Narrowboats fight back
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
These Bazookas from that link look far more impressive
byron
RIP
Narrowboats are often seen passing Ashmount proudly flying an unchallenged White Ensign. This new phenomenon of bearing dummy arms is probably part of our new finance strapped Royal Navy.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I saw that there a couple of weeks ago, an amusing thing to look at but I didn't think to call the police 
Seen a few white ensigns this year on small cruisers, I guess in this day of AIS and rapid communications the need for flags is fading :ambivalence: have noticed on the coastal Mobo forum newbies asking about flags and assuming it is some sort of old boys or exclusive club thing, so even flying a red is not very common now.
Seen a few white ensigns this year on small cruisers, I guess in this day of AIS and rapid communications the need for flags is fading :ambivalence: have noticed on the coastal Mobo forum newbies asking about flags and assuming it is some sort of old boys or exclusive club thing, so even flying a red is not very common now.
byron
RIP
I saw that there a couple of weeks ago, an amusing thing to look at but I didn't think to call the police
The ONLY people that can challenge illegal flying of Ensigns is a Naval Officer in Uniform or a Customs & Excise Officer. They can also seize the Ensign. Coastguards don't have the right (though some will) Old school Lock Keepers have been known to refuse to let a boat through their Lock on the grounds they would be abetting a crime. Ian Smith was one of these, he was very strict on the subject.
mikemanor
Well-Known Member
They don't have to be in uniform - and Military Officers also have said powers.
Merchant Shipping Act Part 1 Section 4:
3) If any colours are hoisted on board a ship in contravention of subsection (1) above, any of the following, namely—.
(a) any commissioned naval or military officer.
(b) any officer of customs and excise, and.
(c) any British consular officer,
may board the ship and seize and take away the colours.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I meant the fake missile Byron not the flag, although I wouldn't call the police about the flag either, I would just whinge on here about the youth of today, lack of standards etc...
byron
RIP
They don't have to be in uniform - and Military Officers also have said powers.
Merchant Shipping Act Part 1 Section 4:
3) If any colours are hoisted on board a ship in contravention of subsection (1) above, any of the following, namely—.
(a) any commissioned naval or military officer.
(b) any officer of customs and excise, and.
(c) any British consular officer,
may board the ship and seize and take away the colours.
I stand corrected, I was aware of Consular Officers but not aware that ANY armed forces officer had the power even out of uniform.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Pretty please,
What's an unchallenged White?
and are they Flying or Wearing?
Plenty of vessels wearing a 'St. George' - which I take as a great discourtesy; in my mind these are 'reserved' (as a custom) to the Little Ships.
bumperdump
N/A
bumperdump
N/A
you can fly what you like on the non tidal thames.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
In practical terms you're quite right - as nobody's going to bother. However, the Thames and possibly even other inland waterways are still subject to the Merchant Shipping Acts, so it's unlawful.
OTOH it's good to see folks wearing different Colours - it's adds to the interest and for my own part starts lockside conversations which sometime can be quite illuminating.
boatone
Well-Known Member
Dear Uncle Byron
I have a Long Handled Brush 34 cabin cruiser and usually fly a red duster at the back end and two or three club thingies on the roof. I also have a little weeny flag pole at the pointy front end on which I would rather like to fly what I believe is called a Pilot Jack ( who is Jack and is he in the RAF or does he work for Queasyjet ?) because I think it would look quite pretty.
Would I be committing any heinous offence by doing this? I would not want to upset other boaters or people who see me floating up and down the river by inadvertently offending some obscure etiquette of which I am blissfully unaware.
I would not normally ask your advice on such a minor issue but I seem to remember one of your neighbours contacted you complaining that I failed to remove my red duster one night when on your delightful moorings opposite the posh nosh establishment on the other side of the river.
I have a Long Handled Brush 34 cabin cruiser and usually fly a red duster at the back end and two or three club thingies on the roof. I also have a little weeny flag pole at the pointy front end on which I would rather like to fly what I believe is called a Pilot Jack ( who is Jack and is he in the RAF or does he work for Queasyjet ?) because I think it would look quite pretty.
Would I be committing any heinous offence by doing this? I would not want to upset other boaters or people who see me floating up and down the river by inadvertently offending some obscure etiquette of which I am blissfully unaware.
I would not normally ask your advice on such a minor issue but I seem to remember one of your neighbours contacted you complaining that I failed to remove my red duster one night when on your delightful moorings opposite the posh nosh establishment on the other side of the river.
AuntyRinum
Well-Known Member
I hate to see the wrong flags being flown on boats. If they are going to play the flag game it should be played properly.
byron
RIP
By unchallenged I mean no one has challenged them for wearing/flying an illegal ensign.
byron
RIP
The White Ensign with the border was originally a request for a Pilot. I think it was replaced in about 1905. Perhaps someone will look it up and confirm this. It is now quite acceptable to fly this at your bow and carries no message.
AuntyRinum
Well-Known Member
I think you are referring to a Pilot Jack which is the Union Flag with a white border.
Only the RN and Royal Yacht Squadron are entitled to fly a white ensign.
byron
RIP
It's just not my day. I'm getting everything mixed up. I know what I mean even if everyone else doesn't.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Apart from your goodself - some years ago (I recall the challenge was somewhat explosive)... BUT it wasn't really a White at the time. On a previous trip somebody 'twixt Marlow and Cookham rang the Cookham lockie and said "wsome bounder is wearing a White - have him horsewhipped". I had to explain that it wasn't exactly a White, so no longer 'illegal'. That conversation convinced me that it's worth creating an interest point on the River. Now, said lockie always exchanges a grin and conversation when we pass by.
Methinks it makes folks feel part of a community - which is all part of the River Experience. Folks who just use boating for travelling between one watering hole and another are missing a helluva lot.
As to the White / Union pilot flag - I was hoping to give you some information, but with the demise of the FOTW site and Mr. Bartram's erudite discussions, that information is now long lost (unless you pay a fee). Having been the principal maritime nation our flags and their progression through history is unequalled amongst other countries and is worth some examination - hence my obsession (?) with flags...
Gavi
Well-Known Member
We often fly a Harlequins flag. Last week a Locke questioned the etiquette of doing so. He was a Saracens fan