Have you ever changed a boat's name? Do you believe in the superstition of bad luck, and wouldn't make a change? Or, did you carefully research and execute a re-naming ceremony? Did you suffer any bad luck -- or enjoy especially good luck -- after such a ritual? On the other hand, do you think the whole issue is a bunch of nonsense? What experiences have you had re-naming boats? Share your beliefs (as well as your bad or good luck) here, then vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Don Clark)
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I think it's a bunch of nonsense...
With my first boat, I very unceremoniously scrubbed the name off with oven cleaner and a 3-M pad and applied the new one. My second one was easier as the lettering was vinyl and just needed a little heat. My Nonsuch had painted letters that I simply buffed off with Finesse-It and applied the new. Never had a problem, no disasters, no issues. Cheers, Bob
With my first boat, I very unceremoniously scrubbed the name off with oven cleaner and a 3-M pad and applied the new one. My second one was easier as the lettering was vinyl and just needed a little heat. My Nonsuch had painted letters that I simply buffed off with Finesse-It and applied the new. Never had a problem, no disasters, no issues. Cheers, Bob
A blessing
Our sailboat is a dream come true for my wife and I, it has been named Inspiration and Play since we first started looking at sailboats. So whatever used boat we purchased would be renamed. I would never worry about renaming a production boat. Custom Herreshoff Cutter from 1922... well.... I think I would be careful... At one point in sailing history you had to have a unique name I believe and then register the name. Kind of like the web domain names now. A little different tradition than now. At our yard their are two vessels with the name Badda Bing and The Big Johnson next to each other... I think I would change the name.
Our sailboat is a dream come true for my wife and I, it has been named Inspiration and Play since we first started looking at sailboats. So whatever used boat we purchased would be renamed. I would never worry about renaming a production boat. Custom Herreshoff Cutter from 1922... well.... I think I would be careful... At one point in sailing history you had to have a unique name I believe and then register the name. Kind of like the web domain names now. A little different tradition than now. At our yard their are two vessels with the name Badda Bing and The Big Johnson next to each other... I think I would change the name.
I Changed because I Wanted To
And I didn't let superstition stop me or bother me. A boat should be name what the owner wants it to be regardless of what it was previously named. It's a reincarnation to the new owner's needs. Paul Akers S/V AKERS AWAY
And I didn't let superstition stop me or bother me. A boat should be name what the owner wants it to be regardless of what it was previously named. It's a reincarnation to the new owner's needs. Paul Akers S/V AKERS AWAY
Spencer?
"Badda Bing" or "The Big Johnson" sound like names we would normally see in RI waters.
P.S. I just noticed that the 3 replies to this post, so far, are from RI. Does that tell us something?
"Badda Bing" or "The Big Johnson" sound like names we would normally see in RI waters.
P.S. I just noticed that the 3 replies to this post, so far, are from RI. Does that tell us something? I'm convinced !
I've done the Vigors ceremony on each of my 3 sailboats and never had a problem. I did not do a name changing ceremony on my 32 ft. 1988 Carver powerboat and she burned to the waterline while underway a year later. I'm convinced!!
I've done the Vigors ceremony on each of my 3 sailboats and never had a problem. I did not do a name changing ceremony on my 32 ft. 1988 Carver powerboat and she burned to the waterline while underway a year later. I'm convinced!!
Name Game....
I now own my 6th sailboat in over 30 yrs of sailing. All but one came with a name already on it, and I left it on. The one that didn't, was about to get a new name. I was about to buy the new letters and apply them. Then came Hurricane Isabel and that boat was totaled. My current boat came with a name. You can bet I ain't gonna change it....
I now own my 6th sailboat in over 30 yrs of sailing. All but one came with a name already on it, and I left it on. The one that didn't, was about to get a new name. I was about to buy the new letters and apply them. Then came Hurricane Isabel and that boat was totaled. My current boat came with a name. You can bet I ain't gonna change it....
New Names
Just as you go out and customize the boat to your liking, the name of a boat should reflect the owners (in a way). It would be unusual to take a boat and not modify anything after you have bought it. The boat was set up for someone else and their preferences. No two people are alike so you will, most likely, change some things. A name is the same way. I agree that if you had an old custom built boat the name should stay, but a production boat can change the name. I have changed the name of everyone of my boats and I haven't had problems. In saying that....knock on wood, because I believe that that are a lot of other things that would give the boat bad luck. Anyway, that is my two cents. I feel that you make your own luck through experience, not changing the name!
Just as you go out and customize the boat to your liking, the name of a boat should reflect the owners (in a way). It would be unusual to take a boat and not modify anything after you have bought it. The boat was set up for someone else and their preferences. No two people are alike so you will, most likely, change some things. A name is the same way. I agree that if you had an old custom built boat the name should stay, but a production boat can change the name. I have changed the name of everyone of my boats and I haven't had problems. In saying that....knock on wood, because I believe that that are a lot of other things that would give the boat bad luck. Anyway, that is my two cents. I feel that you make your own luck through experience, not changing the name!
Be sure to check out ...
BoatUS' latest magazine with an article on how NOT to name a boat. Very funny and very true.
BoatUS' latest magazine with an article on how NOT to name a boat. Very funny and very true.
no emoting here
We found the old name too difficult for radio, and it meant nothing special to us so we changed. The new name came from drinking champagne the first night aboard, and we've been happy with it, and our luck, ever since. Sanders s/v Good News
We found the old name too difficult for radio, and it meant nothing special to us so we changed. The new name came from drinking champagne the first night aboard, and we've been happy with it, and our luck, ever since. Sanders s/v Good News
Ceremonial nonsense
Do we all really believe in superstition? In luck or chance like it has power to cause something? I'm with the method of peeling off the old and putting on the new. To practice a ritual involving virgins, chants, etc., because it's a tradition from the Middle Ages or fun is dabbling in the occult.
Do we all really believe in superstition? In luck or chance like it has power to cause something? I'm with the method of peeling off the old and putting on the new. To practice a ritual involving virgins, chants, etc., because it's a tradition from the Middle Ages or fun is dabbling in the occult.
Rename with something clear, short and not
silly sounding over the radio. My only superstition is to take better care of the boat and sail it more than the PO's. I'm really not comfortable till I've gone over every aspect of the boat and am happy with the condition of all systems.
silly sounding over the radio. My only superstition is to take better care of the boat and sail it more than the PO's. I'm really not comfortable till I've gone over every aspect of the boat and am happy with the condition of all systems.
Never named a boat...
We have had two boats and have not named either. Our current 2002 Hunter 270 is unofficially named Procrastination, which seems appropriate for us...
We have had two boats and have not named either. Our current 2002 Hunter 270 is unofficially named Procrastination, which seems appropriate for us...
Won't change them here...
kept the names on 3 boats (1 pwr, 2 sail) and great experiences on all I'm glad to report (yeah, knock wood.) Renamed 2 others (w/o all the ceremonies) with misery to follow. Uncle did the same and basically kept Sea Tow in business for a few years. I've also seen several tv show's about the myth and they were pretty convincing. I guess 2 out of 5 isn't bad, but I haven't changed any since. Perhaps it's how you approach it. That's whay I suggested this question - to see what other folks' experiences have been. I'm not typically superstious, but I'm not taking any chances either.
kept the names on 3 boats (1 pwr, 2 sail) and great experiences on all I'm glad to report (yeah, knock wood.) Renamed 2 others (w/o all the ceremonies) with misery to follow. Uncle did the same and basically kept Sea Tow in business for a few years. I've also seen several tv show's about the myth and they were pretty convincing. I guess 2 out of 5 isn't bad, but I haven't changed any since. Perhaps it's how you approach it. That's whay I suggested this question - to see what other folks' experiences have been. I'm not typically superstious, but I'm not taking any chances either.
Laying on of hands
I renamed my boat. It was originally named after a beer in Mexico, 'Primo'). When I bought the boat (my first one) which was also to become my home, I was asked when registering it if I wanted to rename it. I said yes. I had one week to come up with my own name. I did come up with a name ('Lucky Jack') and it is now documented under that name. There's one ceremony down - with consequences ($). Then I had to remove the old name which was nearly embedded on both sides of the boat in very large letters. It took a few hours to remove and then I had to have the new name made. More consequences ($). I applied it myself on the transome and it turned out beautiful. The whole process required a lot of time with me laying hands on my boat, up close, tied to it on a dingy, nearly kissing the hull as I carefully scraped and peeled, inhaling the fumes of adhesive remover. I have not had a renaming ceremony with friends - not yet. That will be a good sunny warm weather thing. But, I have cared for my boat and I have no fear that ol Neptune will be offended in anyway. I did all the work, and said my share of magical words in the process . But, I do think that a renaming ceremony is due, if for no other reason than to celebrate the beauty of the water and the good thiings of friendship. That can only bring good to this great vessel.
I renamed my boat. It was originally named after a beer in Mexico, 'Primo'). When I bought the boat (my first one) which was also to become my home, I was asked when registering it if I wanted to rename it. I said yes. I had one week to come up with my own name. I did come up with a name ('Lucky Jack') and it is now documented under that name. There's one ceremony down - with consequences ($). Then I had to remove the old name which was nearly embedded on both sides of the boat in very large letters. It took a few hours to remove and then I had to have the new name made. More consequences ($). I applied it myself on the transome and it turned out beautiful. The whole process required a lot of time with me laying hands on my boat, up close, tied to it on a dingy, nearly kissing the hull as I carefully scraped and peeled, inhaling the fumes of adhesive remover. I have not had a renaming ceremony with friends - not yet. That will be a good sunny warm weather thing. But, I have cared for my boat and I have no fear that ol Neptune will be offended in anyway. I did all the work, and said my share of magical words in the process
. But, I do think that a renaming ceremony is due, if for no other reason than to celebrate the beauty of the water and the good thiings of friendship. That can only bring good to this great vessel.Did it and happy
According to what I can dig out of the paperwork, my boat has had at least four names before I renamed her. She had been sitting on a cradle next to a freeway for two years when I bought her. I immediately removed the awful looking electrical tape name, both because it looked terrible and I didn't like the name at all. Soon after launch last spring I had new graphics made. After denaming the new graphics were applied and the Vigor naming ceremony was conducted. She has been very good to me so far.
According to what I can dig out of the paperwork, my boat has had at least four names before I renamed her. She had been sitting on a cradle next to a freeway for two years when I bought her. I immediately removed the awful looking electrical tape name, both because it looked terrible and I didn't like the name at all. Soon after launch last spring I had new graphics made. After denaming the new graphics were applied and the Vigor naming ceremony was conducted. She has been very good to me so far.
Did change it.
Two boats. First was a C-22 that never had a name but the previous owner said she'd have named it "Teacher" for what it did for her. Guess we'd have named it "Re-Introducer" if we'd have followed her thinking. Second boat, the wonderful FUTHARK was renamed from "Scirocco's Song" with a liquidacious bit of pomp and circumstance. That was done less because of any fear of disaster than it was for the sake of a block party - the neighbors had been quite inquisitive of this honker 27' behemoth in the street for three weeks and all the sounds emanating from below and above. We used Vigor's ceremony somewhat modified. TIP - score the Champers bottle with any glass-scoring tool before putting it in an onion bag and smacking it on the bow. Al Fink Denver
Two boats. First was a C-22 that never had a name but the previous owner said she'd have named it "Teacher" for what it did for her. Guess we'd have named it "Re-Introducer" if we'd have followed her thinking. Second boat, the wonderful FUTHARK was renamed from "Scirocco's Song" with a liquidacious bit of pomp and circumstance. That was done less because of any fear of disaster than it was for the sake of a block party - the neighbors had been quite inquisitive of this honker 27' behemoth in the street for three weeks and all the sounds emanating from below and above. We used Vigor's ceremony somewhat modified. TIP - score the Champers bottle with any glass-scoring tool before putting it in an onion bag and smacking it on the bow. Al Fink Denver
Nonsense, but why take a chance
Yes, I renamed my boat and followed the traditional naming ceremony - first "asking permission" from the sea gods. Since I didn't get a reply, I assumed it was OK. Anyhow, I also followed the tradition of removing or taking the old name off everything in or on the boat. My feeling is that tradition was started by the people that sell all the replacement gear. But why take chances.
Yes, I renamed my boat and followed the traditional naming ceremony - first "asking permission" from the sea gods. Since I didn't get a reply, I assumed it was OK.
Anyhow, I also followed the tradition of removing or taking the old name off everything in or on the boat. My feeling is that tradition was started by the people that sell all the replacement gear. But why take chances.- Status