Flag etiquette - what flies where?

Blkbird

Active Member
Jul 5, 2010
286
Lake Lanier, GA
Boat Info
1997 Sea Ray 450 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 3126 CATS
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…
  • 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?
 
Last edited:
I fly either the regular US Yacht Ensign or the US Power Squadrons Yacht Ensign from the transom and my local squadron's burgee from the bow. When I participate in Power Squadron boating events I fly the flag with my rank on it from the white light up top. If I ever do an international cruise I'll have to buy a 50-state flag.
 
Don't know if you would ever encounter the problem in Lake Lanier, but, if you do, the VHF antenna is a permissible alternative. Bow to stern: Maple leaf or Gadsden Flag, foreign flag, US flag.
 
David,

Foreign flag amidships on the mini-mast? That's against what I'd thought...
 
I fly the U.S. ensign or the U.S. Power Squadron ensign from the stern. I have flown the First Navy Jack from there on occassion, but I think that is technically not following proper flag etiquette. It's just a great flag, so it's hard to resist the temptation sometimes. I tend to fly the USPS ensign when there is a lot of law enforcement around, as I think that sometimes lowers the likelihood of getting stopped. I fly my local USPS burgee from the bow.
 
I fly the U.S. ensign or the U.S. Power Squadron ensign from the stern. I have flown the First Navy Jack from there on occassion, but I think that is technically not following proper flag etiquette. It's just a great flag, so it's hard to resist the temptation sometimes. I tend to fly the USPS ensign when there is a lot of law enforcement around, as I think that sometimes lowers the likelihood of getting stopped. I fly my local USPS burgee from the bow.


I fly a pirate flag off my VHF Antennae..

oh.. that might not be what you were referring to. ;)
 
I like the stern. It is probably is not "correct" since I do not fly it at the top. When at speed I've bent the light pole.:smt021

As far as law enforcement. We got stopped for inspection in front of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in the Muskegon (MI) Channel. Flag did not help. :grin:

Stepson is a U.S. Marine.

evan.jpg madi.jpg
 
You would think the US flag would be at the highest point then the other flags below just like the flagpole at home?
 
For us

Stern - US flag
Bow - Yacht Club Burgee
VHF antenna - Canadian or guest country flag
 
You would think the US flag would be at the highest point then the other flags below just like the flagpole at home?

the aft most flagstaff is the most important, something to do with naval history - so the ensign/national flag of the boat always *ALWAYS* goes there, think it as a mark of respect.

then, the second most important spot for a flag seems to differ with the kind of watercraft.... big ships and sailboats its as high as you can hoist a flag (usually up to the spreaders on a blowboat, usually a small mast of some description above the bridge - but higher than the signal flags) for "little" boats like ours, its usually as far forward as you can get it (usually on a small flagstaff on the bowsprit) - but as high as possible is ok too.

yes, varying other kinds of flags such as for a visiting dignitary, have more rules I'm not familiar with.

but no matter what - your own national ensign always takes pride of place at the stern.


http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f57/flag-etiquette-13125.html
 
Last edited:
American flag from the Stern.

Q flag or courtesy flag from the stern light mount.

Boats flag from the bow pulpit mount.

4633d69b2d77ee86c6b9152b28652b11.jpg
d6b09a259fb2562bea8cf7152c6e83f7.jpg
7d10d97627e3f477eaa32d4781e0ced6.jpg
4ab4ed3f45defe32357dfc6c785995ab.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
So I just returned from the Bahamas. Every boat at Atlantis followed this convention (which some of you have mentioned);

Flag of Registry - Stern
Port of Call - Top of Mast
Other unofficial flags (yacht club, martinis, etc.) - Bow
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,821
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top