Scuba.Pete
Registered
I was not meaning to question the interpretation; rather I was stating that I have always mis-interpreted the rule.
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Waterskier1
The actual interpretation of the reg is 1 meter in height this means above the highest portion of your boat. Flag size is established by specific dimension using a ratio somewhere around 8 X 11.
In otherwords if a flag 16 in deep it should be 22 in length. The flags sold online are set to International standards for that ratio.
TG
I was not meaning to question the interpretation; rather I was stating that I have always mis-interpreted the rule.
I truly appreciate your concern and all this will be weighed before each dive. Most of this will be on inland lakes where drifting, if it should occur will be noticed and not far. Even if there is someone on board ready to operate the boat, I don't want the hassle of them having to fire up the boat, pull anchor, and maneuver out of the way of a sail boat or some other give-way vessel if we are not considered restricted in ability to maneuver. Pulling anchor and moving away from the dive site for that reason, especially if you are not sure when the divers might be surfacing, is not wise. And to do it simply so you don't have the fly the Alpha flag is foolish, IMHO.
Hopefully, in that case you will have anchored your boat and will be displaying the appropriate signals to indicate that you are anchored. That takes precedence over the requirement to display alpha --- an anchored boat has less ability to maneuver than one with divers attached.Ummm, thanks for all the info on what flags mean. I know that all too well. My question isn't "what do the flags mean" or "when do I fly them". It asks how are those of you who are complying with the USCG (Inland and International) Rules #27 doing so? Indeed, my vessel will be limited in it's ability to maneuver since I, the skipper, will be under it diving. Likely no one else will be on board.