Blkbird
Active Member
This is no doubt an issue that has been flogged to death. Namely what flag to fly where. Our Sea Rays have three positions from where to fly a flag; the stern, the bow or bow pulpit, and the mini-mast directly over the cockpit. But I keep hearing different versions of what flies where.
This one is universally agreed upon: U.S. vessels while in international or foreign waters must fly the U.S. Ensign (50-star flag) at the stern rather than the Yacht Ensign. In domestic waters you can fly the Yacht Ensign instead but still at the stern.
Now here is where sources vary for a mastless powerboat (like ours). The courtesy flag of another nation replaces any flag that is normally flown at the bow of the boat. So if you are visiting the Bahamas, you'd fly first the yellow flag and then the Bahamian flag (once you'd registered) off the bow. No idea what you fly overhead and on our boats getting to that “mini-mast” flag pole can be challenging and changing the flag can be a PITA. But West Marine states I should be flying a Yacht club burgee from the bow pulpit. But the courtesy flag is flown at the bow… confusing. :huh: I've also heard you fly the courtesy flag directly overhead and whatever the heck you want at the bow (martini flag, yacht club flag, etc). I believe it’s called the Burgee or Private Signal? Or possibly even the Jack flag. That would kind of match up with West Marine’s advice.
Apparently too, it is also a common courtesy to fly the national flag(s) of your guest(s) on board, if they have a different nationality than the ensign is showing. So my wife is Canadian and I should fly the Maple Leaf… but where?
I like this version: Ensign aft, Burgee Forward, Private Signal on Mast (the mini-mast). If in foreign waters take down the Burgee and fly the country’s courtesy flag. On power boats with a mast, the Burgee is flown from the bow pulpit and the private signal from the masthead. No mast….it replaces the Burgee on the bow.
So to summarize…
Is this what the rest of you Sea Ray owners do?
This one is universally agreed upon: U.S. vessels while in international or foreign waters must fly the U.S. Ensign (50-star flag) at the stern rather than the Yacht Ensign. In domestic waters you can fly the Yacht Ensign instead but still at the stern.
Now here is where sources vary for a mastless powerboat (like ours). The courtesy flag of another nation replaces any flag that is normally flown at the bow of the boat. So if you are visiting the Bahamas, you'd fly first the yellow flag and then the Bahamian flag (once you'd registered) off the bow. No idea what you fly overhead and on our boats getting to that “mini-mast” flag pole can be challenging and changing the flag can be a PITA. But West Marine states I should be flying a Yacht club burgee from the bow pulpit. But the courtesy flag is flown at the bow… confusing. :huh: I've also heard you fly the courtesy flag directly overhead and whatever the heck you want at the bow (martini flag, yacht club flag, etc). I believe it’s called the Burgee or Private Signal? Or possibly even the Jack flag. That would kind of match up with West Marine’s advice.
Apparently too, it is also a common courtesy to fly the national flag(s) of your guest(s) on board, if they have a different nationality than the ensign is showing. So my wife is Canadian and I should fly the Maple Leaf… but where?
I like this version: Ensign aft, Burgee Forward, Private Signal on Mast (the mini-mast). If in foreign waters take down the Burgee and fly the country’s courtesy flag. On power boats with a mast, the Burgee is flown from the bow pulpit and the private signal from the masthead. No mast….it replaces the Burgee on the bow.
So to summarize…
- I’m going to call the Maple Leaf a Private Signal as it carries symbols standing for the Admiral (read wife) and fly that from the mini-mast.
- I fly the Yacht Ensign in domestic waters or the Stars and Stripes in international waters off the stern.
- That leaves the bow or bow pulpit. That would fly the Burgee/Jack flag. I don’t have an affiliation so that would seem to be where you’d fly your fun flag such as the pirate flag. But when entering foreign waters the bow or bow pulpit is reserved for the courtesy flag of the nation I’m visiting.
Is this what the rest of you Sea Ray owners do?
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