Renaming a boat with an unknown name

centerline · Feb 2, 2015

as long as there is no former name available on the documents/paperwork, or on the vessel that can be found, then the process or renaming can proceed without worry of ever being found out by the gods that may ever care about it... and the law wont care as long as the current paperwork is in order.

just go thru the naming process under the assumption that she has never been named before. sometimes ignorance is bliss!

Stu Jackson · Feb 2, 2015

Do you have John Vigor's ceremony in hand?

Name the boat's previous name "Noname" - pronounced know nah mee

woodster · Feb 2, 2015

use Janedoe for the old name and proceed that what they call all the unknown females in the morgue

Don Lucas · Feb 2, 2015

Iriegal said:
My question is: how do I go through a renaming ceremony when I don't know if she ever had a name?

Order the name lettering and apply to the side of the hull.

Ron20324 · Feb 2, 2015

There must be a Naming, or Christening, ceremony- like for brand new boats, like mine.

FastOlson · Feb 2, 2015

While we're on the subject...

Not to be all "boring and practical" but just be sure that Whatever you name your boat will be easily understood on the vhf, with poor reception due to distance or low power, repeated three times quickly with rising panic in your voice, when you are on fire or sinking...

There are some amazing and weird boat names out there that do not anywhere near pass a practical "radio reception test" !

Cheers,
Loren

Olson 34 #28400
Fresh Air

Benny17441 · Feb 2, 2015

When renaming a boat you are the one that needs to be appeased, so pick a name of a female you do not like, like Oprah, Hillary C, Sarah P, Jackie O, Michelle O or whatever deflates your football. If getting rid of the name brings a smile to your face the Gods will smile on you too. Traditions and ceremonies are important but their primary contribution is that they make great excuses to have a party. In reality it is the boaters with well prepared boats that seem to have good luck while those that neglect their vessels seem to corner most of the bad luck. Have fun.

Warren Milberg · Feb 2, 2015

My advice would be to leave the boat unnamed. In over 40 years of sailing, I owned 5 used boats. Four of them came with names and I thought they deserved to remain on the boats. The fifth boat, however, had no name. I decided to name that boat "Slot Machine" and ordered the decal. Before I could go through a proper naming ceremony and apply the decal to her stern, along came Hurricane Isabel and the boat was totaled (after owning it for all of 7 weeks). So be forewarned....

woodster · Feb 2, 2015

Benny17441 said:
When renaming a boat you are the one that needs to be appeased, so pick a name of a female you do not like, like Oprah, Hillary C, Sarah P, Jackie O, Michelle O or whatever deflates your football. Have fun.

wow Benny i thought all those were Jane Doe's:stirthepot:

centerline · Feb 2, 2015

Iriegal said:
Ok then. I will treat this boat as if she has never had a name. It's still hard for me to believe that in 30 years, no one has ever named her!

maybe she has been called things by her PO that were not appropriate to be painted on, or ever heard in mixed company

... if so, about anything you can name her will be better.
hopefully she will be a happy boat for you to be proud of

Steve L22188 · Feb 2, 2015

This topic always amuses me....

Everybody gets their underwear all tied up in knots on the ceremony...the name...the toast...etc. etc. Tickles me to no end.

My theory is that this whole mumbo-jumbo is simply an excuse to have a drink. So I'd suggest you treat it like that.

Invite a friend or two to join you. Have a drink to start the ceremony. Say whatever words that you feel appropriate. Have another drink. Finish the ceremony by pouring the remnants of the glass into the water as a gift to Poseidon. Now your glass empty - so fill it and have another drink.

Done. Go sailing.

centerline · Feb 2, 2015

Warren Milberg said:
My advice would be to leave the boat unnamed. In over 40 years of sailing, I owned 5 used boats. Four of them came with names and I thought they deserved to remain on the boats. The fifth boat, however, had no name. I decided to name that boat "Slot Machine" and ordered the decal. Before I could go through a proper naming ceremony and apply the decal to her stern, along came Hurricane Isabel and the boat was totaled (after owning it for all of 7 weeks). So be forewarned....

according to how I calculate the information you have given, it would seem possible that the name NEEDED to be on the boat for protection, and since you didnt get it there fast enough after she came into your possession, she was taken away....

I suppose its all a matter of perception...

centerline · Feb 2, 2015

Steve Liggett said:
Everybody gets their underwear all tied up in knots on the ceremony...the name...the toast...etc. etc. Tickles me to no end.

My theory is that this whole mumbo-jumbo is simply an excuse to have a drink. So I'd suggest you treat it like that.

Invite a friend or two to join you. Have a drink to start the ceremony. Say whatever words that you feel appropriate. Have another drink. Finish the ceremony by pouring the remnants of the glass into the water as a gift to Poseidon. Now your glass empty - so fill it and have another drink.

Done. Go sailing.

Right on!!!
but the part about a decent sounding name is important and cant be overstated.

31seahorse · Feb 2, 2015

Iriegal said:
Ahoy Everyone!

I am the proud owner of a 1987 O'day 272 that I just bought on New Years Day 2015. .......
My question is: how do I go through a renaming ceremony when I don't know if she ever had a name?

Congratulations on finding a boat that sails very well! We had Breezin' Up, our 1988 272LE out on Charlotte Harbor yesterday in winds 15 to 18 Knots. Beautiful sailing conditions with one reef in the main and the full jib out. The boat balanced nicely and we could enjoy the great weather here in Florida.

RE: the name. I think sailboats should have a name that reflects your respect for the vessel and your personal interests since your time spent sailing will be a blend of your skills and the boat's design characteristics. Having a name that is easy to use on the VHF has been mentioned and I add my +1 to that thought. Our boat was named O'day Je Vous when we bought her, but when the storage yard employee who responded to my first radio call laughingly said, "What did your say?"

I knew things would not get better with that name!

jleblanc31 · Feb 2, 2015

Ok so I had a name for my last sailboat but I never put it on the boat and never had a ceremony, I did once have it on the paper work of a Wednesday night regatta for the local yatch club though. is it alright to name my next boat the same name?

Poseidon have mercy on me!

justsomeguy · Feb 2, 2015

Yes, it's perfectly all right.

Kermit · Feb 2, 2015

We renamed our previous boat right before selling it. We put the first boats name on our new boat. Worked well for us.