What's in a name?

Mario G · May 17, 2011

I had dreamed for many years of getting a sunfish after teaching sailing at a boy scout camp when I was young and so when I was basicly given our 1st boat a Chrysler C-22 . "Don't wake me" seemed perfect, haveing a due meaning that most would understand.
Our 2nd a Chrysler C-26 got its name after we got knocked down on our first outting bringing it home in a gale storm. I didn't think my 1st mate would ever step foot aboard again but when she was ready to go the next day "Shacken Knot stirred" seemed very appropriate. The 3rd was already named "Samara" and grew on us quickly after moving aboard.

wvhills26384 · May 17, 2011

The PO named my Bristol 32 MaChusla. I was intent on changing the name until I researched it. It's an old Gaelic word still used in Ireland meaning my heart or my love. As I've worked at refurbishing her, the name fits.

PrincessoftheLake · May 17, 2011

Mario

Mario G said:
I had dreamed for many years of getting a sunfish after teaching sailing at a boy scout camp when I was young and so when I was basicly given our 1st boat a Chrysler C-22 . "Don't wake me" seemed perfect, haveing a due meaning that most would understand.
Our 2nd a Chrysler C-26 got its name after we got knocked down on our first outting bringing it home in a gale storm. I didn't think my 1st mate would ever step foot aboard again but when she was ready to go the next day "Shacken Knot stirred" seemed very appropriate. The 3rd was already named "Samara" and grew on us quickly after moving aboard.

I was wondering why you picked "Samara". I am a belly dancer and Samara is my "dance" name. I was given to understand that in Arabic it meant "entertaining female companion". Jut wondering what your understanding is.

arknoah · May 17, 2011

Our first boat, a 17’ Whip sailboat had been named Katie J. by the previous owner, and my daughter came up with the name North Star, which just seemed right, though I can’t for the life of me figure out how she came up with it.

Our current boat is a Macgregor 25, which the previous owner hadn’t named (or at least there was no name on it). My daughter is a big fan of manatees, and we “adopted” a manatee from the Save the Manatee Club (http://www.savethemanatee.org/) in Florida, and even kayaked with manatees in December 2010. The manatee we chose to adopt had been sighted in Cape Cod (where we used to vacation), in Maryland (where we live now) and rescued in New Jersey (where we used to live). His name is Ilya, and he may be one of the most famous manatees anywhere, as shown in this story (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/ilya-the-manatee-rescued-_n_338829.html). So, after going though several names we couldn’t agree on, I suggested “Siren,” or “Sirenian,” the class of animals that includes manatees. Ever the plain talker, my daughter simply said: “Why don’t we name the boat Ilya?” And so it goes, and I think it’s a really cool name.

And just by chance today -- 5/17/2011 -- is my daughter's 13th birthday!

arknoah · May 17, 2011

The story goes that as a juvenile, Ilya used to hang out with another young manatee named Napoleon, probably from the emperor. Someone who was a fan of The Man from Uncle TV show from the 1960s noticed the friendship, and decided to name Ilya after Illya Kuryakin, the partner of Napoleon Solo from that TV show. Illya was played by David McCallum, now playing Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS.

HukilauMike · May 17, 2011

When I bought my Oday 23, the boat's name was "Biloxi Blues", named by the PO because he missed his hometown of Biloxi. The boat was on the hard for the winter, so I figured I had plenty of time to come up with a new name before I launched in the spring. However, my wife surprised me with a 40th birthday party in the spring, with many gifts (t shirts, hats, carryall, etc) ebroidered with Biloxi Blues on it. I couldn't well rename the boat after that, so I had to wait several years for the stuff to live their useful lives before renaming.

However, I was having troubling thinking of a good name that had meaning to me. That was solved when I took a vacation to Hawaii with my family. It was my fourth time in the islands, which are just about my favorite place. We were on the Big Island and my then 6 year old daughter and I were taking a hula lesson while the instructor sang that old touristy chestnut "Hukilau". We couldn't get that song or the good times it brought back our of our heads, so Hukilau became the name of my boat. Reminds me of my family in paradise.

DAVA390 · May 17, 2011

My name choice is sort of a hats off to my Dad. As a boy growing up in Annapolis,he crewed for his uncle Johnny on a Chesapeake 20 race boat.When uncle Johnny (and uncles Tim and Ed) went off to ww2,my Dad and his friends raced the boat.The boat is "Riptide". She is currently in the museum in St.Michaels Md.,although recently placed off display.My wife and I are new to sailing last summer and are not racing yet but i thought up "Chasing Riptide" and we went with that.
Chesapeake 20`s are still actively racing at WEST RIVER SAILING CLUB south ohf Annapolis. Some of the boats Dad raced against are still in the fleet.
For my last birthday (58

) I received an antique cigarette lighter from Dad. On one side was engraved "WEST RIVER SAILING CLUB-BOYS RACE-1947-THIRD. On the other side,he had had engraved "4-26-2011 ,David,It`s your turn now'' BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER !!! David Coughlin, P18 "Chasing Riptide ".

Mario G · May 17, 2011

A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery ... think about the helo-choppers seeds that fall from maple trees.

Rag Bagger · May 17, 2011

Princess, Samara from the Hebrew root means, "Guardian". Latin root, "Elm Seed" a current fruit still produced. Not as exotic meanings as your Arabic meaning. I like that the best. Good sailing

PrincessoftheLake · May 17, 2011

Thanks Rag Bagger! That is good to know about the Hebrew root but yes, I agree-I like the Arabic meaning too.

PrincessoftheLake · May 17, 2011

Mario G said:
A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery ... think about the helo-choppers seeds that fall from maple trees.

Mario-
That is very cool. I had no idea. Maybe I'll just tell people that my dance name means I'm a helo-chopper.

hz293 · May 17, 2011

For a short time I went back to a power boat, 21' Bayliner hardtop. One day I was sitting at the helm letting the 350 Chev inboard/outboard warm up and after about 5 minutes of warming, the engine blew and the fire burned the boat totally to the waterline. That's why my 27' Catalina is named "The Phoenix". Out of the ashes and never again owning a powerboat except a dingy or small outboard fishing boat,

Harris

RECESS · May 17, 2011

Recess, we are both teachers.

All U Get · May 17, 2011

I thought you were going to say Staff Meeting. Most teachers spend a lot of time there.
All U Get

Freedom77 · May 17, 2011

I named our first boat Penny Sue after my beloved wife. Second Boat was Penny Sue Too. We bought our third and last boat in 1976 and she named her Freedom because of the Bicentential. Later, Dennis Connor name his America's Cup boat Freedom. Copycat!! Had her for 35 years now. A friend was buying his boat and everytime they talked about an option his wife would say, "Might as well" and that became the boat name. Fair Winds and Full Sails.

Indysailor · May 17, 2011

DannyS said:
Recess, my wife is a teacher and wants to name our next boat Truancy.
Indysailor, I like "Overdue", but be careful, the Coast Guard scolded a boat in our marina for naming their boat "On the Rocks". They said when someone hailed them on the VHF, it always got their adrenaline going. Picture this scenario... "Overdue, Overdue, Overdue, On the Rocks".
That would really make them take notice!

Excellent point. I guess that strikes "payday" from the list, too.

Mary and Joseph · May 17, 2011

I don't have a name for my boat yet. I am trying to think of one, but no good names are bubbling to the surface. We just bought it; and I have no ideas. My husband is no help. We don't have kids. And, the dogs just don't give a damn. We might have to name it next year. It isn't bad luck to sail on a boat that doesn't have a name, is it?

Lubberdink · May 17, 2011

Mary and Joseph said:
I don't have a name for my boat yet. I am trying to think of one, but no good names are bubbling to the surface. We just bought it; and I have no ideas. My husband is no help. We don't have kids. And, the dogs just don't give a damn. We might have to name it next year. It isn't bad luck to sail on a boat that doesn't have a name, is it?

Mary and Joseph?!!! Oh the possibilities. "Bethlehem", "No Room in the Inn", Flight to Egypt", "Star in the East", "Noel",...Need I go on?
Keep yer mast pointed up...