t from the HOA.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,178
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Your device is called a "pig stick". I think we should add your creative application to the definition.... way to go.
From Wiki:
A pig stick is a staff that carries a flag or pennant, usually the burgee of the boat owner's yacht club or private signal, above a mast of a sailboat.[1] It's connected to a halyard so when it's raised the top of the mast, the "pig stick" extends above the mast, allowing the flag to be seen flying above the boat's sails. Pig sticks are especially useful on catboats and other sailboats which have no stays to which a flag halyard can be attached.
Click to expand
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
Is there a way to rig a pig stick so that the stick halyards do not slap and wear against the mast?
 
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C

Capt jgw

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Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
If you put enough tension on the halyard it won't slap, but it takes a lot of tension. If you rig the halyard to another point a little distance from the mast, the stick won't stand straight up, but it won't slap either. I have external halyards and loop them over thumb cleats on the leading and trailing edge of the spreaders when not in in use, that would work on a pig stick too with the thumb cleat maybe six inches from the mast.
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
Great idea to protect the mast from the pig stick. Nòw how to protect the mast from the slapping halyard.
 
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