Flags

[Doc_holiday]

This is probably going to be. Stupid question but i got nothin' to loose.

On my clipper I had a small block just left of center on the starboard spreader for a flag. I used this spreaders originally on my Mac but since switched to the Mac spreaders. Anyway I was going to add that small block for a flag but it occurred to me I would have to deal with that line at some point. For those if you that have flags, where do you run the lines for hoisting those? I assume you have another block at the bottom somewhere.

Does it go to the mast, the lifeline or down to the deck and does it ever get in the way.

Also if we fly a flag on the rear stay, how does it attach?

 

[centerline]

Re: Flags.

I have a small pvc tube on my spreader that the flag attaches to.... when i attach the flag, I have a small line that i attach to the top of the tube and i throw it up and over the spreader... and i hoist the tube/flag.... its never in the way as the line is wrapped once around the spreader and held down with a small bungie ball around it and the shroud, just above the shroud adjuster protector tube....

 

[tkanzler]

Re: Flags.

I wrap the flag halyard around both the lifeline and the inner side stay, where they almost touch. A half hitch with both sides at once, then another with a loop for easy removal, and it never comes undone.

You can buy a cleat to clamp onto the inner stay, but I don't want something like that which can get caught on something when raising the mast or whatnot.

 

[alabamaranger]

I just tie mine to the life line.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Re: Flags.

They make a little helpful thing called the "shroud cleat" which you attach to a shroud and can tie lines to, like a small cleat.

Check it out on Defender or WM websites and/or catalogs. Many of us have installed small blocks on the spreaders and run thin line to the shroud cleats to hold flags on the starboard side.

 

[tkanzler]

Re: Flags.

Also, if you're considering mounting the halyard block off-center, remember that the flag or pennant may hit the mast or shroud, beating it up just that much faster. Most foreign courtesy and cocktail/beer/jolly roger flags are 12"x18", so your spreaders should be plenty long enough to keep them off the shrouds, though club burgees and pennants can be pretty long. I think it also looks better centered, but that's just my opinion.

You can buy a kit from WM for $73, or just hang an old block off a very small eye strap pop riveted to the spreader, thread some 1/8" or so line through it, get a pair of spring clips for $5 or boat snaps for a little more, and you're done. My halyard block is a small, very nice block with worn out ball bearings, but it's perfectly fine as a flag halyard block even if it doesn't roll. Heck, a plastic bullseye fairlead would work just as well, but I had this laying around looking to be put to work, so now it has a job.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Thanks for the input. I still have that small block... I think I'll do like alabamaranger. Looks good, and shan't be in the way

 

[willsnow]

i just use one of the spare blocks at the top of my mast and hoist a 3x5 ft Old Glory up my back stay. cleat it to the mast on one end, pull it tight, and the other end to one of the cleats on the cockpit coamings

 

[Joe]

Just remember the spreader halyard in NOT the place for the national ensign. The place of honor for the stars and stripes, union jack etc. is on a flagstaff at the stern or hoisted on the backstay or end of the aftermost gaff on a gaff rigged vessel.

 

[Chris Patterson]

I use the aforementioned shroud cleat as well. It has never been in the way, and it does double duty of a bungee cord from the cleat to the halyards at rest, to help keep the halyards from slapping the mast. Poor form.
Around here, they're just decoration. Like said, beer flags,(mostly), which gives me some insight of the crew before approaching them, very handy. And other goofy flags which serve no purpose. A cruiser would hang quarantine flags and the such from it. Distress maybe, but I've often wondered why anyone would take the time to hang a distress flag up in a pinch. "Honey, the boat is on fire, now would be a good time to hang that orange flag". So, pretty much useless. I'll occasionally hang an Italian flag in honor of the Mafia.

Another pirate flag also gives me some intellectual insight as well.

Oh yeah, a radar reflector goes up it very well.

 

[Brian S]

If you go with a shroud cleat, make sure it will fit your shrouds. I picked up a C. Sherman Johnson SS cleat, shown here: http://www.csjohnson.com/marinecatalog/00050.htm only to discover the smallest shroud it works with is 5/32", and my shrouds are 1/8".

But as a result of this thread, I did a search for "shroud cleat" and came up with the 52110 from Baton Marine: http://www.bartonmarine.com/products-special-cleats.asp (I found it first on Amazon.) This one appears to be a nylon cleat that screws to the backing plate. It doesn't say anything about a minimum size, just max of 3/8".

Then again, I now have shroud covers on my shrouds, so I wouldn't be able to use a shroud cleat anyway...

If I get around to rigging a flag halyard, I guess I'd just tie it off to the lifelines...

As it is now, I use these Du-Bro flag clips directly to the shrouds: http://shop.proseriesfishing.com/p/flag-clips/marine-accessories?pp=25 or for right at the top of the shroud cover, the antenna clips: http://shop.proseriesfishing.com/p/antenna-flag-clips/marine-accessories?pp=25

When I'm close hauled, my club burgee and O'day "class" burgee do bug the heck out of me, slapping against the main... And I can only put them as high as I can reach standing on top of the cabin. Same goes for my Jack Rackham pirate flag clipped to the backstay. I wish I could get that about 1/3 of the way up the backstay... come this fall when I pull the boat, I guess I could seize a small block up the backstay, and run a flag halyard down the backstay. It's important to fly the colors, especially when we have a club water war!

Brian

They make a little helpful thing called the "shroud cleat" which you attach to a shroud and can tie lines to, like a small cleat.

Check it out on Defender or WM websites and/or catalogs. Many of us have installed small blocks on the spreaders and run thin line to the shroud cleats to hold flags on the starboard side.

 

[Indysailor]

I mounted a little block at the masthead and fly my ensign on the backstay with a shroud cleat just within reach. The real bonus is that it's a great win indicator. We also have a halyard on the stbd spreader with a shroud cleat. It's fouled the genny sheet a time or two, but with practice I learned how to keep the sheet clear of it.

 

[Chris Patterson]

I use the aforementioned shroud cleat as well. It has never been in the way, and it does double duty of a bungee cord from the cleat to the halyards at rest, to help keep the halyards from slapping the mast. Poor form.
Around here, they're just decoration. Like said, beer flags,(mostly), which gives me some insight of the crew before approaching them, very handy. And other goofy flags which serve no purpose. A cruiser would hang quarantine flags and the such from it. Distress maybe, but I've often wondered why anyone would take the time to hang a distress flag up in a pinch. "Honey, the boat is on fire, now would be a good time to hang that orange flag". So, pretty much useless. I'll occasionally hang an Italian flag in honor of the Mafia.

Another pirate flag also gives me some intellectual insight as well.

Oh yeah, a radar reflector goes up it very well.

 

[Kermit]

Just remember the spreader halyard in NOT the place for the national ensign. The place of honor for the stars and stripes, union jack etc. is on a flagstaff at the stern or hoisted on the backstay or end of the aftermost gaff on a gaff rigged vessel.

Dang y'all, I guess I'm guilty of something. But I feel I fly my flags with the utmost respect and honor. I think they look good, too. I may catch flack from y'all but dang I like the way this looks. I always fly the U.S. flag and the South Carolina flag. So far I've been able to fly the state flag for every out-of-state guest we've had on our boat. If that's not respect and honor, I don't know what is.

 

[Kermit]

Oh, and I use a little bitty block at the spreader and I use a shroud cleat on the shroud.

 

[tkanzler]

A cruiser would hang quarantine flags and the such from it.

Yeah, yellow quarantine until cleared by customs/immigration, then a courtesy flag of the country you're visiting.

 

[Mike B1026]

Dang y'all, I guess I'm guilty of something. But I feel I fly my flags with the utmost respect and honor. I think they look good, too. I may catch flack from y'all but dang I like the way this looks. I always fly the U.S. flag and the South Carolina flag. So far I've been able to fly the state flag for every out-of-state guest we've had on our boat. If that's not respect and honor, I don't know what is.

I have flown my state flag in the same place but I think it's technically wrong. In fact, I have never found a definitive answer as to flying state / provincial flags. I assume they are not supposed to be flown. I think the guest flag is also supposed to be on the port spreader. Luckily only foreign nations seem to fine people for incorrect etiquette.

http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#honoring-o-n-flags

 

[Kermit]

I have flown my state flag in the same place but I think it's technically wrong. In fact, I have never found a definitive answer as to flying state / provincial flags. I assume they are not supposed to be flown. I think the guest flag is also supposed to be on the port spreader. Luckily only foreign nations seem to fine people for incorrect etiquette.

http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#honoring-o-n-flags

If state flags aren't supposed to be flown I guess I shouldn't fly my spinnaker.

 

[Joe]

I have flown my state flag in the same place but I think it's technically wrong. In fact, I have never found a definitive answer as to flying state / provincial flags. I assume they are not supposed to be flown. I think the guest flag is also supposed to be on the port spreader. Luckily only foreign nations seem to fine people for incorrect etiquette.

http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#honoring-o-n-flags

That's a good link, Mike. As confusing as it can be, the bottom line... is if you're on a sailboat, don't fly the national ensign from the spreader halyard... it belongs by itself on the stern or backstay. I would guess that the state flag could be considered a "courtesy" flag...I'd fly it on the spreader halyard to honor the "nationality" of the folks on board. Might be other opinions on that, .... especially from the southerners in the group. heh heh.

The flag etiquette thing has evolved from the tradition of the great seafaring nations throughout history. Those traditions change and evolve.. so in Kermit's case.......if he chooses to fly his flags his way, then that's cool....no one's gonna freak out, certainly not me.... However, your link expresses the currently acknowledged etiquette in displaying flags nautically..... which is also a good way to show respect, not only to our flag, but to those of other nations if you travel outside the country.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Yeah I knew Old Glory flew from the stern. I was referring to club flags or other flags like the silly ones that have old guys rule or something on them. I don't see us taking our Mac into other country's waters any time soon. I do want to fly a small Aruba flag from my spreader but only when the larger US flag is up on the stern. (I hope to retire there and its a reminder to me why i work) Thanks to all.