Flags

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Donald Tyson

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My wife wants a US flagged I want a burgee and we don't want to become a flag geeks. It's our boat and we want it to look a certain way and that's that. But I don't want to offend anyone and would rather go without if flag rules are a dividing subject. I tried to gain some knowledge from the net but it seems confusing. I know that many of you have much experience with traveling by boat and thus rubbing shoulders with other boaters. Where would you suggest that I hang these two flags: USA, AGLCA?
 

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The main reason I fly a flag on my bow is for a wind direction and speed indicator. I chose a state of Oregon flag.
 
The only place to fly a US flag on a CDory is a Stern Staff. I have used both wooden and stainless Steel for shaft material. A 24" bottom length is proper for both the 22 and 25 foot C Dorys. I have installed on the Stb side, at the inner aft part of the aft deck, to the starboard side of the spash well. The shaft should be long enough so that the flag does not hit the deck, or a motor, etc. I put the flag on the Splashwell side, because it is less likey to be grabbed by someone who is "helping" you dock,

A yacht club or speciality flag is from the bow staff. If you are a flag officer of a club, you would fly that distinctive flag from a Starboard antenna--however I discourange flying flags from an antenna, because of stress on the antenna mount. I have flown some distinctive flag from an antenna, only at the dock.

Chapman's is the "official" place for info on yacht etiquette. If you are entering or boating in a foreign country, that country's flag is flown from the Starboard side--antenna, pole or spreader. The yellow, "Q", "I request Practique" flag is flown below the country flag until cleared into the country.
 
This was brought up during a class with USPS. The stern staff is most common, also historic and proper for a motorized boat, but you probably don't want to keep the flag there when fishing, as a big King salmon can move you all over the cockpit. I've never fished on a boat that displayed one from the stern, I guess for good reason. The USPS does offer other choices during boat operation (i.e. fishing) that might interfere, such as mounting it on a staff at the rear of a cabin above the activity, but you shouldn't have rods in rocket launchers above the flag. I would just take it down, as you don't want to whack Old Glory with a fishing rod, lure or line (or fish?).
 
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