I am in need of a new flag halyard. I have been using 3/16” Dacron which would cost me $55 to replace (100’ at $.55/ft on the Rigging Only website or 500’ for $42 at Amazon). Seems like a lot of money for a flag hoist. I am considering using 5/32” nylon parachute cord - 100’ for $14 on Amazon. My worry is how much stretch there will be in 100 feet of nylon. Has anyone used parachute cord or their flag halyard?
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U
Port Washington, NY
I use…. 1/8" New England Ropes Braided Polyester Cord @ $.18 from R&W Ropes ( with the Nonsuch discount see INA website ).
With nylon I wonder about UV exposure.
I wasn’t happy this season with the setup using the cheek block at the top of the mast. I’ve heard that others have rigged a flag halyard from the forward end of their wishbone with enough shock cord to account for rotation of the wishbone. I’m thinking I might try that next season.
Even if you don’t fly flags, having a messenger line running to the flag halyard, provides flexibility to run a heavier line up for use in a pinch. The cheek block is beefy enough to hoist a person, although I’d rather ride up on the halyard and use a heavy line run to the flag halyard block as a safety.
Rob Cohen
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
I second Rob’s recommendation. I’ve been using 1/8” polyester cord for things like flag halyards on different boats for 40+ years.
– Bob
I have a block on the fwd end of the wishbone attached with a rubber backed hose clamp. Bungie cord off the pulpit is al you need that part needs replacing every few years.
The mast head flag halyard is lead outside the boom to the pulpit.
Thanks for the comments. I had forgotten about the impact of UV on poly v. nylon. I also did some more digging on Amazon and found 3/16 poly in 100’ lengths, just in black, for $16.45. 3/16 inch Black Dacron Polyester Rope - 100 Foot | Solid Braid - Industrial Grade - High UV and Abrasion Resistance - Low Stretch - Amazon.com
I like the heavier line as I believe it gets less tangled over the 50’ run. And while I love the thought of having my burgee run just up to the boom, I want the burgee just above the boom and while at rest, I fly the burgee just in front of the mast, just above the front of the boom - keeps the birds from landing there and dining. Essentially bird control that does not look like bird control.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U
Port Washington, NY
Brilliant! I’ve never settled on a height and don’t usually think about it once it’s up, but I’m going to try this out. The hard part will be remembering to set it there. I assume you need it just a few inches above the boom to keep the birds swept off?
I fly it about 6” above the boom. I tie off to the front of the bow pulpit when at rest, and move the halyard to the back of the pulpit on the starboard side while sailing. I use a taut line hitch (tent hitch, three half hitches) when tied off on the starboard side. If the boom is too hard against the halyard, the knot appears to give enough, although when sailing dead downwind, it sometimes catches on the bolt heads on the boom. And yes, I sometimes forget to move it. Hopefully it is late enough in the season that the birds are already trained and sitting on other’s boats.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous 30U
Port Washington, NY