Attach flagpole to Heritage 18 rowing skiff

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by SailorDon, Nov 24, 2016.

  1. SailorDon
    Joined: Apr 2013
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    Location: Livingston, TX

    SailorDon Senior Member

    I would like to add a flagpole to the transom of my Heritage 18 rowing skiff.
    As built, the boat has two through bolted pad eyes in the transom, but the pad eye orientation is such that attaching commercially available flagpoles does not work.
    [​IMG]
    I'm trying to avoid an outboard motor style bracket.

    Has anyone designed a flagpole mount for two transom mounted pad eyes?
     
  2. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    A gunnel mounted ensign staff would be a pretty simple thing to arrange. What else are you attempting to do? An ensign staff would fly a flag with a scale of 1" to the foot of boat length, so a pretty small "flag pole" indeed.

    [​IMG]

    Available from most nautical retailers for less than $20 bucks.
     
  3. SailorDon
    Joined: Apr 2013
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    Location: Livingston, TX

    SailorDon Senior Member

    What I am trying to do is use the existing fixed secure pad eyes to avoid drilling more holes in the carbon fiber hull and liner.
    The gunwale mount won't work since the gunwale on the Heritage 18 is less than 1 inch wide and made of aluminum extrusion.
    The flagpole mount would twist the aluminum gunwale off the carbon fiber hull and liner.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

    You've got the four studs of the lift eyes to work with. Take the nuts off and put them back on, clamping some sort of simple bracket to hold or attach the flagstaff to.
     
  5. SailorDon
    Joined: Apr 2013
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    Location: Livingston, TX

    SailorDon Senior Member

    Excellent design concept.

    I'll probably try a 1/2" thick exterior plywood as a double transom bolted to the carbon fiber transom using the existing pad eyes.
    I can attach a small horizontal "shelf" to which I can fasten the flag staff.

    That design retains the basic function of the pad eyes which is to tie-down the boat to trailer or roof rack when transporting.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    SamSam on the money I'd say, should be easy to fit a holder for it, like a fishing rod holder. Not sure I'd want to fight a fluttering flag wanting to drag me off course, though !
     
  7. SailorDon
    Joined: Apr 2013
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    Location: Livingston, TX

    SailorDon Senior Member

    I made a test run of the fluttering flag yesterday.
    Lucky for me it didn't drag me off course. :D

    [​IMG]

     

  8. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    A huge win ! I think ? :)
     
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