how long did your ensign last

[tudorsailor]

I bought a red ensign in 2008. The yacht is moored in the Med. The flag is only "hoisted" when someone is on board, so 8 - 10 weeks a year.

It is now very faded and beginning to be thread bear. It needs replacing

It was a "Traditional hand sewn Red Ensign, made in the UK to the highest marine specification".

2 yard size is £50. Surely it should have lasted a little longer?

Where should I get my replacement

Thanks

TudorSailor

 

[sailorman]

I bought a red ensign in 2008. The yacht is moored in the Med. The flag is only "hoisted" when someone is on board, so 8 - 10 weeks a year.

It is now very faded and beginning to be thread bear. It needs replacing

It was a "Traditional hand sewn Red Ensign, made in the UK to the highest marine specification".

2 yard size is £50. Surely it should have lasted a little longer?

Where should I get my replacement

Thanks


TudorSailor

Ensign Flag Co made mine
see web site

 

[vyv_cox]

It depends very much on where on the boat it is flown. Three years ago we were at Mykonos in August at the height of the meltemi. The wind howled for ten days. Our ensign was partly up the backstay and was almost destroyed in that time.

Since then we fly ours low down, which keeps it in reasonable condition for far longer.

 

[prv]

I fly mine from the peak of the mizzen gaff, so relatively high. It came with the boat three years ago and certainly wasn't new then, but still looks fine, no fraying etc. It is relatively heavy fabric though, none of the red polyester cheesecloth that some seem to be made of.

Pete

 

[tinkicker0]

Ensign Flag Co made mine
see web site

that ensign is printed

 

[sailorman]

that ensign is printed

mine certainly is not
nether is the 2 yd one on the house at the mo complete with englefield clips

 

[little_roundtop]

Our 2-yard ensign is worn on a staff at the stern. We leave it up all the time in the summer, yes I know we should take it down at night but we don't. An ensign lasts us two summer seasons and then (in the Med sunshine) it's so faded that it looks awful. It's still in reasonable condition though, just badly faded, so we replace it. In the winter we wear a small courtesy flag-sized ensign at the stern.

Oh, the 2-yard is a sewn one (not printed) from the Hampshire flag company.

 

[Salty John]

Traditional hand sewn ensign - first cruise, three years, now resides in a frame on my daughters wall; second cruise, three years, resides in a frame on my office wall.
Both flown sunrise to sunset in southern USA, Bahamas, Caribbean. A bit faded but intact.

 

[nigelmercier]

that ensign is printed

I've paid through the nose for sewn ensigns, which IMO look tatty from new. I've decided that a "printed" polyester one would be a better buy, especially as they are not printed, but woven.

 

[Stork_III]

I recommend Easyflags. When it eventually frays they will repair it for free.