What type of ensign fitting do I need?

[Ammonite]

I've recently puchased a flag staff from these guys

http://www.onwardtrading.com/shop_-663852952.php

It's a nice looking thing but I'm not sure what type of flag fixture it's designed for. It has a teak ball on the top (with no fittings, eyes etc), a tapered shaft and a cleat towards the bottom. I've guessing I need a rope and toggle type given the cleat, and can easily add a rope loop at the top by knotting or whipping a line around the shaft, but wondered what the correct way to do it is. I've tried googling for an image or instructions without joy so far. I guess I can call them tomorrow but I'm sure someone out there knows? Thanks

 

[Tranona]

Normally there is a hole at the top, then you thread a piece of cord through, make a lop on one end with a bowline to take the toggle on the ensign. Attach the other end of the cord to the loop at the bottom of the ensign. Haul it up and cleat off.

 

[Ammonite]

Tranoma - that's what I was expecting and why I'm a bit confused. There is no hole, fitting nothing - just a ping pong ball sized piece of teak stuck on to the tapered shaft. When I ordered it I'd assumed there would be a hole or little roller. I can easily make it work by screwing in a brass eyelet to take the cord or I could just make loop with a bit of cord that will slip over the toggle (it won't slide down due the to the taper) - but it all seems a bit Heath Robinson

 

[Tranona]

Eyelet the way to go. No big deal. Most staffs have mushroom tops with 2 holes, but would not work with your ball. Bit posh - hope you have a posh boat and a sewn ensign rather than cheapy printed one to go with it.

 

[Ammonite]

Thanks Tranoma. It does look very nice - just seems to be missing the top fixing ;-) I was looking for a decent one at a boatjumble but have blanked at the last three I've been to, and most chandleries want £20 or so for a new pine one so this one seemed pretty good value on first inspection. And on reflection I think you are right - an eyelet sounds like the best bet

I've married it to one of these http://www.cquip.com/shop_1139495530.php None of the local chandleries seem to stock much Cquip stuff - no idea why as it seems to be better engineered than most (for the money). And yes I will be getting a "proper" Ensign ;-)

 

[Boo2]

Thanks Tranoma. It does look very nice - just seems to be missing the top fixing ;-) I was looking for a decent one at a boatjumble but have blanked at the last three I've been to, and most chandleries want £20 or so for a new pine one so this one seemed pretty good value on first inspection. And on reflection I think you are right - an eyelet sounds like the best bet

Couldn't you use a drill press to put a hole through the teak ball ?

I've married it to one of these http://www.cquip.com/shop_1139495530.php None of the local chandleries seem to stock much Cquip stuff - no idea why as it seems to be better engineered than most (for the money). And yes I will be getting a "proper" Ensign ;-)

That looks very neat, have you tried it out yet ? I need to get a flagstaff and mount and that looks like just the job.

Boo2

 

[Fantasie 19]

Clove hitch just below the ball??

 

[johnalison]

Ensign staffs are often poorly designed. It doesn't really matter how you fix things as long as the ensign hangs nicely. A common problem is a useless cleat near the base that is too chunky to cleat round. Depending on the socket you have, a brass fitting at the base is very useful as wooden bases tend to swell when wet and may jam.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

What's wrong with bending the ensign 'permanently' to the pole and later removing the ensign, pole and all, from the socket when not needed? Even if you bought the 'large' model it is only 700mm long. Roll the ensign up around the staff and chuck the lot into the quarter berth when you're done.

 

[Ammonite]

Thanks for the comments/suggestions - all along the lines I've been thinking. I was wondering what the "proper" way of attaching the Ensign to this type of pole is but maybe there isn't one? I guess I'll just go with something that works ;-)

Puff - whatever method I choose I will leave in permanently rigged to the staff and remove the whole lot. Too much of a faff to untie it every time

Boo2 - I haven't tried the socket clamp but it does look very nice in the flesh. The only downside is that to fit 25mm tube you need to remove the nylon insert, so I'm planning to put a bit of tape under it so it doesn't mark the pushpit (a better solution would be for them to supply two different sized inserts) There's a locking screw you can undo by hand to secure the shaft in the socket if you want but I doubt I will need to as it's a snug fit.

johnalison - take your point about staffs generally not being well made - most of the ones in chandleries are made of softwood which will soak up water or warp. I'm hoping teak will be better but a metal sleave on the bottom sounds like a good idea if it's not

Tranona - sorry for repeatedly mis-spelling your username

 

[prv]

Puff - whatever method I choose I will leave in permanently rigged to the staff and remove the whole lot. Too much of a faff to untie it every time

...which is why rigging up little halyards with eyelets or sheaves through the truck always strikes me as a bit pointless. You could almost just use a couple of drawing pins!

Pete

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Clove hitch just below the ball??

Sounds painful.

 

[GTom]

Ancient thread revive!

I was wondering which one lives longer? Brass eyelets, rope loops, D-rings or something else?
Easyflags does these:

Ropes get worn, rings fall out... I am a bit reluctant adding anything metal to keep the flag quiet when it gets windy.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a small cleat top and bottom to hold my ensign using a line attached to the ensign.

 

[alahol2]

Rope and toggle seems to outlast the actual flag.

 

[GTom]

Rope and toggle seems to outlast the actual flag.

Perfect, seems more serviceable to me compared to the rope loops too.

 

[LittleSister]

What's wrong with bending the ensign 'permanently' to the pole and later removing the ensign, pole and all, from the socket when not needed?

You miss out on piping the ensign, hauling it handover hand to raise it at dawn and lower it at dusk.

 

[alahol2]

You miss out on piping the ensign, hauling it handover hand to raise it at dawn and lower it at dusk.

...and, indeed, on dipping the ensign to Her Majesty's ships.