SSR/MMSI registrations with boat name including ‘The…’ AND ‘I’ (one) - original, unnecessary, or just annoying?!

[dankilb]

Here’s one for the collective…

We’re reverting to our boat’s original name. She was US-delivered and still displays a nice brass hull ID/registration plate (to a port in Massachusetts, which I can’t recall) and that bears her original name: ‘The Christina I’

Should I re-register the SSR and (as I need to apply for a new one anyway) MMSI callsign including the prefix ‘The’ and suffix ‘I’?

Part of me thinks it sounds a tad pompous/annoying and also worries it adds precious syllables to RT transmissions.

Another part of me rather likes the ‘originality’ and also the fact it makes her sound like an old, hoary, long-liner (and I have always secretly wanted a Grand Banks!).

She’s a late-1980s 41’ Jeanneau btw ?

 

[LadyInBed]

What's the current name, AWB XLI ? ?

 

[Tranona]

You can essentially call it what you like unless it is rude! The current name will be fine. Registering it on the SSR does not confer any rights - just a means of identification.

 

[dankilb]

You can essentially call it what you like unless it is rude! The current name will be fine. Registering it on the SSR does not confer any rights - just a means of identification.

Very true… I know the SSR (sorry don’t know where the extra ‘S’ came from when composing the thread!) name doesn’t particularly matter. She’s got a valid card for her number.

I guess the MMSI callsign is a bit more meaningful, in practice? If I go for ‘The xxx I’ on that then, technically, aren’t I then requiring us and others to say those extra words in RT? (I probably wouldn’t bother myself, so wouldn’t expect it of others!)

 

[dankilb]

We’ve owned the boat for 2 years btw! It’s just that we’re only now starting to think about needing radio license and it occurred to me that a decision will be required for that.

 

[dankilb]

What's the current name, AWB XLI ? ?

Don’t want to offend any PO, so won’t post - can affirm it is harmless and not otherwise noteworthy. We just don’t like it. She was [The] Christina most of her life.

 

[dankilb]

UPDATE: First Mate has come up with the suggestion we only keep the suffix: Christina I
(‘obviously’, apparently…)

Think she may be on to something there.

Keeping the one after may even help differentiate us, someday, in case of other ‘Christinas’ around.

 

[LadyInBed]

can affirm it is harmless and not otherwise noteworthy. We just don’t like it.

I had the same issue, some might not like the name that I changed it to, but that's how it goes!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I agree that it is "proper" to register her under her full and original name.

But I never normally use the full name on the radio - were I crewing for you and you asked me to call the marina I would just say "This is Christina, Christina over".

 

[dankilb]

I had the same issue, some might not like the name that I changed it to, but that's how it goes!

I feel that once the name’s been changed, it effectively breaks the seal and you can do what you want. We were originally thinking to change to a new name. But after a couple of years(!), fair to say nothing’s stuck. It also sits better with me that all the important paperwork - e.g. VAT Receipt - would match again.

 

[dankilb]

I agree that it is "proper" to register her under her full and original name.

But I never normally use the full name on the radio - were I crewing for you and you asked me to call the marina I would just say "This is Christina, Christina over".

Yup, agreed. I wouldn’t either (unless on the very, very rare chance of another Christina on a frequency, in which case I’d feel a tad smug in adding my One ?).

 

[Momac]

...... technically, aren’t I then requiring us and others to say those extra words in RT?

Will anyone care what exact name you say on vhf?

 

[jonic]

I remember when we arrived in the USA from the Bahamas that everyone started to refer to our boat as "The Moonshine" rather than her name which was simply "Moonshine". We were there for about a year and `I never did get used to it.

We are now on our 4th Seraphim, so she is Seraphim 4 (actually it's IV on the transom) but I rarely use the 4.

 

[dk]

Are you sure it's 1 (one) and not I (eye), as is the initial letter of a surname?

 

[dankilb]

Will anyone care what exact name you say on vhf?

Hopefully not! That is certainly not my intention. But if it is to be Christina I then I do want the MMSI callsign to match the name.

 

[dankilb]

Are you sure it's 1 (one) and not I (eye), as is the initial letter of a surname?

It seems to be I rather than a numeral on the most important paperwork we have (bills of sale and import VAT receipt). But as you’d imagine, it’s far from consistent across all her paperwork under than name.

 

[dankilb]

Are you sure it's 1 (one) and not I (eye), as is the initial letter of a surname?

Good point, that…! I checked the ‘most’ original paperwork (US registration, BoS, etc.) and it was indeed ‘1’!

For some reason, I had thought it was ‘I’ (the Roman numeral).

I wonder if the 1 was simply required by US registration as there was another Christina on the state’s books?