Flag flying rules

beachcombersc

New Member
May 7, 2007
576
Charleston S.C.
Boat Info
1999 3870
Engines
3116TA
I proudly fly an American flag attached to the starboard side if my rail near the bow. I have just installed a second 8' VHF antenna to the port side of the arch. I now have duel antennas and was thinking of flying two flags up top of these 8' vhf antennas, one on each. One would be an American flag, and I was thinking the SC flag on the other. Is there a rule for left or right when flying the two listed above at the same height? Any thoughts? Any ideas what to fly up front, if anything? Thanks all!!! -
 
National Colors to the left from the front of the two flags. No need to lower one unless their on the same pole, and I'm sure you can figure which one goes on top if thats the case.

If you'd like another color to fly, try this one!
UNST3501.gif
 
Last edited:
You should fly it from a staff at the transom. I realize that some sport fisherman might fly it from an outrigger, but this is really just a makeshift setup. That position is usually reserved for a courtesy flag or other signal flag (like quarrantine.) The following is quoted from USCGA on flag ettiquette:


The U.S. national ensign, sometimes called "50-star" or "Old Glory," is the proper and preferred flag for all U.S. vessels. Your boat should wear it from 0800 until sunset, and when you enter or leave port during daylight or at night, weather and rig permitting. While in port, if you leave your boat and will not return before sunset, lower and stow the national ensign before you go.
The national ensign worn by a vessel must be the flag of her registry—not necessarily that of the owner or operator.
Generally, the national ensign should be displayed at the peak of the gaff, i.e., the outer end of the spar extending aft from the mast of your boat—if you boat has a gaff. If it does not, fly it from the flagstaff at your boat's stern. If your boat has an overhanging boom or an outboard motor, your flagstaff may be offset to starboard (preferably) from your boat's centerline.
On a sportfishing boat, where a stern staff might interfere with the gear, and vice versa, the practice is to fly the ensign from a halyard rigged amidships on the after part of the superstructure.
Marconi-rigged sailboats may fly the ensign from the leech of the aftermost sail (or from the back stay), approximately 2/3 the distance up its length. This puts it in about the same position it would occupy if the boat were gaff-rigged.
At anchor or made fast, the ensign should be flown from the stern staff of all boats. The U.S. national ensign has a 10:19 hoist/fly ratio.
 
National Colors to the left from the front of the two flags. No need to lower one unless their on the same pole, and I'm sure you can figure which one goes on top if thats the case.

If you'd like another color to fly, try this one!
UNST3501.gif


My step son just graduated from MCRD San Diego, April 11, 2008, god love him and the marines.

Congratulations Evan.
 
To my understanding, the stern is reserved as the place of honor for the ensign (American Flag) or the yacht ensign, at approximately 1 " per linear foot of boat length. The Stae flag has customarily been flown on the bow, and should be smaller than the ensign. Courtesy flags are customarily flown on a sailboat's rigging, which would be likened to the anchor light or the antenna on a power boat, and again, no larger than the ensign. I follow these conventions on my boat with a 40 inch ensign, a 12X18 state flag on the bow, and a courtesy flag on my anchor light mast
 
Where does one fly the Yacht Club burgee? On the bow or on the anchor light stanchion?
 
I proudly fly an American flag attached to the starboard side if my rail near the bow. I have just installed a second 8' VHF antenna to the port side of the arch. I now have duel antennas and was thinking of flying two flags up top of these 8' vhf antennas, one on each. One would be an American flag, and I was thinking the SC flag on the other. Is there a rule for left or right when flying the two listed above at the same height? Any thoughts? Any ideas what to fly up front, if anything? Thanks all!!! -

There are no laws about flag flying, but there are customs and traditions. The U.S. national ensign (U.S. Flag) is properly flown from the stern staff. The bow staff is for USPS squadron burgees, yacht club (or other club) burgees or a personal burgee. (Burgees are triangular, pennant-shaped flags). It is not considered proper to fly the U.S. flag from the bow. Antennas are used for officer flags, private signals or USCGAux. ensigns.

Although you didn't ask, I would offer this advice on flag size. For a U.S. ensign, you generally want about 1 inch of "fly" to every 1 foot of boat LOA. For burgees or pennants flown from the bow, it's about 5/8 inch of fly per foot of boat.

David
 
I've always PROUDLY flown an embroidered american flag from the bow. I was not aware that it is not proper though? I think it just looks good up there. I have seen a few people with a large wooden mast mounted in the rod holders at the stern. Although classy I think it would tend to get in the way sometimes? To me flying old glory anywhere is good and shows your patriotism!
 
I'm glad the USCGA has their opinion but I fly from the bow 'cuz I like seeing it fly. Plus it somtimes helps with wind direction. - Bob
 
Ooh RAH MXer!!! I was kinda wondering about the "18" on your sig. I was with VMFA-232 and 212 during the gulf.


Nice! I just left VMFA(AW)-242 after spending time in the desert with them, well they left me to go replace 212 in Japan. 212 is going to the east coast. 242 went to Japan for good. I'm currently enjoying some leave then over to 121 I go. Nice to have another Jarhead on here!:smt038
 
No doubt there will be a lot of debate on what is proper or not.

Spent 24 years serving this country proudly; 4 years in the USMC Infantry and 20 years in the US Army Infantry.

The best rule of thumb when flying a flag "other than alone on a single centered pole/post/staff" is: the US colors will be to the left as in viewing.

In other words; if you have two antennas and you want to fly the US colors and the State flag, looking from the bow to stern of your boat the US colors will be flown on the antenna to the left, which will generally be the starboard side.

Now the rule is that no flag will be flown higher than the US colors, so as long as both antennas are the same height, both flags can be placed at the same position on each antenna.
 
I don't think anyone's arguing with it. Remember, we're talking CUSTOM and TRADITION, not rules and laws. But, maybe you could do better. With a 400, you could get a much larger U.S. ensign flying off the stern. It's also nice when you're in a slip, just kickin' back and relaxing, to have an proper sized flag, (and by that I mean properly proportioned to the size of your boat), off the stern so people can see it when they walk by your boat.

David
 
The US Stars & Stripes or the Yacht Ensign should be flown from the stern staff on power boats, from the aft stay on sail boats that do not have a stern flag stagg.

Starboard spreader/mast is reserved for signals including the "Q" and Courtesey flafg when visting other countries.

The Port Mast or spreader is an acceptable place to fly private colors, state flags and battle flags. The Bow staff is reserved for private signals such as burgees, yacht club burgees and other affinity based flags.

The US Stars and Bars should only be flown as proscribed for the type of vessel. The US Yacht ensign (circle of stars on a blue field) maybe flown in place of the US flag in US waters, but must be dipped to the US Flag in ceramonies.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,834
Members
60,931
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top