Cappen Boidseye
Well-Known Member
SSR? Who are they? Nobody as ever told me to register my ownership of a boat with anyone, just to make sure it is insured, which it is.
Renaming a boat
- Thread starter lampshuk
- Start date
cryan
Well-Known Member
SSR = Small Ships Register which is operated by the RSS(Registry of Shipping and Seamen) which is a department of the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency).
I don't believe it is a legal requirement but might come in handy if you plan to sail abroad.
Cappen Boidseye
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
lampshuk
Well-Known Member
Many thanks to all for the broad spectrum of suggestions.
General consensus seems to revolve around drinking something, which has got to be sound advice.
I don't think I can manage to send a tot of rum to all forum members, but I will toast your collective health.
Many thanks,
Martin.
General consensus seems to revolve around drinking something, which has got to be sound advice.
I don't think I can manage to send a tot of rum to all forum members, but I will toast your collective health.
Many thanks,
Martin.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Preposterous to the point of unseamanlike. And considering how wince-inducing many owners' choices of names are, it's only fair on the poor old yacht to re-christen her.
MJ24
Well-Known Member
The significant (or not) consequence of remaning a boat is that you loose its history!
But if the present name is unpronouncable or stupid, then do it. She gonna be yours for many years, and you have to live together.......
What was her welsh name?
MJ
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smeaks
Well-Known Member
Thank god I'm not superstitious an dun afraid of consequential bad luck ... Touch wood
lampshuk
Well-Known Member
She is currently named "Drifter of Mochras", which, to be fair, is neither silly nor unpronounceable. I understand that Mochras is the name of a coastal landmark in Wales, so it made perfect sense for a boat based there. Not sure I would choose to name a sailing boat "Drifter" but it certainly has a laid-back appeal.
I think the decision might come down to something a simple as how difficult it looks like it will be to get the name off the transom.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
A consideration - pick a name that the CG won't ask you to spell every time you call them
It could prolong an emergency call!
lampshuk
Well-Known Member
Indeed, or just generally irritate everyone. My Dad was a great fan of the Just So stories, so picked a name from the tale of how the tides were made. Our boat was called "Pusat Tasek" which means Heart of the Ocean or "Hiding Place in the middle of the Sea" in Malay, apparently.
Anyway, a nice story behind the name, but the number of times we heard "umm..say again, yacht Pussy Cat?" on the VHF....
Amazingly enough, while sailing down to the Med we berthed in a marina in Spain where another almost identical boat (Westerly berwick) with the same name was berthed (or had been recently, can't remember exactly) ... So it doesn't matter how esoteric and clever your chosen name is, someone else will always get there too.
Anyway, a nice story behind the name, but the number of times we heard "umm..say again, yacht Pussy Cat?" on the VHF....
Amazingly enough, while sailing down to the Med we berthed in a marina in Spain where another almost identical boat (Westerly berwick) with the same name was berthed (or had been recently, can't remember exactly) ... So it doesn't matter how esoteric and clever your chosen name is, someone else will always get there too.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
A consideration - pick a name that the CG won't ask you to spell every time you call them
It could prolong an emergency call!
Or use your callsign in an emergency?
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Is it not normal procedure to give both?
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Here's the official procedure from Ofcom:
DISTRESS TRANSMITTING PROCEDURES
(For use only when in grave and imminent danger and IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE is required)
1. Ensure transmitter is switched on and set to VHF Channel 16.
2. Then say:
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS............................................... (Ship's name or callsign 3 times)
MAYDAY followed by ship's name or callsign ...
(For use only when in grave and imminent danger and IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE is required)
1. Ensure transmitter is switched on and set to VHF Channel 16.
2. Then say:
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS............................................... (Ship's name or callsign 3 times)
MAYDAY followed by ship's name or callsign ...
(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/publication/ra_info/ra292.htm)
Note "ship's name or callsign"
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I'm willing to bet my boots that whichever one you give, CG will also ask for the other 
lampshuk
Well-Known Member
The recommended procedure (according to the relevant RYA booklet) is to give name, call sign and MMSI number
If you're still afloat/alive after all that you can get on with the actual distress message.
(I happen to know this because I am mugging up to refresh my VHF license to a modern one allowing me to use a DSC radio. I am puzzling over which channels are actually OK to use for boat-to-boat comms. I think it deserves a separate thread)
If you're still afloat/alive after all that you can get on with the actual distress message.
(I happen to know this because I am mugging up to refresh my VHF license to a modern one allowing me to use a DSC radio. I am puzzling over which channels are actually OK to use for boat-to-boat comms. I think it deserves a separate thread)
Tidewaiter2
Well-Known Member
Too Right, the ever pragmatic Norman French either leave the boat with just it's Register No. and no name, or Have a toast of Champers/Cidre/Red wine all round on the pontoon, unveil new name, another round of toasts ,+ small libations for the boat and sea, sail off down wind and tack back 7 times up wind, have another round of toasts,
carry on sailing:very_drunk:
lampshuk
Well-Known Member
Spookily, I just returned home to see that PBO March 2014 has an editorial about exactly this topic. Another vote for liberal dispensation of alcohol.
Unfortunately, kitchen-table consensus is not to bother with the renaming (though we will probably just forget the Mochras bit of the name). I suppose we will have to find another excuse for whisky-sprinkling.
Unfortunately, kitchen-table consensus is not to bother with the renaming (though we will probably just forget the Mochras bit of the name). I suppose we will have to find another excuse for whisky-sprinkling.
Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
I have heard it said [I can't remember where] that the superstition came about because of the practice of carving the boat name into the keel and that any renaming would consequently weaken the boat's structure.
Can't quite see why one would carve a boat name, out of sight, in that position or that re-cutting it would have significant implications but that was the explanation given?
Can't quite see why one would carve a boat name, out of sight, in that position or that re-cutting it would have significant implications but that was the explanation given?
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lampshuk
Well-Known Member
I don't think that's any less plausible than some of the other suggestions.
My favorite is the suggestion that name changes were to avoid a (deserved) bad reputation, so better to avoid shipping aboard.
A bit like seeing a sign "under new management" outside a pub you don't already know. You sort of want to try it, but on the other hand, maybe not ...
My favorite is the suggestion that name changes were to avoid a (deserved) bad reputation, so better to avoid shipping aboard.
A bit like seeing a sign "under new management" outside a pub you don't already know. You sort of want to try it, but on the other hand, maybe not ...