Burgee flag swivel

[S/V AMITY]

   Have been searching around for wire burgee swivels.  These were made many years ago by Taylor Made I think.  They were made of formed stainless wire and allowed the burgee to swivel on the staff with essentially no resistance.  Attached are pictures of a (poorly) made swivel I made from brazing rod.

   The stainless commercially made swivels were available in several sizes for flags of different hoist lengths.   Have called several flag and general marine suppliers but came up empty... none of them had even heard of the swivel.  Does anyone out there remember these and are they still available anywhere?

[Dale Tanski]

To my knowledge Taylor only sells a product known as Charlevoix Flag Clips.  They are made of plastic, have an eye for the flag grommet and attach to the flag staff by clamping via a stepped clip arrangement.  The smaller diameter of the staff, the more it clicks to tighten.  Our experience with these is they do not fit the typical diameter of a teak flag staff and are made for small stainless power boat bow mounted flag staffs. 
We seem to sell a good number of flags and all teak flag staffs each year.  All the flags we sell are the Taylor all sewn units which are USA made and are of excellent quality.  The problem comes into play when the question arises how do we attach the flag to the staff?  Our recommendation  is always the same, Insert a small screw eye in the teak staff and a rigging ring to attach the flag.

** I just searched and found that one of our suppliers have a product known as Skipper Clips.  They look like the answer to mounting a flag to a wooded staff.  If you can't find them in your area let me know.

Dale Tanski
Obersheimer Sailor Supply
Buffalo NY

[S/V AMITY]

  The Skipper Clips and similar concepts don't allow the flag to pivot around the staff.  A wire flag loom (I'll call it) permits the burgee to rotate freely thereby preventing fouling.  The only modification required for the wood staff is a small center hole drilled in one end to accept the retaining bearing screw.  Dead simple & works. 

  Odd these apparently are no longer available commercially.  Will make up a few more for myself.

[Jim S]

Is this for a jack staff on the main halyard so the burgee flies at the top of the mainmast?

Excellent design!

[S/V AMITY]

Jim S...  Not on the main halyard... on the flag halyard which hoists the burgee above the top of the mast.  This flag loom allows the flag to pivot freely around the flag staff. 

[Jim S]

Yes, a proud and practically unseen today.  I like the idea and may do one for Phantom!

[S/V Deo Volente]

The masthead flag staff is called a "pig stick" and there are several ways to make them. I am not aware of any commercially available though.
https://stingysailor.com/2017/07/15/pig-stick/

[S/V AMITY]

Picture attached from the Stingy Sailor article... exactly correct.  Caption says his was fabricated from a coat hangar.  Thanks Deo Volente!

[SVJourney]

The masthead flag staff is called a "pig stick" and there are several ways to make them. I am not aware of any commercially available though.
https://stingysailor.com/2017/07/15/pig-stick/

Great article! 

[S/V AMITY]

   What is surprising to me is that the flag mfrs. don't offer this kind of mounting.  Have talked to several and they have no concept of the wire loom.  Have made up two more for the club & house flags.  Will try a Mk.2 version for the ensign.  Am reduced to these little projects until the weather warms up and the cover comes off so we can get into mounting the bowsprit and getting the new chain plates in.