Renaming a boat

lampshuk

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My wife and I bought a secondhand Moody 31 in October. She is currently out of the water for routine maintenance work on her bottom.

While we don't hate her current name, it's a bit of a mouthful, and probably had a geographical relevance to the owner before the one from whom we bought her, when she was kept up in North Wales. We are down in the Solent.

We have a name in mind, but I was wondering what the implications of a name-change are. Other than removing and repainting the name on her stern, of course (is there a paint stripper that removes paint but leaves GRP Intact?).

She has been renamed once before.

I have not re-registered withSSR yet. I have been waiting to decide about this. Any rituals to observe? I'm not superstitious but ...
 
My wife and I bought a secondhand Moody 31

I was wondering what the implications of a name-change are. Other than removing and repainting the name on her stern, of course (is there a paint stripper that removes paint but leaves GRP Intact?).

She has been renamed once before.

Any rituals to observe? I'm not superstitious but ...

Absolutely and vital that you follow one of the recognised renaming rituals. This goes well beyond mere superstition.

See http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm


.
 
Just do it. Superstition is nonsense IMO.

Absolutely - it is a fairly modern affectation with no historical basis. Ships have been re-named since the year dot and some of them didn't sink.

One problem that can arise is if the gelcoat has changed colour slightly in the sun, when the old name may still show.
 
Were not superstitious either . But just to be on the safe side we did all the ritual stuff ... Must have missed something though . Cause this is how our regatta ended :( Animal 1.jpg
 
Yes, forget the superstition and get down to practicalities. As you have just bought the boat, you may be able to roll the name change in with the ownership change, but some points to consider are:
SSR
Radio licence
Insurance
CG66
I think you should try to produce some official-looking change-of-name document too, that you can include in your paper trail of bills-of-sale and proof of VAT.
 
I have not re-registered withSSR yet. I have been waiting to decide about this. Any rituals to observe? I'm not superstitious but ...
OK Call the SSR folk - very helpful - reregister in old name changing the owners details only (free) then change name once you have the new registration. If you change all details you wind up paying twice. (or that was the stiuation when I did the deed on my "man cave") As for all the BS about rituals etc - that is what they are - Bull****. Just get on with it.
 
Honestly some of the (mostly American) websites full of nautical superstitions make me laugh. Mainly because they are wrong or just make up reasons for said superstitions (such as priests are unlucky because they were black? lol). Boat names have always been changed, especially if changing ownership as many owners/families have their preferred names. It is simply nonsense to think that any ill could possibly come from changing the name of a ship! Just remove the old name and put on the new one it's as simple as that. Then all you have to do is register the boat and it's new name at the RSS in Cardiff, Pour some drink over the bow and another to the sea, Nail a horse shoe made of cold iron to a vertical surface. make sure you never carry an ordained preacher aboard, never go out to sea if an old woman asks where your going or if you pass a dead rabbit, never mention pigs by name, never point at the boat (or any other boat) with your finger only ever use an open palm, don't whistle aboard her and always keep some gold on your person. Apart from that you should be fine!!:encouragement:
 
I was told this by someone whose name i don't recall in a place I have forgotten about:

The bad luck isn't really attached to the re-naming so much as the ship itself. It was considered unlucky to sign-on for a trip with a ship whose name had been changed because a likely reason for the change was to disguise the ship's unfortunate history - the ship "Badluck" has been undermaintained, mismanaged, put to peril and generally abused (likewise the crew); so who is going to sign up for "Badluck" now? Change the name to "Nirvana" and start over!

As I said, source unknown....
 
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