D.I.Y Red Ensign....ideas?

Rohorn

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3 Oct 2003
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Hi....Printed ensigns shred in days and sewn ones cost lots and last a few weeks only before they go the same way. I refuse to buy more than two per season and by the October pull-out, the second one is usually unrecogniseable. Doubtless U.V. contributes (Greece). At the risk of being skewered for un-patriotic tendencies or dangerous lateral thinking, isn't there a less expensive or longer lasting alternative?
Cheers......R
 

Rohorn

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Hi Snowleopard....I thought about enlarging the rudder on my Aerogen (I've still got it) and painting a red ensign on it. Then thought about simply having an ensign sized piece of painted aluminium fixed to the flag staff. Or some flexible material like leather perhaps. Or a metal frame around an ensign to stop it shredding.
One wishes to be legal and, at first glance at least, not too eccentric!
Cheers....R
 

Rohorn

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Hi Vic....You hit it in one.....I'm too bone idle to lower it at night, though seen from the shore a flapping ensign gives an impression that someone is either aboard or near at hand. The Aegean is a bit windy but that keeps the interest high and the numbers down compared to the Ionian.
Cheers....R
 
G

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What about plasticizing it ............. ok jokes apart ..... interested to see replies ... but then again I've had the same ensign for more 20 yrs .... pinched of a UK ships lifeboat !! Full 1mtr proper sewn job built to take the full force of atlantic !!

Hangs on office wall now .... SWMBO thought I should have a new one ... so trotted of to swindlers - no ships about at time !! - parted with hard earned ..... after 6 month looked worse than one it replaced .... but of course SWMBO will not admit that !!! so it stays .... with mine gracing the office wall .... along with a collage of boating pics and my ideal replacement for present boat .... etc. OPlus of course somewhere amongst it all - my company calendar !
 

Rohorn

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Hi Nigel.....do I understand that this 20 year old ship's lifeboat ensign you 'acquired' was already plasticised and for that reason it has survived? This is a new idea to me....got any details about the process used? Mine is a full yard too. If I could get one to last say, two seasons, by spraying some goo on it, I would probably be quids in......Hair-laquer? Wood varnish? Straight plasticising -sheathing- a'la' driving licence wouldn't work because of the size.
Cheers.....R
 
G

Guest

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NO ... I was joking about the plastic ....

The ensign from the lifeboat is a proper bunting job made to original flag spec .... not the spider-web lightweight excuse for bunting you see today !!
My new SWMBO one caught the outboard prop on its rail mount .... just in clearing it from the prop - it tore a hole ! She of course like all females - blamed me and reckoned I did it on purpose !
 

Ifraser

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10 Feb 2004
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Poole Dorset
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I don't know about a D.I.Y. ensign but we have a sewn one in daily use on a 28 knot workboat and we replace twice a year in general they are supplied by Par flags in Cornwall via a chandlers. Quay West online sell them....but then it is taken down each night.... Some sewn ones seem a lot thinner than others..
 

AIDY

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19 Jan 2004
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Muckle Flugga
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Do as we do.... loose an inch off it every six months.

We have a square ensign now !

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