Present Colors!

[wallacmc]

I am a service vet and when I go boating or bbq-ing on Memorial Day or Independence Day, I make sure that we never forget the purpose of the holiday and try to fly the biggest flag I can when ever possible. The grill link posted recently inspired me to ask: what is the best way to fly a flag on a 2010 RZ2 with the Alpha Z tower? I haven't noticed any easy way to do it. I'm hoping someone can give some insight. In a perfect world I'd be able to fly both my stars and stripes and my POW/MIA flag for Memorial Day. Your thoughts? Pics would be great!

Thanks,
Matthew

[chpthril]

I had 4 flag clips that snapped around the Bimini up-rights. We flew 2 flags, one on each side.

[wallacmc]

chp, if you come across a link for something like that, could you post it? When you say "upright", do you mean those little poles inside the bimini that insert directly into the tower? And if so, would the flag then hang from the underside of the bimini instead on flying with two clips on the side like a typical flag pole?

[dingleberry]

I had 4 flag clips that snapped around the Bimini up-rights. We flew 2 flags, one on each side.
The Alpha-Z bimini doesn't have any uprights, though.

I'm not sure how best to accomplish it, short of drilling/bolting some sort of flagpole attachment to the outside of a tower leg.

[chpthril]

Well, those with the Alpha-Z as well as the 08 to present "E" series tower bimini, will have to find a different solution, but here is what I used

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/52987/377%20710%201189/712/flags/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/WMPrice%7C1?N=377 710 1189&Ne=712&Ntt=flags&Ntk=Primary Search&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=WMPrice|1&keyword=flags&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5004&subdeptNum=7&classNum=192

[wallacmc]

Dingle, exactly what I was thinking, and I don't plan on drilling anytime soon. What about x-long black zip ties??? It would blend right in, but because of the curve of the tower would have to stay down by the deck.

[dingleberry]

Dingle, exactly what I was thinking, and I don't plan on drilling anytime soon. What about x-long black zip ties??? It would blend right in, but because of the curve of the tower would have to stay down by the deck.
Maybe you could use zip ties both above and below the forward-most "tip" of the tower, so that the flagpole is held fairly vertical. Would there be interference from the bimini? Or, as I recall, there is a small gap in the forward portion of the bimini (right in front of the tower) where the canvas wraps around the frame with velcro. I wonder if the flagpole could be run up through that? Without having it in front of me, I can't remember for sure. Maybe this weekend I could deploy the bimini and check.

[wallacmc]

Good thought. I'd check but mine is still in the possession of the dealer. I won't get it until a month from now.

[zad0030]

Will zip ties be secure enough?

[chpthril]

Will zip ties be secure enough?

They're strong enough to hold bad guys on Cops :p :ro:

[goose69]

Go to a hardware store and buy a fernco fitting (think 2"), 2" to 1" reducer, and a piece of 1" sch 40 pvc pipe. Cut pipe to desired length (10'-12') Drill a hole at the top and another hole down the pipe (depending on size of flag). Then glue the bottom of pipe in adaptor. Then put adaptor in top of fernco fitting and tighen. Then place over ski pylon or tower pylon and tighten other side of fernco fitting. I also painted my pvc pipe black. I attach my rope first (so i can still pull people), then I attach to tower pylon. I then fly my flag high and proud all day.

[wallacmc]

Goose - this is a great idea and I can't wait to try it. My wife won't like it, but who cares???? When you say "fernco fitting" are you referring to the black connector with the two clamps, one on each end? and then the reducer is made of the schedule 40? How many mph can this rig handle? How do you attach the flag to the holes in the pvc?

Any other folks with ideas would be welcome.

[TeamAllen]

Go to a hardware store and buy a fernco fitting (think 2"), 2" to 1" reducer, and a piece of 1" sch 40 pvc pipe. Cut pipe to desired length (10'-12') Drill a hole at the top and another hole down the pipe (depending on size of flag). Then glue the bottom of pipe in adaptor. Then put adaptor in top of fernco fitting and tighen. Then place over ski pylon or tower pylon and tighten other side of fernco fitting. I also painted my pvc pipe black. I attach my rope first (so i can still pull people), then I attach to tower pylon. I then fly my flag high and proud all day.

Got pics?

[wallacmc]

I'm going with Goose's idea for now. I went to the Depot, and unfortunately they didn't have any 2"-1" reducers, so I had to improvise. I also considered using 3/4" pipe so that I could use threads to quickly disconnect the pole from the rest of the assembly. What I ended up with is a 2" flexible coupling with about a 2" section of 2" pipeout of one end leading to a 2"-1 1/2" reducer with a bushing inserted to further reduce it to 1". Then, there goes the pipe. I also put a cap at the top. I plan on painting all of the schedule 40 black and using black zip ties to link the grommets in the flag with the holes I'll drill in the pole. Here goes!!!