Jim wrote:

You asked for it-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcT6M...elated&search=

The goofball in that video is even sillier than some guy with a skull
and crossbone flag. There's a time and a place for all of that noise
and regalia, but he failed to pick either.
I'm sure people give him a wide berth as well.

Highly skilled cameraperson, by the way. It's easy to see why somebody
would want to
put such fine footage up on the internet. Don't know which is worse,
the piping or the photography.

Tim wrote:
About the only thing I can think of that would attract the attention of
the USCG by one flying a "Jolly Rodger" is what may accompany the flag,
like... trying to mount a .50 cal Browning (Ma-Duce) on the bow, or
fiddling around with a LAWS rocket.

But still, I think the flag would become second order


Consider this scenario.

You're assigned to a USCG safety patrol and responsible for boarding
recreational boats to inspect for compliance with safety regulations.
About the only way that your supervisor will be able to tell, for sure,
that you didn't spend the afternoon in a dockside watering hole will be
if you return with some citations and warnings written for various
infractions.

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.

The second is closer to, or maybe slightly below average. One fender is
hanging over the gunwale, the canvas cover on the dinghy is flapping
loose at a corner, nobody on deck is wearing a pfd, there are an
alarming number of people partying on the flybridge and you have to
wonder whether that brown bottle in the helmsman's fist contains root
beer or something stronger. There is a national ensign, properly
displayed.

The third is almost exactly like the second. But there is no ensign.
That's not a violation of course because nothing requires a boater to
fly the ensign. However, flying from a transom staff is a fresh out of
the dime store package "pirate flag" instead.

If you were hoping to write as many citations or warnings as possible,
which of these three
vessels would you choose to board? To me, the pirate flag would be a
tip off that the owner of the boat was taking an exceptionally
frivolous approach to the pastime. I'd start with the boat where all
the drunks thought they were pirates, but that's just my opinion. Your
mileage may vary.

If there is a noise worse than that made by a beginning bagpipe player,
I've not heard it.

That reminds me of Sean Connery in the movie "The longest Day" Where
he and another "bloke" were experiencing heavy artillary and shell
fire, then some regiment somes marching through the streets with a
bagpipe honking away.

Connery stuffs paper or cotton in his ears, the two look at each other
in discust while listening to the pipes oveer scoreing the artillary
blasts.

Connery says: "Aw, listen to all that racket.... "It takes a true
Irishman to play the pipes"

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.

--
Message posted via BoatKB.com
http://www.boatkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/boats/200701/1

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


If there is a noise worse than that made by a beginning bagpipe player,
I've not heard it.

That's one positive thing about Chuck - noise.

Ok, that was offensive and I apologize.

But you have to admit, bagpipes are right up there on the scale of
annoying music.

Nothing sounds worse than a badly played bagpipe, or better than one in
the hands of a master. I don't anticipate playing in public until I get
my act together on the instrument, and at the rate I'm going that will
be 3-4 years from now. Still won't be a master, but I will be better
than the worst of the lot.

One of my other instruments is the accordion. Also considered pretty
"annoying" by a lot of folks.

Thanks for mentioning me in so many of your posts, Tom.

scbafreak via BoatKB.com wrote:
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.


I've never seen a boat that meets the rest of the description flying a
skull and crossbones.
Doesn't mean there isn't one out there someplace, exceptions prove the
rule by virtue of the fact that they are exceptions.




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.

--
Message posted via BoatKB.com
http://www.boatkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/boats/200701/1

The skull and crossbone Hollywood pirate flag can be flown from any
vessel as a private signal. No problem. Nothing would prevent you from
forming a "Pirates of East Overshirt Yacht Club" and using the bogus
pirate flag as a club burgee- although traditionally burgees are
triangular to help differentiate them from ensigns, courtesy flags,
etc.

Unfortunately, the skull and crossbones carries a clear association
with rides at amusement parks and some really terrible movies. It's for
people who think its fun to play pirate. "Arrgh, matey." Mabye it's
appropriate for boaters who think it's all about mixing margaritas and
listening to Jimmy Buffet all the time as well. My opinion, as
expressed in this thread, is that most serious boaters would avoid
flying the skull and crossbone flag.

Your example of using the skull and crossbones as a club burgee would
be a poor choice in actual practice. Not because you were using a bogus
pirate flag, but because there would be other people on the water
interested in playing pirate and using the same signal.
You wouldn't be able to tell whether those people were part of your
club, or just dime store
pirates with tri-cornered hats, stuffed parrots, plastic swords, and
costume shop eye patches. :-)

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Don White wrote:


Chuck, WayneB and maybe another one or two are 'professional
boaters'...they
make their living on boats & the boating community.
They are not to be confused with lowly recreational boaters...

...or with non-boaters who hang around simply to make nasty personal
remarks in hopes of stirring up some crap. Been a long time since you
mentioned catching a ride with your friend that owned a sailboat.
Didn't he put that up for sale? What are your boating plans for 2007?-
(After the water thaws out, of course).


Thanks for asking.
Although our skipper was interested in purchasing another sailboat (last one
I knew about was a Bristol 32) I told him I couldn't be counted on as a
regular crew.
I have invested a few bucks in a new galvanized combo (bunk & roller
trailer) and leased a new Ford Ranger to pull my boat.
This year, I plan to do a lot of sailing along our coast, on the Bras d'Or
Lakes and maybe a long tow up to Ontario to attend the 2007 Sandpiper 565
Rendezvous. My recent concern is deciding what depth sounder to install.
I'm leaning toward the 'in hull' type rather than the 'tru hull' model.

You have to remember, Chuck is from the Pacific Northwest where
everything is gray and the highlight of the day is nightfall so they
don't have to watch the rain anymore.

You mean one of those places where the state floer is fungus?

--
Message posted via BoatKB.com
http://www.boatkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/boats/200701/1

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
snip...
But you have to admit, bagpipes are right up there on the scale of
annoying music.

Whoa now! I've got at least a dozen cousins and their kids etc who play the
bagpipes.
Some in the military, including one who just returned from a posting in
England. Haven't seen him yet but the local newspaper reports that while
there he received a 'Member of Order of the British Empire' (MBE) for his
work. He had written a book on pipe music before he left.
http://www.royalnavypipers.com/RNPS_members_photos.htm (Major Allan
MacKenzie)
One of my cousins sons plays in a the band of a well known Celtic
entertainer.
When played right in a large band..there's no better music in the world.
Don't believe me...make your reservations ASAP..
http://www.nstattoo.ca/site/index.php

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...


I want a soul music band at my funeral. No steeenking bagpipes.


You wouldn't like our family funerals... at least the Cape Breton ones.
My cousins always make it home to play in the church and at the gravesite.
It's quite moving.
There's enough players to have an actual mini pipeband when weddings roll
around.