Traditions In Naming Boats

[Bestathook]

Over the years I have heard various traditions in naming boats, but can't remember where I heard them. Searching the net hasn't yielded much.

I remember a few.

Constellation names are for BIG boats.

Double letters are lucky.

7 or 11 letters are lucky or unlucky, but I don't remember which is which.

Renaming a boat is unlucky.

The military names by class of name with class of ship.

Lots of dingys are named diminutive forms of the big boat's name.

Can anyone else remember any rules or traditions in naming boats?

[Stumble]

Never name a boat something that could be considered a challenge to the gods of the sea or storms... Wind Seaker is ok, Storm Conquerer is not.

Female or non-gender names only. So no boats named Bob.

It's a good idea to stay away from names in the phonetic alphabet to reduce confusion

Don't use a name that can't be repeated on the radio (curse words, sexual things, ect... Unless you like the coast guard boarding you)

[goboatingnow]

I would add ,Pick names that can be pronounced easily , ie the phonetic pronunciation is very similar to the actual pronunciation. I would sailed a boat call Persephone ,It was regularly mis-pronounced. ( and no it's not pronounced per - se- phone !)

Dave

[GordMay]

A fun article ➥ BoatUS Magazine - The Name Game
And ➥ BoatUS Boat Graphics - Top 10 Boat Names

[Phoenician]

In France the tradition when renaming a boat is to "cut the snake's tail" .

The way it's done is to go out with the boat to be renamed, followed by a second friendly boat.

The friendly boat has to zig zag through the wake of the renamed boat (ie, |"cut the snake's tail") 7 times, while the owner of the renamed boat pours his/her favourite drink in its wake to ward off bad omens...

For the ceremony to be complete, the new owner has to generously imbibe both crews with champagne - before and after!

[LBW399]

The french also name many of their boats with male names: JOSHUA, JEAN DU SUD, and DAMIEN are three reasonably famous ones that come to mind.

[ugh89]

the boat should be hauled out first. new name applied. a scoop of bilge water obtained and saved for launch. t launch a re-christening with drinks that contain a small amount of the water.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, ugh89.