flag halyard

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
1

The flag halyard on my boat is in pretty bad shape. The outer sheathing is torn.
Does anyone know the length , diameter and type of line to use? I was looking at 1/4 double braid, not sure that is right.

Thanks
Peter Farley
Knot in a hurry U30 #328
Keyport NJ

2

Peter, are you asking about the line that runs to the cheek block at the top of the mast or the shorter line that runs to a block of the side of the wishbone boom? The manuals for the 30 describe a burgee halyard as 1/8" braid 91’ 6" long. I can’t find anything in the manual for a line running to the side of the boom. The burgee cheek block is rated at 1000 pounds.

I have nylon paracords running both on La Reina (26). I don’t know the length. The nylon paracord is stretchy and gives as the boom swings from side to side. I use the paracord to the burgee block as a messenger line for a heavier line if I need it and to haul light items up the mast. The line going to the boom on the starboard side, I use for flying burgees. Paracord is readily available and cheap. It comes in both nylon and polyester but I prefer the nylon for this use because of the stretch.

Here is a link on flag etiquette for Canada. 1311-flag-etiquette-flying-flags-and-pennants-properly
here is one from Sail World -102443
And for those of us in the UK flag-etiquette.aspx

I might have to re think where i fly my burgees.

Mark Powers

3

Hi Peter,

I just replaced the burgee halyard on my 30Ultra.

The manual reads 100’ of #4 Cord… as close as I could figure #4 was somewhere around 3/16’ or 1/4" - so I went with 1/4" Polyester rope. A little thicker is easier to handle and fit no problem thru the burgee block.
I purchased it from Qualitynylonrope.com - their website speaks to the differences between nylon, polyester, and other fabrications. I chose the polyester because it had low water absorbtion, low stretch, and was UV resistant. They recommend it for flagpoles.
A 250ft spool cost just under $30 with shipping - a much better price than any other site, at least that I found.
I bought 250’ because I re-strung all of the lines from my StackPack to the boom as well, as these were beginning to show wear too.

It has a very nice hand a good white color.

Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30 Ultra 430
Jersey City, NJ

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Thanks I got the same thing. Because of the free shipping it was the same price for the 250 spool as 100 feet.