Flag Holder Pics
 

I know not all states require rider down flags. but for those that do, what do you use? (other than your observer)

There are some really good one's on ebay. comes with the flag attaches to the tower. My lake requires up all the time someone is out of the boat whether down or not. But this one is great b/c it comes with a screw so you can adjust the tension. just put it by the driver and flip up!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Skier-Down-F...item43a0b9d2ae

Never heard of such a thing. What states require the flag?

Pretty common i know MO does

AZ at least

CA requires a flag. I really like the idea for warning other drivers to watch for someone in the water. I just moved to MN where it's not required and don't like it. I guess I could continue using my flag but if no one knows what it means I guess it won't help.

In AZ, you cannot have the flag in the holder while under way. So it would be pointless while riding. But you do need it up if you are floating, with people in the water. So I was told by a water cop.

I've been told by two different sherrif boats out on the water that even master crafts auto/retract rider down flag cannot be declared as a valid rider down flag. But people still buy and use it either way

I have the Flag Buddy. It works pretty good! The first year we used it, the ranger said that you have to put it down once the rider is up and riding. Got in trouble for that but we work around it. Just flip it up when the rider is starting out or down and you are good to go. I like it at a crowded lake because the flag is nice and high so other boats can spot it easily.

Yep the flag buddy is the cheapest and best option out there IMO.

I know it's nice to have while floating down river, but when you have a rider in the water, how hard is it to have someone hold it? Just saying....

Would this flag work?? Just wanted to brighten everyones morning :)

Sold!^^^^^

I know there are enough idiots out there anyway but sadly they don't always notice the rider down flag. I guess another way to look at is to ask some of the peeps on here another question. What states don't require a rider down flag and how dangerous is it?

Not trying to stir anything up but I'm just curious about how other states cope without this law.

Oh man if I had to use a flag id hate it so much....
You just power turn if the rider is in danger, thats how we cope. People usually aren't that dumb. And if they are dumb enough to drive up your ass or at your rideer they aren't gunna see your flag anyways...

That's why the only flags I allow in the boat are like Greg's

I had made a holder for our tower to put up while we would swim around the boat and the sheriff gave us hell for it. Stated that it is only applicable for "skiers" in the water Stupid. I can uderstand the law but I think you should be allowed to have it at rest to notify people in the area that people are in the water.

Under California law, the display of a ski flag is mandatory to indicate a skier in the water, or a ski,
a line, or similar equipment in the immediate area. The display of the ski flag does not in itself restrict
the use of the water, but warns boaters operating in the area to exercise caution.
Boaters who see a red or orange flag being displayed should be on the lookout for a skier or equipment
in the water.

Thanks Jess, I just ordered one. We'll give is a whirl!

Going out tomorrow and gonna try out a new flag holder my friend designed for the Malibu illusion X tower had the prototype for a while and now he's putting it into production. I'll get some pics when he brings by the new mount. And when it's in use as well

Hey Curtis,
How have you been? Are you back on the water yet?
No flags in Maryland. Must have spotter.

Yo! I've been well! The dr just gave me the green light to start wake surfing again and walking the dog. I should be able to wake board in mid April. Hows house hunting?

My buddy came by And dropped off the new flag holder the black is the production, the chrome one was the prototype
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-18-59_311.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-19-04_661.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-19-10_994.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-19-20_631.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-19-29_621.jpg

Curtis,
Still house hunting. Just got back from Orlando area. Florida has become an option again.
Did you guys get to try the new production model in use this weekend?
If so, let's see the pics!!
How is that AZ winter weather doing? Still great?

AZ weather is awesome, water temp is up to 65. Didn't get a chance to test it out as the boat is in Dyer need of a tune up. Gonna probably attempt a voyage this week and take pics

PA doesn't require a flag.
A serious, knowledgeable driver knows what a flag means, but I think that it can be difficult to see. I am always scanning the water for objects when driving and am very aware of others in the water around me.
But should someone be endangering my rider, I make sure I get them out of that situation. Either stopping myself and letting the rider ease into the water, positioning my boat between them and the other boat, or signalling to the rider we're turning around.
We ride in fairly non busy areas anyways. (spotter is required by law).

Finally got the chance to post pics of the flag holder. Man this thing is stealth! You barely notice it unless you really look!

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-17-29_338.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-17-40_758.jpg

If you have an illusion x tower, I recommend this accessory!
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...-17-16_539.jpg

Btw in the first pics, look closely at the t shirt in the back
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/...7-16-32_69.jpg

did these flag holders ever go into production?

Your american laws sometimes boggle the mind. A sherrif gives you heck for floating with the boat and having the flag up because the person in the water did NOT have skis on and was NOT planning to water ski, just swim and you had the flag up for safety? Seems so far out there that the law enforcement would use that situation to show their power. We have no such laws in canada, but we also have a lot less people using the lakes so it's probably not necessary I guess. Some of the stories you guys tell about your water cops are just comical.

Yes they did go into production. He has sold about 30 of them that i know of. He also sells them at our local boat dealer, Action Water Sports of AZ.

In Minnesota the laws are a little more relaxed so far. If you have a mirror you don't need a third, you can ski from sun up to 1 hour after sunset, no flag needed anytime, you can always tell the people from out of state, the rider or skier does not need to wear a pfd just have to have one in the boat for the rider. That last one makes no sense but if you are a barefooter that one is nice because I don't think there are a lot of uscg approved barefoot suits. With over 10,000 lakes traffic on most lakes is not to bad, but there are some that get tons of traffic on them but those arn't worth trying to ride on at those times.

I'm with you Levi. When I was at the wakeboard camp the local sheriff stopped us while we were towing someone to give us crap because the boats didn't have registration. ( Apparently they don't register them because they get the boats from Malibu as demos). I couldn't believe it. On our local lakes a cop won't come near us if anyone is moving. So you just have to be on the throttle anytime you see one if you are doing something you shouldn't. That's also if you do actually see a cop out on the water. Our local lakes are very rarely patrolled and the days they are out there...ie the stupid busy days, I'm not out there. The only change I now eastern canada has and quite a lot of states is alcohol on boats. Up here you can't have any unless you are over 30' I believe and I like the rule as long as the driver isn't drinking have at it. I still see the odd flag being waved. Better safe then sorry I guess.

Hey DC, I'm in SoCal and I want one of those. I like how stealth the black ones are. How can I get one?

went to his site (www.bombwake.com) to get his contact info. shoot him an email or give his company number a call to get pricing and shipping info

Trian Georgeou
CEO Bomb Wake LLC
Trian@bombwake.com
4802794212

I found a discount on the flag buddy tower or window mount. Save 20% use code flag buddy during checkout (with the space between words).
Enter and apply the coupon code after you enter your personal information and shipping choice.

http://caddiebuddy.com/water/

I just received my order and it looks like a quality product. I can't wait to use it n the boat this season!

Just a few more days left for the flag buddy discount, for those interested.

As said above about MN, most lakes aren't very busy. But when it does get busy, it can definitely be dangerous. I've had to power turn and go full throttle back to my rider a few times just to cut another boat or jetski off. And I've chased down and pulled up to a fair share of boats to yell at them for being too close. At least on my chain of lakes, very few wakeboats even know how to drive properly so it gets frustrating.

^^^^That would be irritating. I'm not one for rules but at least the flag us easy to see and does give a good warning to other boats.

So how would the flag rule have helped in RideGull's situation? I just don't see how they help? If someone is so stupid not to pay attention to what's going on around them, are they really going to pay attention to a flag in the boat?

420sq!! Ill let a mother f'er know real quick and won't hesitate to slap him his mouth too if he doesn't understand what I'm telling him. Lol just saying safety is important. But here in ca. Where flags are mandatory if someone is standing in a boat waiving a flag it's real hard not too see and does definently work. I mean **** it definently doesn't hurt.

Here's a example 40' approx. away with multiple colors around and my safety vest still sticks out and that's with my ****ty camera and alot of different contrast and textures on the lake a orange safety flag really pops.

OK, Wally spots your flag. Now where is your downed rider?

The flag is a indicator that a rider is in the water. Not saying its Wally proof,only a slap in the mouth is Wally proof but it IS better then nothing. #fact#hashtagsaregay

I think he's in the s h i t t e r.

Lol! Rider down!!

I have a flag buddy and we had it in the up position while we were floating with the kids swimming off the back of the boat. It was a summer weekday and and I had a local marine sherrif that had nothing to do come over to us and tell us that we had to have the flag HELD by a spotter and not just in the up position.

:banghead:

This is the Oregon Law:

I disagree with the Sherrif's interpretation of "display". Because I can "display" the flag by rotating it in the Flag buddy to a visible position. To me, "display" doesn't mean that it needs to be physically held.

Anyway, we appeased him until he was out of sight. What a toolbag.

Ropes and handles should be hi vis too.

If there is a bunch of boats around whats the point in wakeboarding anyways? I guess if you are surfing.

Surfing is stupid.

Been using my flag buddy for a number of years now and several of my buddies have seen it and got one as well. They work great.

Says 35 year old with "420" in his name.

^lol good point it's been my handle for over 10 years now can't change it. But surfing is still stupid. If your knees can't handle wake boarding why not skate?just as fast fun and challenging and not messing up the butter doing the same thing over and over. Just my opinion figured somebody wouldn't like it. Lol

Oh ya "burn it down dude!!"

Exactly.
I'm sure the flag helps in some areas, but i wish boating etiqutte and safety was enforced more in general.
At least around here, way too many people going fast through channels, coming within 50' of a rider (law is 150'), drunk driving, and improper/unsafe use of jet skis.

In NJ you gotta have a flag up a few feet above the highest point of your boat when riding. It's kinda ridiculous, because everyone forgets to take them down and by the afternoon virtually every boat less than 25 feet is flying a flag. My holder? Two zip ties.

In CA the flag also means ropes are out. So most give a good distance once they learn the rules. Idiots will be idiots so you can't stop an idiot with your flag but you can wave that flag to get their attention maybe.

This is the kind of flag holder you should be looking for if you don't have one yet.