Boat Names

[Ed Brown]

Hello boaters,This is a question that a boater can best answer, I'm not a boater but a converstaion came up between friends I'd like to settle out. Do boat names stay with a boat once it is named? Does the boat builder name the boat? Or can a new owner (or would a new owner) change the name of a boat? What is the chance of two of the same types of boat having the same name, is that considered boating rude of some other term. If I buy a boat and I like a name used by another boater how much trouble would I get in if I copied a name..if its a different or same model for doing that ?Thanks for your info..and the beer it will hopefully buy meEB

 

[Steve W.]

A Boat By Any Other Name

Ed,New boats come from the manufacturer without a name. Most production boats will have the model designator somewhere on the hull. Do an Internet search on boat names and you'll see that boat names, like people, aren't exclusive. So, yes, it is possible to see a similar boat with the same name, some being more common than others. Renaming a used boat involves a very extensive ceremony consuming copious quantities of adult beverages and insuring that the sea deities recieve a share as well. Failure to do this may result in doomed ownership. As for copying the name of a local boat, well, you'll just have to use your own judgement. How common is the name? How "personal" to the current owners. I've seen some "yachts" for sale on the Internet that say the name is "reserved." Not sure that you are legally bound by that. I hope this answers your questions and that the beer is cold.Fair winds,SteveS/V Options

 

[Bob Howie]

More on Sea Deities...

Steve's right about the rather complex ceremony of changing a boat name, but he forget to toss in the fact that in addition to the copious amounts of adult beverages -- which is a given -- there has to be vestal virgin sacrifices (if none are to be found, generally small animals might be considered, but this typically ticks (no pun intended) the PETA people and the Sea Gods aren't really all that keen on small animals anyway...), dances by the light of full moons, incantations which entreat the aforementioned Sea Gods, a possible Exorcism (especially if your "new" boat comes by way of a divorce sale), a touch or two of voodoo for good measure...you know, the usual stuff sailors do on the weekend. I think Neptune grants special dispensation if one paints one's boat and the transom is then more or less a "blank slate," but you might want to check on that. Oh, and once the renaming ceremony is completed, you might want to have an ample supply of good luck charms handy, i.e., a few dozen rabbits' feet, owl feathers, shamrocks, horseshoes, possibly a Dream Catcher for the first night aboard, just to be on the safe side!!

 

[Scott]

You're free to name your boat whatever you like, regardless of other boat names. However, part of the fun of owning a boat is naming it.You may change the name of your boat at any time, regardless of what or who named it before. Some say it's bad luck to rename a boat. I renamed mine upon buying it, and it's still afloat, as am I.Similar boat names are quite common. In a recent sailing magazine article they reported on some of the more common names for boats. I think the all time leader for names was "Serendipity."ser·en·dip·i·ty (sµr”…n-d¹p“¹-t¶) n. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. --ser”en·dip“i·tous adj. --ser”en·dip“i·tous·ly adv.ScottS/Y RubiconKey West