What's in a Name?

[sailorboy1]

On another note, why don't you just call it BubbleHead?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Don't forget the per letter cost and the room available to fix the name on using proportionate lettering.

IMO Smaller boat = Shorter name works well. I'd go for a simple female name (that's a simple name not a female )..........or maybe even a Greek Goddess?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by BubbleHeadMd

So:

1. Is it proper to name a boat as small as 25'?

2. A name appropriate for the class and physical condition of the vessel.

3. Clever can be good if it's original and makes sense. Otherwise, avoid it.

4. Try to select a name that is meaningful to the owner/captain, and at least marginally intelligible over VHF and telephone communications in case of emergencies.

Any disagreements? Additions?

Thanks.

1 - Yes - We named our 26 footer

2 - Great suggestions so far - Here's a link to a site with 10,000 boat names to see how unique you are thinking...

10,000 Boat Names

3 - Most important advice is already given. You will end up being known by your boat name so, "That stupid guy that can't dock the boat" is probably not a good name.

4 - You got it right here.

We did the full renaming ceremony and had a blast. We were pretty new to the club and we invited a bunch of people. It was a good way to get to know some of the members and for teh members to get to know us. I attached a couple of pics and a link to the ceremony we used.

Renaming Ceremony

You also get a story out of the ceremony. In our case we had all our pretty duds and we were going to be dressed real fancy and casual. When moving the boat from the mooring to the dock we discovered the impeller had failed. We ended up working on the impeller right up to the start time of the ceremony. And so begins boat ownership...

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by babykinz

I spend alot of time on the docks and know alot of people from this marina.
Most of the time these people are referred by the name of the boat and less by their own names.

At one point in Boot key harbor (Fl. Keys.) we had a lot of folks who were identified by their first names, with no connection to their boat. To separate people with the same names sometimes required ingenuity.
This resulted in one couple being referred to as "Too Tall Barb & Old Fart Rick" to distinguish them from "Too Tall Rick & Blond Barb". Really.
Off thread but what the heck.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

1 - Yes - We named our 26 footer

2 - Great suggestions so far - Here's a link to a site with 10,000 boat names to see how unique you are thinking...

10,000 Boat Names

3 - Most important advice is already given. You will end up being known by your boat name so, "That stupid guy that can't dock the boat" is probably not a good name.

4 - You got it right here.

We did the full renaming ceremony and had a blast. We were pretty new to the club and we invited a bunch of people. It was a good way to get to know some of the members and for teh members to get to know us. I attached a couple of pics and a link to the ceremony we used.

Renaming Ceremony

You also get a story out of the ceremony. In our case we had all our pretty duds and we were going to be dressed real fancy and casual. When moving the boat from the mooring to the dock we discovered the impeller had failed. We ended up working on the impeller right up to the start time of the ceremony. And so begins boat ownership...

By the way, having spent some time in Singapore - I like the name, lah!
Also, the fact that my boat's name doesn't appear in the "10,000" directory is a big plus, but that's me.

[BubbleHeadMd]

Ex-Calif--Thanks for the link. I'm sure I'll go bonkers looking at it.

Good point on keeping it short so it'll fit on the boat. I was already concerned about brevity, but even more so now.

Thanks for all the great advice.

[Grasshopper]

We have a small Catalina and named it... we call it the "Soggy Bottom". I can't figure out how to load a picture or I'd show you.

[rustypirate]

I personally like to let the boat earn it's name.

In the past I have had
Krikkeri (quickly pronounced in a chinese accent)
Blue Moon
Rusty Pirate
and now I have Hagane (japanese for "steel")

Each of these boats earned their name in some fashion.

[bloodhunter]

I've renamed two of my four boats. There was our C&C 40 which was called Puff, a name we absolutely hated. But after the test sail we just looked at each other and we had the name -- Satisfaction.
Our current boat, again after the test sail, doing 11+ kts with the rail down. I started thinking that she sails like a witch. But witch is not a pretty word and could lead to some unfortunate misunderstandings on the radio. My wife came up with Enchantress and so it was.
The other boats Maelstrom and Fancy Free. The boats were happy with their names and so were we. Did name Fancy Free's dinghy Footloose -- stupid, stupid, stupid. It only took about a month for the dinghy to live up to its name. Never named a dinghy again

[BubbleHeadMd]

Letting the boat earn it's name is an interesting concept. If I were to do so now, I'd name it "Time Drain" or "Font of Worry" and I haven't even left the dock.

Ok, just kidding. I don't mean to make it sound like I'm unhappy. I've just never kept a boat IN the water full time before, so even at my sheltered little slip, I'm checking on it nearly every day, working on it, and inspecting the stuff you guys teach me to worry about. When it was at the mooring, I was REALLY worried.

[Little Otter]

sure you can name a 25'er I have a Ranger 22 named Wind Song. just write down the names that appeal to you the most and think about them for a couple days, picture your boat with the name on it's stern.

[colo.sail]

besides the fact that the step-dad (Bob) helped me get started with this project it's going to be a slow sail to no where - thus - bobbing along

Doesn't meet that female name requirement - is that OK

[BubbleHeadMd]

Doesn't need to have a female name. In fact, I don't think I have a female name anywhere in my list of possibilities.

[Tempest245]

I always thought it was lucky to have a 7 letter name...I have no clue where that thought originated....

BoatUS Magazine - The Name Game

[Chief Engineer]

Saw a very "Military" looking yacht in Belmuda Years ago

The Captain and I along with the Owner (who waas Jewish) Puzzled over the name "IZANAMI".........Until I said to him....say it backwards....the look was PRICE-LESS
as he mouthed the words I'M A NAZI