Dale Niemann Posted September 8, 2015 Report Posted September 8, 2015 Anybody out there have plans or references on how I could make a pig-stick for my CS17. I want to fly my WCTSS club burgee and the WoodenBoat burgee from my main mast. I have a general idea how to make one and how they allow the burgees to fly above the mast-top. I already fly the US flag from the leach of the mizzen. Thanks in advance. dale Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 8, 2015 Report Posted September 8, 2015 Here is a picture of my pennant (on mizzen) as I stow it when on trailer. It is hoisted and rolled as it is faster at the ramp than tying and hoisting each time. Note the beautiful bronze cheek block Don Silbe sent me. It has a matching cleat for tying off. I turned the stick on my lathe, though a dowel will work just fine. I put shallow notches in the dowel where the halyard ties on and where the pennant ties on (4 circular notches). I find these pigsticks (if on main for commission pennant) and pennant sticks work best if the distance between where the ends of the halyard attach is greater (1 1/2 X) than the portion above the mast. Cheek blocks seem best as they keep the halyard and stick close to the mast Quote
Dale Niemann Posted September 8, 2015 Author Report Posted September 8, 2015 Thank you very much Dave. I thought I had researched a few years ago that the pennants go on the main mast and the US flag goes on the Mizzen or on the leach of the mizzen sail (which is where I have mine). Am I wrong on this? Actually, I am thinking of flying the burgee for our WCTSS on top and under it flying the WoodenBoat Burgee on a pig-stick on the main mast. I was even thinking about just going crazy and flying the Jolly Roger below the other two burgees. I am sure that is probably not nautically correct. You definitely answered one of my questions "pennant sticks work best if the distance between where the ends of the halyard attach is greater (1 1/2 X) than the portion above the mast." What diameter are your sticks? It looks like maybe 1/2 inch? thanks, dale Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 9, 2015 Report Posted September 9, 2015 The US flag or US marine ensign (fouled anchor instead of 50 stars) should be flown off a short staff at the stern or at the top of the mizzen gaff, or if marconi then 2/3 of the way up the leach of the mizzen. This is the only protocol I am adamant about. Everything else is just for fun for me. Quote
Dale Niemann Posted September 9, 2015 Author Report Posted September 9, 2015 Ok Dave. I have my US Marine Ensign (fouled anchor) 2/3 of the way up on the leach of my sprit mizzen sail. Do I pass muster (do sailors also muster?)? What is the diameter of your pig-stick? thanks, dale Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 9, 2015 Report Posted September 9, 2015 Mine is Alaskan Yellow Cedar and a strong half inch thick. Quote
Dale Niemann Posted September 14, 2015 Author Report Posted September 14, 2015 Dave, Sorry to keep asking questions but you seem to be the only one that knows or has a pig-stick. Can you give me a photo or a description of how you handled the mounting of the burgee on the stick so it will be able to have free 360 degree movement? Thanks, dale Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 16, 2015 Report Posted September 16, 2015 Glad to help Dale, but it will be rather difficult to do until October. I am presently in South Africa on a 3 week holiday. My present rig is simply tied on, so it doesn't swivel. I have seen rigs with hardware that allows the pennant or flag to swivel around the stick or allows the stick to swivel at the attachment points for the halyard. I am still pondering designs for something I might build to accomplish this. This will be a winter project for me, along with a few other minor over the top doo dads I have been thinking of. I was hoping to find a pig stick in a consignment shop, even if only to rescue the hardware. When I get home I will share some sketches of ideas, maybe we can figure out something we can build ourselves. Quote
Dale Niemann Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Posted September 16, 2015 Thanks Dave. Of course I will share whatever I come up with. Have a great trip. dale Quote
Action Tiger Posted September 17, 2015 Report Posted September 17, 2015 I was randomly flipping through one of my old books, from the days when people cared about kedging and flag etiquette, and I happened on a drawing of this. I whipped it up in two minutes from a coat hanger and cane I had on hand, but with stout wire and decent purchase for the swivel screw... 1 Quote
PAR Posted September 17, 2015 Report Posted September 17, 2015 Why the pig stick, just more windage and weight? What's wrong with a simple flag halyard? Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 17, 2015 Report Posted September 17, 2015 Why the pig stick, just more windage and weight? What's wrong with a simple flag halyard? A pigstick raises the flag above the mast and sail such as to fly unfouled. Quote
PadrePoint Posted December 31, 2020 Report Posted December 31, 2020 I’m reading through some of the older threads and this one caught my eye. I had no idea it was a THING. Who knew? Pig-stick and Burgee... new words to me for exactly what I was doing at the very end of my Norma T build. My son and I fashioned a red ribbon (a fun little extra red flair to match the hull’s color) on a swivel/grommet at the end of a dowel hoisted by an extra halyard to extend above the main mast. Ha!! (From page 11 of my 2020 Core Sound 15 #162 — Building the “Norma T” build-blog:) I only hoisted it once before I had to put the boat into winter storage. Because of spotting this subject, I looked for some internet references about this and found a nice little write-up: https://www.google.com/amp/s/stingysailor.com/2017/07/15/pig-stick/amp/ Quote
Hirilonde Posted December 31, 2020 Report Posted December 31, 2020 I use a "pig stick" on both of my masts. Not only is flying ribbons, pennants and such fun and pretty, it is the best wind indicator money can buy. Quote
Chick Ludwig Posted January 2, 2021 Report Posted January 2, 2021 I stopped in our local bar-b-q joint and asked about a pig stick. They claimed that pigs don't have sticks! Quote
Dale Niemann Posted January 2, 2021 Author Report Posted January 2, 2021 Final Pig stick and WCTSS (West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron burgee. Will try to find detail photos. Quote
Don Silsbe Posted January 3, 2021 Report Posted January 3, 2021 Y’all’ve (is that grammatically possible???) inspired me to add a pig stick or two to my BRS 15. My pennant has often been caught in the lee of the mizzen. And I was about to stitch an ensign to the leech of the mizzen, but have changed directions. This could be fun! Quote
Hirilonde Posted January 3, 2021 Report Posted January 3, 2021 As I recall Don, some member of the forum gave me a bronze cheek block and cleat that I use with one of my pig sticks on my mizzen. Quote
Mark Rendelman hull 24 Posted January 3, 2021 Report Posted January 3, 2021 Why do they call it a pig stick Quote
PadrePoint Posted January 4, 2021 Report Posted January 4, 2021 Maybe this??? https://www.qcsupply.com/weaver-leatherr-pig-stick.html?color=19&gclid=Cj0KCQiA88X_BRDUARIsACVMYD-KlPGcFz_Ku-LYSKRZDRb-2l1sutl2pgEl6TvyiYlxDKuEx763EZsaAlQtEALw_wcB Quote
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