You’ve found yourself the perfect vessel. Her size, shape, price and model tick all of your boxes. So what now? It’s time to name (or re-name) your boat.
When it comes down to naming your boat, there are four important things you should think about: safety, avoiding clichés, and superstitions. It is worth remembering too, that most boats are “she’s” – so consider giving it a feminine touch.
Safety
Although having a name for your boat can be fun and full of creative possibilities, it is important to remember to choose a somewhat sensible and memorable name that is easy to relay in emergencies. You do not want to face any miscommunication – your life could potentially depend on this. Sticking with short and easily pronounced names that cannot be misinterpreted is key in increasing the safety of your boat and everyone else on board.
Avoiding Clichés
Seas the day. Serenity. Aquaholic. Heard these names before? Haven’t we all. Puns are all well and good until they are plastered over every fourth boat in the marina. When naming your boat, think outside the square a little and avoid the standard clichés. Sure, you might love the name The Good Life, but try to branch out into something more personal and set yourself apart.
The feminine touch
It is rare that a boat will be referred to as a ‘he’; so evidently, it would be strange to name it something masculine. By no means must you go over the top and be feminine and cute. But if you find yourself really stuck, there is nothing like simply using a woman’s name. Whether the captain names the boat after a personal female figure in her or his life, or a historical important figure, it is important to really consider what the name will bring to the boat. Choosing a name close to home with meaning to the skipper often means that he will cherish and look after the boat more deeply than he would have if it had an insignificant name.
Superstitions
Nautical folklore has impacted humanity for thousands of year. A particularly famous one is the superstition that re-naming your boat will anger the Gods of the Sea, and will curse the ship with bad luck forever. Although just an old wives’ tale, there is a hint of truth behind this. Maintaining a singular name for a boat maintains or increases its status in the boating industry, particularly for commercial vessels. If you are thinking about changing your boat’s name, think twice about the boat’s status (and yours) and what this will mean in the future.
Sometimes, it is inevitable to rename a boat. Perhaps you have bought it from someone who gave it an absolutely terrible name, or it just does not feel right to keep the name. If done the right way, you can rename your boat through a boat re-naming ceremony. Just make sure all signs of the old name are gone before you officially re-name it.
Naming ideas:
If you are a funny guy or girl and a local recreational boatie, it is not the end of the world to use a few puns. In fact, you might even bring a few smiles to people’s faces out on the water.
Seaduction, Nauti Buoy, Hunky Dory and Piece of Ship are a few to get the ball rolling. Play on the quality (or what’s lacking) of your boat, your reputation and personality, or just choose your favourite.
Perhaps you are a plastic surgeon with a sense of humour? Why not try out Boat-ox? Been working on your boat for the long haul and it is finally time to put her in the water? Don’t waste your breath on a pun, and go for something exotic or more majestic like: Bella Luna, Misty, Osprey or Pura Vida.
With mythology still shaping many of our underlying ideas and approaches in society, it is not surprising that many people still opt to use a name from ancient mythology. Names such as Poseidon (God of the Sea) or Odyssey (Epic Voyage) are commonly used, or you could take the path less worn and go for Boreas (God of the North Wind) or Notus (God of the South Wind).
Finally, you can take the categorical approach and choose a name that fits in with the model of boat you have. If you have a speed boat, names like Renegade or Breaking Waves could work. A sailboat on the other hand, may be named something more along the lines of Nimbus or Wind Dancer.
Be original and set sail!
By Sophia Sorensen
Photo Caption: Denley Healy aboard Mon Cheri
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