MacGregorSailors.com

I have noticed , in so many posted pictures , that a lot of Ya'll fly flags from the backstay or guide wire that runs from mast to stern . How do you get anything to stay up on the stay ?

Little metal spring clips for just this purpose...
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sku=437150

Like this
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0_2520.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0_2511.jpg

Just undo the topping lift at the end of the boom then take it up & stand on the cabin roof at the mast reaching as high as you can then tie on your flags or buy retainer clips and clip them on reattach your topping lift & your done

J

Hello,
FYI: The metal spring clips make noise when the flag eyes rattle in a breeze (like when you would really like to be sleeping). Also the clips will slide together collapsing the flag unless you put a length of life line cover on the stay to keep the clips separated.

Just crimp on a sleeve, while you are add it add a 1/8 wire with hook so you can hold up the boom without useing a topping lift.
Dave

Gypsy wrote:I have noticed , in so many posted pictures , that a lot of Ya'll fly flags from the backstay or guide wire that runs from mast to stern . How do you get anything to stay up on the stay ?

Zip Ties work just fine for me, no rattling, no sliding. You have to cut them to take the flag off though. I also use smaller flags, nothing huge.

Paulieb

I attached a micro block to the backstay about 6 feet from the top of the mast, and put a halyard cleat just above the bottom end of the backstay. I have a 1/8" halyard rove through that block, and I just tie the flag top-and-bottom to the tails of that halyard.

Duct tape.

C ya
Clemo.

DaveB wrote:Just crimp on a sleeve, while you are add it add a 1/8 wire with hook so you can hold up the boom without useing a topping lift.
Dave

Superb idea - I love it when one device can serve two functions!

...and its kharmic release when you attain three functions.

Thanks guys ! I'll get some of the clips

I used the clips for years, never really stayed up on their own, needed a turn or two of tape just below them and they do rattle in the wind.

I've left the tape on, and simply switched to small cheap cable ties. Put them on at the start of the trip, and cut them off at the end. Much easier and cheaper, no noise. A $2 bag of small cable ties will last you for years.

Size of Stern National Flag?

Lots of different thoughts on this, but general rule of thumb is "one inch on the fly (length) for ever foot of boat length".

Other flags, such as club burgees and courtesy flags for use on sailboats, should generally be approximately 1/2 inch for each foot of the highest mast above the water. For example, on a 30ft. boat, with 50ft. between the masthead and the water, the burgee should be about 25 in. i.e. about 2 ft.

Flown dawn till dusk...I confess I dont take mine down at night...

Actually, The correct times are 0800 to sunset, and any time day or night when you are entering or leaving port.

http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html

We fly the Yacht ensign instead of the National ensign and leave it up all the time while we are out. I rationalize that since it is not the National ensign it is OK to leave up all the time, but technically this is not correct. The Yacht Ensign has the fouled anchor in place of the stars. Even though it's use as legal identification was repealed in 1980, it's still accepted for a US pleasure vessels and threes states (Arkansas, Maryland, and Washington) have re-recognized it's legal standing. It is only correct to use in US waters, it has no international standing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_of_ ... cht_ensign