Red Ensign

[Mirror Painter]

Today I bought a Red Ensign and chrome plated mast to wear / show / fly it from. This was a good move because the Assistant Captain, (my four year old son), was really interested to learn about this special flag for boats and was pleased that his duties now include putting the flag up at dawn and dusk. For the moment the flag is stuck to the end of his bed.

We shall talk about what to do when sighting a Royal Yacht or warship at Lechlade as the need arises.

I already know the Red Ensign should be mounted as near to the stern as possible. But on my tiny boat it can't be placed in the middle so, before holes are drilled, I want to know if there is any tradition or etiquette which dictates the side it should be on? Any ideas?

Thanks,

Stephen.

 

[Dave_Seager]

The red ensign should be flown at the stern but, as you say, it can be difficult on a small boat. Have you thought of mounting a flagstaff on the outboard motor hood?

 

[Mirror Painter]

Thanks for your reply. The port and starboard exremites of the stern are as far astern as any other part of the boat itself -after that it's out-board engine. Am I correct in thinking that stern means rear rather than centre rear?

I think the back of the boat rather than on top of the engine will be good enough - in fact it will have to be. It's more a question of wether one side is a bad place. On the one hand

I would like to respect tradition and tell my son about it. On the other hand surely tradition doesn't really expect me to drill holes in the old Mercury?

The red ensign should be flown at the stern but, as you say, it can be difficult on a small boat. Have you thought of mounting a flagstaff on the outboard motor hood?

 

[Captain Coochie]

Its normally mounted on the STBD side as this is the side you normally moor up on to take a piss over the port side .

 

[boatone]

As the rule of the river is to keep to the starb'd or right hand side, there would be a certain logic to mounting it as near the centre line as you can but on the side nearest the centre of the river and nearest those that will pass you going the other way i.e. the port quarter.

 

[Captain Coochie]

But only if you want your flag to smell of wee .

 

[Mirror Painter]

I think my boat must be posher than some - it has a chemical toilet in a cupboard and a 2Ltr pop bottle, (neck widened of course), in another. There is no peeing over the side on Moxon! My immediate neighbour on the mooring is a retired vicar and his wife...

Boatone - port quarter is good. I have to step on to the starboard quarter to open the canopy and the boat is so small that would mean I was treading on / slipping off the bracket for the flag staf

I'm not too bothered where it goeas - P or S, providing I'm not offending any other boater or tradition.

Thanks.

 

[Mirror Painter]

'open the canopy' - as in to enter the boat when arriving.

 

[Mirror Painter]

See picture below of the world's best boat. N.B. was taken before new canopy was fitted which folds down in a much neater way. She is even more beautiful now.

You can see what I mean about not being able to have the flag in the centre stern. 'X' is the proposed location and from what you are all saying I think that should be alright. Providing I don't pee on it

 

[Ramage]

See picture below of the world's best boat. N.B. was taken before new canopy was fitted which folds down in a much neater way. She is even more beautiful now.

You can see what I mean about not being able to have the flag in the centre stern. 'X' is the proposed location and from what you are all saying I think that should be alright. Providing I don't pee on it

That is where the ensign staff was mounted on my first boat (Huntress II) which had a very similar layout.

 

[oldgit]

PS.If you buy one of those flangy things which you screw to deck and pop flag staff into pipe bit,before you mount it drill small drain hole.
After a week or two it WILL fill with rain and then some green goo will think its a nice place to set up home.
Its amazing how far the stinky green slime will travel when you bung the pole in the mount .
It will also make the bottom 1" of the pole go a funny colour and you will be given the "Black Spot" n banished from the Thames immediately

 

[Mirror Painter]

I have already bought a 'flangy thing'!

That's great advice and I thank you for it.

PS.If you buy one of those flangy things which you screw to deck and pop flag staff into pipe bit,before you mount it drill small drain hole.
After a week or two it WILL fill with rain and then some green goo will think its a nice place to set up home.
Its amazing how far the stinky green slime will travel when you bung the pole in the mount .
It will also make the bottom 1" of the pole go a funny colour and you will be given the "Black Spot" n banished from the Thames immediately

 

[boatone]

Strikes me that a little ingenuity could lead to a bracket inside the engine well - see blue patch - that would be less at risk than a socket on top of the moulding where you suggest. You can actually buy sockets for mounting on a vertiocal surface but I'm sure you could manage something to utilise the one you have bought.