nautical flag pole topper

[maa. melee]

here i am again trying to visualize a new flagpole on my boat. it will be raked far back on a 304 stainless steel bracket (that i'm welding this week). to me, a raked pole looks excellent and matches the windshield rake well. the only problem i see would be that, because the pole is raked aft (mounted on the center of the transom at the deck ), the eagle i was planning to buy (or make) would have its belly in the wind and wouldn't look too good to me. a ball on the pole might look alittle tacky, plus the fact i'm trying to stay away from that anodized golden color (unless it's bronze or brass), i'd like to use stainless or 'other' (thinking back on the titanium engine intake grills i made). so to sumarize, is their a more nautical flagpole topper and do u think that metalic silver color will look good? where can i find some good flagpole toppers?

(editted to add) ill try to upload some pics today 'cept my camera is in horrible condition.

[ 06-19-2005, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: maa. melee ]

[Bob Cleek]

I take it you are going to use a wooden flag staff. A round ball on the top isn't tacky at all. It is decidedly nautical and safe, since the ball will protect anyone who might fall on it and otherwise become impailed. An eagle on the top of the staff would not be at all nautically proper.

[PatCassidy]

It's only a pole. If you raised it on a halyard it would be a called a pigstick. Keep it simple.

[rbgarr]

Assuming this is a powerboat, and the installation of what you are making is permanent, the top would be a good place to mount a white-lensed aft navigation light.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Little detail that you have probably thought about already - the rake of items standing up from the deck should increase slightly from forward to aft. This applies to all vessels, of whatever size. If the flagstaff appears to rake less than the windscreen it will look very odd.

[htom]

No eagles, please. Or leaping dolphins, either. Round ball or nav light, in your choise of metal.

[Stiletto]

I saw one that was elliptical in cross section, it looked good to me.

[maa. melee]

im gonna see what stock i have laying around and turn something out. lathe contours are simple enough and i can turn out some sort of ball and torrus base. we shall see. thanks for the help.