a frame conundrum

[gotchiguy]

Hi chaps,

I would like to pick your brains on a couple of points that I'm not sure about with regard to my new boat.

Specifically the a frame conundrum.

If I were speccing a new boat, I'm sure that I would go for an a frame due to aesthetics, practicality etc however as Mollers alluded to, Roy is a little anti a frame and instead has fitted a ski pole(pic1). This means that essentially, there is no obvious high point to mount the nav lights. He has currently fitted a socket on one of the transom boxes,(pic2) but has used an a frame-mountable sized pole which(pic3+4) is obviously far too low to be legal in relation to the console mounted colour lights.

Since the boat will remain under english flag but be kept in France I will need a permenant flag pole - another thing so easy to fit with an a frame.


The obvious thing to do in this situation is fit an a frame, but this I think would create a whole host of issues - the cover would no longer fit, the ski pole would have to be removed and may leave unsightly marks, and (pic5)/ roy has cleats mounted where the front bar would attach to.

The current set up that I have agreed is that I will use the current nav light pole as a flag pole/nav light pole. However, I think that this is a bit silly and looks wrong, so I would like to find a better solution...



Essentially, I think the above boils down to:

1 I need a flagpole without an a frame

2 I need a better solution for the white nav light

Thanks for reading!!

*edit* sorry some of the pics are missing, Ill fix that later!

[jyasaki]

How about mounting a 1 meter (or taller) post on the side of the console?

jky

[chewy]

Something like this, its JSP's old light pole:

[Observer]

That pole light is useless - it's not even above the top of the motor. Also I think that the sidelights have to be in a combined lantern on the centreline if the all round white is not on the centreline.

Why would you have to remove the ski pole if you get an A frame?

I would get the A frame, keep the ski pole and use the existing light pole socket for a flag pole.

p.s. A frame also gives you mounting for VHF antenna - where's that currently?

[m chappelow]

unless you are planning on skiing at night or in bad viz ,,why not make a light pole extension to slot or slide over the existing ski pole ,,so that it can be removed easy,,,with regards to the A frame its another hand hold or something else to stop you falling over the stern ,,you may be able to use part of the taper section of an old mast from a sailing dinghy ,,,mart

[tonymac]

Get an A frame!

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Observer

Why would you have to remove the ski pole if you get an A frame?

'cos the ski rope would foul on the A-frame after the skier crosses the wake.




What's all this fuss about flying an inglish flag?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

What's all this fuss about flying an inglish flag?

oh, very important if you're an inglish ribber, I'd have thought. It denotes to johnny foringer that you're from the United Ingland. I think this contains Counties Wales, Scotland and some parts of some parts of County Ireland

___________________

I wonder will Roy's new rib have an A-frame?

[simmons0]

Maybe an A-frame over the console...probably not cheap but they can be made to look quite good. Nice place to mount the radar if you ever decide to fit it too.

[willk]

Originally Posted by simmons0

Maybe an A-frame over the console...

It would certainly meet gotchi's technical requirements. Not so sure about the looks on his rib though...