On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 01:13:04 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

For the kind of conditions likely to be found along the coast in
Maine, what would be wrong with a $40 mooring pick up flag on a
fiberglass pole and a line to the horseshoe life ring?

Absolutely nothing wrong with it, traditional in fact for many, many
years. Tape a one or two foot piece of PVC pipe to your backstay
about 6 ft off the deck. Wrap the flag around the pick up stick and
then put it inside the PVC so it doesn't get loose and flap around. I
used to use a mid-size plastic cup to hold the butt end of the pole.