Sidestay Flag Rigging

[jdratlif]

I want to be able to rig my boat so I can raise flags. The flags I want to fly are more recreational flags, so I don't need to follow any set standard as to where they are on the boat. I have been on a larger sailboat where they ran rigging up their sidestays so they could fly flags on their sidestays. My questions are, has anyone tried this? If this will not work, how have other people flown flags off of their boats? Some pictures of rigging and operation will be very helpful and appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Roger Long]

 

[higgs]

Standard is to fly flags from your starboard shroud (side stay). Roger has the typical setup that will work if not using the halyard for a radar reflector.

 

[Ron20324]

While you're up in the air, I'd put one on BOTH sides.

 

[Roger Long]

Roger has the typical setup that will work if not using the halyard for a radar reflector.

I have a block in the middle of my port spreader for the radar reflector. A short piece of shock cord on a loop runs up the shroud and keeps it from spinning in the wind.

 

[Mike B]

If you mount alladin cleats on the stays place them so a flogging jib sheet wont get hung up on them.

 

[Ron20324]

If you mount alladin cleats on the stays place them so a flogging jib sheet wont get hung up on them.

And put the shroud-mounted flag cleat above where someone may snag on them. Mine are above head level, so it's high even if I stand on the cabin top.

 

[Rick Sylvester]

My flag halyard cleats

are on the mast so we don't have those issues.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hummmmmm. With all the times I've stood on the spreaders I never considered them falling down.

 

[LuzSD]

We ripped our new headsail last summer on the tiniest clip we used to hoist our club flag. Our sailmaker said he sees this all the time. It looked really similar to how Roger has his set up, so I am assuming there is no little metal clippy thing there. It was expensive and sad but we learned a great lesson!

 

[Joe]

Use a separate flag halyard, don't attach them to the shrouds. Position the halyard block on the spreader so the flags wouldn't hang on the shroud. You can rig more than one flag halyard on the same spreader. Look at navy ships. To easily hoist multiple flags, as if you were signaling, attach a clip to the bottom corner of each flag to allow you to clip it to the top corner of the next one. If the flags are stored with rubber bands holding them folded, you can hoist the entire signal set before breaking them out simultaneously with a quick downward tug. Very cool. Just like the signal officer on a war ship.

 

[Dave Groshong]

You can do it yourself of course, but we do offer the handy dandy spreader halyard kit:

http://shop.SailboatOwners.com/detail.htm?group=574

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Not to hijack this thread but where are on a sailboat are you supposed to fly the US flag? I have never really been clear on this. Any thoughts?

POTL

 

[WayneH]

http://www.waypoints.com/popups/flagetiquette.html

This is helpful to me.