Cutter Flag Hoist

[Rick01]

I'm at the stage of rigging my cutter "Lady Nelson" and am puzzling over the flag hoist. Both the plans and Petersson agree that a block is roved to the tip of the gaff but then differ in that Petersson has the "loose" ends run down to a belaying pin whilst the kit indicates a continuous loop running through a second block fixed to a ring bolt by the rudder. Using this latter system, once the flag is hoist how does it then remain hoist? I'm assuming that the apparent continuous loop does in fact have a loop and toggle clipped together when no flag attached, otherwise fixed to the flag appropriately.

(Hope this makes sense).

 

Rick 

[jbshan]

The belaying pin has the advantage that if the gaff moves further from the belay point the halliard can be lengthened to accomodate the new position and belayed again.  I have seen diagrams with a belay point on the boom, but this also I think would need to be adjusted as the boom and gaff changed relationship with each other.  Different size ensigns also would need more or less line, as the halliard was not permanently fixed with hooks or toggles, but the flag went into a gap or break in the line with loop and toggle.  When no flag was flown, the ends of the halliard would be hitched together to maintain the integrity of the line.

[Rick01]

Pretty much how I understood it. However the kit only provides for two blocks so I'm puzzled over how one belays what is "in effect" a running hoist broken only by the loop and toggle for fixing the flag.

I'm to far on with the kit to now go back and provide some belaying pin racks at the stern.

 

Rick

[jbshan]

You don't necessarily need a pin rack, just a cleat, maybe one each side for when the ship tacks.

[JerseyCity Frankie]

The kit is likely wrong if it's indicating a second block at deck level, in my opinion. To fly the ensign a line ( the lightest line on the entire rig) runs from the rail, up to the gaff peak then right back to the rail. Both ends of this line are on deck when no flag is hoisted. To fly the ensign,You tie the two ends to your ensign at the upper and lower corners of the hoist of the flag and then haul away on only one leg of the halyard, the one that makes the flag ascend right side up.- if you haul on the wrong part the flag ascends upside down. When the flag is fully hoisted you now treat the two ends of the halyard as a single line and belay them together either on a pin or with a simple knot such as a clove hitch to any convenient point that is as far aft as possible and will also keep the halyard clear of any other lines. The second block at deck level would only be handy very briefly at the middle stage of this process -and only if the gaff remained in one predetermined position-but would instantly become a hinderance when you tried to belay the two ends of the halyard. The reality is that the gaff moves quite a bit in relation to the deck and the length of the halyard-which must remain taught so as to keep the ensign flying properly-changes by several feet on every tack and must be constantly adjusted. You could try to rig a lead block on th boom and have a pin or cleat accessible to those on deck farther inboard on the boom, but now the halyard will effect the shape of the sail and suffer continuous chafe. The schooners I sail on solve all this by simply bending the ensign directly to the leach of the sail, avoiding the halyard completely. But a ship of war would need options for ensign visibility that this would not allow.

[Chuck]

If not out at sea,  the loose ends are belayed to a cleat which would be convenient.  But if out at sea, the boom would need to swing freely so many contemporary models have the two loose ends belayed to the boom itself.  This is also shown on many contemporary paintings as well like the ones shown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rick01]

Thanks Chuck that makes so much more sense and I do have spare cleats available to belay the lines.

 

Rick

[jud]

The Colors at anchor were flown from this Flag Pole, probably rigged this way for years using a single pulley, swivel snaps and one line with, in this case opposing securing hooks.  This gun was maned 24-7s and the gun crew took care of the flag,  hoists and lowering while at anchor, the Colors were flown from the cross arm on the mast while underway. The following are all related to the one pole, starting with location, then retrieving the end after a swivel snap failure and the last a photo of the Colors flying from that pole taken from the gun. I thought it made a nice sequence.

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 2017 by jud