Flag Size

[Boobie Trap]

Just reading another post and this question come up.

I have my US Stars and Strips mounted on the back of my cruiser. I have a Texas state flag mounted to the GPS antenna on my arch.

Now I have always been told and believe that a state flag should always be lower than the US flag. Does that hold true on a boat?

It just seems right to have the flag mounted on the back of the boat. It looks right!

Just wondering if we have a Coast Guard person that KNOWS the answer.

Thanks

 

[dingbat]

Re: Flag Size

Flag etiquette is the same on a boat as it is on land.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Flag Size

keep in mind tho that many texans consider texas to be their country and america to be across the boarder LOL

 

[erwinner]

Re: Flag Size

There's a great urban myth that somewhere in our annexation there was a provision where our flag could be flown at the same height as the US flag, but from what I've read, that is just a myth. On two separate poles they can be flown at the same height.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Flag Size

The United States Flag should be flown higher than all others.

Same pole or separate, doesn't matter.

The American Flag must be flown above all others.

 

[sasto]

Re: Flag Size

The United States Flag should be flown higher than all others.

Same pole or separate, doesn't matter.

The American Flag must be flown above all others.

always!......when in the USA! Otherwise you fly the flag of whatever Country port or waters you are in above your Country flag......as courtesy.

(or a yellow one, but that's another story)

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Flag Size

Move your state flag to the bow spit or other location just lower than the US flag.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Flag Size

How about we go to the source for the regs?
http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html

Generally, the national ensign should be displayed at the peak of the gaff, i.e., the outer end of the spar extending aft from the mast of your boat?if you boat has a gaff. If it does not, fly it from the flagstaff at your boat's stern. If your boat has an overhanging boom or an outboard motor, your flagstaff may be offset to starboard (preferably) from your boat's centerline.

For your state flag, I guess it would be considered a Private Signal. It should be flown from the bow staff if you have one, otherwise an antennae is the alternate location to use.

Owner's Private Signal

This is a personal flag, often called house flag. It is usually swallow-tailed, designed by the individual owner to depict a personal interest, hobby, family tradition, initials, or the like. A private signal should be a unique design and always in good taste. It should not include or be the ensign of a foreign country, nor duplicate a design previously adopted by someone else.
On a mastless vessel, fly your private signal from the bow staff. A single-masted vessel may wear it at the truck of the mast (replacing any other signal normally worn at that point) or from a spreader halyard.

[h=2]Alternative Display Locations[/h]Avoid flying more than one ensign from a single halyard or antenna. On the other hand, when the preferred positions for an organizational burgee or officer flag are not available, you may fly these from spreader halyard, with more than one on a hoist if necessary. In such instances however, you must observe the proper order of precedence. If you must multiple-hoist these flags, no more than one flag of the same type or stature may be flown from the same halyard. Each flag must be senior to the one below it, except that the officer-ion-charge pennant may be placed above the officer flag when it is appropriate to do so. When neither the preferred location nor a spreader halyard is available, a radio antenna may be used. Never fly any other flag on the same halyard as, or on a halyard to starboard of, a courtesy flag.

For example, on my boat, I fly Old Glory from a flagstaff on the starboard stern and a pirate flag from my radio antenna (but I plan to get a bow staff) as a private signal. It's the stern location that is considered the dominate location on a boat, not necessarily the highest.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Flag Size

USPS actually has a page on flying state flags.
http://www.usps.org/national/fecom/faq/flag/stateflag.html

United States Power Squadrons believes that a state flag should not be flown on a vessel unless the vessel is state owned (where the flag would be flown as a house flag or private signal), the governor is embarked (where the flag would be flown as an officer flag), or some state business is being transacted on board (where the flag would be flown as an officer flag).

Flags are worn on vessels to convey some type of specific information about a boat or its personnel. Just like you wouldn't fly a national ensign from the stern of your vessel for patriotic reasons (the national ensign worn identifies the country of registry?which is not necessarily that of the owner or operator), you shouldn't fly a state flag just because you live in or like a particular state.

Some states have, however, passed laws that prescribe how the U.S. ensign and state flag should be worn on recreational boats. One such state is Maryland (the exact same language is used by other states with only the state name changed?Washington and Arkansas are two examples.)

 

[smclear]

Re: Flag Size

The US flag must be the highest flag on IT'S mast. It does not necessarily have to be in the "highest" position. To illustrate the point look here

http://www.usps.org/national/fecom/faq/flag/gaffpole.html

Oops. didn't notice someone posted the exact same link. Sorry.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Flag Size

For your state flag, I guess it would be considered a Private Signal. It should be flown from the bow staff if you have one, otherwise an antennae is the alternate location to use.

Per your link
http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html

United States Power Squadrons believes that a state flag should not be flown on a vessel unless the vessel is state owned (where the flag would be flown as a house flag or private signal), the governor is embarked (where the flag would be flown as an officer flag), or some state business is being transacted on board (where the flag would be flown as an officer flag).

Flags are worn on vessels to convey some type of specific information about a boat or its personnel. Just like you wouldn't fly a national ensign from the stern of your vessel for patriotic reasons (the national ensign worn identifies the country of registry?which is not necessarily that of the owner or operator), you shouldn't fly a state flag just because you live in or like a particular state.

 

[sasto]

Re: Flag Size

Hmmm...who is actually the USPowerS to govern where I fly my Country flag or my etiquette? A non-profit organization made up of some wonderful individuals, I argee, but I would never base any facts or decisions on a few of ....I digress.:facepalm:

I was an active member, I have donated time and.....again....Nevermind!.....Here they come to bail me out again.

 

[Boobie Trap]

Re: Flag Size

Thanks for all the input. The last comment #11 makes the most sense and will remove the state flag and solve all the problems.

Happy Boating!!!