Poor man’s flagpole

[Alaskabound]

Didn’t want to buy a $500 plus flag pole from Cobalt & didn’t want to drill new holes so I bought this inexpensive light at West Marine for about $20. Thought it would do ok cruising around 25 mph or so.

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[Alaskabound]

Also bought this 4” suction cup at Gulf Coast Tools for $4.95 to aid in washing the boat when in deep water. Spending some big bucks this week!

Dub

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[Big Block Power]

Man I was really worried before opening this thread!! Thanks Dub!

[Jwill]

Didn’t want to buy a $500 plus flag pole from Cobalt & didn’t want to drill new holes so I bought this inexpensive light at West Marine for about $20. Thought it would do ok cruising around 25 mph or so.

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How did it work out? I'm thinking of doing something similar

[AsLan7]

Man I was really worried before opening this thread!! Thanks Dub!

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[Alaskabound]

Haven’t been on the water yet but I’ll let you know. I’ve had an old version of a cleaning gripper that I bought at Overtons years ago but it’s worn out. Happen to see this & thought I’d try it. We hardly ever “Beach” our boat so in deep water it’s tough to clean.

By the way BB, get your mind out of the gutter

Dub

[Big Block Power]

Haven’t been on the water yet but I’ll let you know. I’ve had an old version of a cleaning gripper that I bought at Overtons years ago but it’s worn out. Happen to see this & thought I’d try it. We hardly ever “Beach” our boat so in deep water it’s tough to clean.

By the way BB, get your mind out of the gutter

Dub

Dub on your a little slow 2 months later. You trying to be like liquid now

[Alaskabound]

Liquid and I formed the “Delayed Response Club” a while back but we just haven’t gotten around to tell anybody yet.lol

Dub

[Big Block Power]

Liquid and I formed the “Delayed Response Club” a while back but we just haven’t gotten around to tell anybody yet.lol

Dub

That's a good one I'll watch for that post in 2 months. Lol

[Ytmsn]

Dub I I would be afraid of what that flag action will do to your socket. There is a lot of tension on that flag pole when it is flapping in the breeze at 20 or 30 miles an hour. To save money on OEM flagpole you may end up spending more to replace the socket because your Stern Light won't work anymore. They already get touchy and blink off and on if there's any looseness in there. Just a thought...

[akorcovelos]

I ran a flag on my stern light for years on my old boat with no issues FWIW.

[JTinMO]

Hit up tigtechmarine (www.tigtechmarine.com) and get the factory kit direct from the manufacturer. It's $300.

Pretty sure the OP doesn't want this, but posting so anyone searching in the future can source it.

[LOTOHEAD]

Also bought this 4” suction cup at Gulf Coast Tools for $4.95 to aid in washing the boat when in deep water. Spending some big bucks this week!

DubFF373E24-9180-498A-B122-172C21C9C307.jpeg

Man! I didn't even know I needed one of these? Now I do, thanks!

[Alaskabound]

Yt, I do have concerns but will be carefull. I actually have never used the light pole from Cobalt as we don’t boat at night. The one in the pic is a $20 light from West marine. May just use it at idle or drifting. If I ordered a new boat, I would have added the transom trim switch and flag pole holder. I know I could get it added on but don’t want to drill in gelcoat. Every time I get something done, “they” fix one thing & mess up 2 others.

Dub

[JTinMO]

Yt, I do have concerns but will be carefull. I actually have never used the light pole from Cobalt as we don’t boat at night. The one in the pic is a $20 light from West marine. May just use it at idle or drifting. If I ordered a new boat, I would have added the transom trim switch and flag pole holder. I know I could get it added on but don’t want to drill in gelcoat. Every time I get something done, “they” fix one thing & mess up 2 others.

Dub

The install is easy-ish. Once you drill your fist hole in the boat the others are easy. Might as well get it out of the way. Drilling the hole for installation was simple once you have the right size hole saw. I had to order one as out of the 10 that I have I did not have the exact size needed, and Lowe's/HD do not stock it.

The only tough part was seating the receptacle and getting the bolts tightened down before the silicone sets up. I did it solo, and could not reach both he outside, and under the hull at the same time, so had to go back and forth. The silicone cured a little on the rear of my mount and did not seal 100% flush (it's not noticeable to others, just me as I did it). I can cut it off with a razor knife and remount this summer if it bugs me.

Seriously though, the install is totally do-able. Don't sweat it. It's worth it to me for $300 and my labor. It's not worth $1000 from a dealer to get it installed.