You put the glasses on three boats. The first looks pretty shipshape.
Fenders and lines are properly stowed, there's a USCG Auxiliary
inspection decal from just a year ago in the window, the national
ensign is properly displayed, and two kids visible on deck are both
wearing pfd's. The burgee flying from the jackstaff reminds you that
your commanding officer will be giving a speech at the particular
club's next general meeting.

Yes but what if the first boat were the one flying the Pirate flag? What if
a person makes sure their boat is in exellent shape gets it checked out
regularly and follows all safety regulations? Do you feel that the CG would
still choose to inspect them and write up a warning? The three boats are not
the same so the example does not really work. I see your point, it's like
driving down the street blasting "Cop Killer" and rolling a stop sign. The
cop is going to pull you over and harass you but I don't think that the Jolly
roger has quite the same effect.

One other question for a serious lng time boater (no insult or sarcasm
intended). If a person were to design thier own "pirate" flag and fly it as
part of a group of friends that all consider themselves to be sort of an
informal club, would you see that as being in poor taste or for non serious
boaters? You say that it is okay to fly a flag from your club but could the
"Jolly Roger" or any other pirate flag be considered the flag of a loosley
associated club of people that enjoy that aspect of boating and the idea that
they share in some beliefs as a pirate. If I design my own flag and a few of
my freinds, be they boaters or not, all fly the same one and identify with it
as a mark of our binding beliefs and freindship, then couldn't we be
considered a club and therfore hold just as much validity to our flag as any
more official boating club?

I'm really curious as to how you might feel about this.

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