What's in a name?.....your boat.

My recently acquired boat from a lady called Robyn is 'Red Robin'. It has a red hull and the name emblazoned on each side with a picture of the bird. SWMBO thinks boat hulls should only be white or blue and has said that next time it's out of the water we should paint it and change the name. My son and I are resisting as it's beginning to grow on us,
Sailorbaz
 
Ladybird of Rhu

Ladybird of Rhu. Original name since 1969.

The Nic 26 has rather a narrow transom, so perhaps her first owners might have struggled to find a 3 letter port of registry.

I doubt I'll ever have have the nerve to wear anything with Ladybird embroidered on it though.
 
We called our first boat Lonach - it's our clan war cry (and a mountain in Strathdon). Unfortunately, nobody down south could pronounce it ('Lownatch' was a popular version) and poor Lonach was based in Chi Harbour. The current boat we named Red Kite, after the bird which is common hereabouts (Bucks). Everybody can pronounce that, even repeat it correctly when we call on the VHF, but I think some wonder if we're a Red Funnel ferry (they have Red Eagle, Red Osprey etc.).
 
I'll mention the aborted name for our previous boat. I had suggested to my wife the name "Yo Ho" accompanied by a skull and crossed cutlasses pirate flag graphic. My wife was very enthusiastic about this until a friend pointed out that "Yo Ho" could be interpreted as jive for "Hey Prostitute". We settled on another name for the boat, but my friend would still occasionally ask how much money I had been spending on "the ho".
 
Love Lundy Island, been going there since 1989 when I had my first open water dive.
Our club boat at the time was called Osprey.
So my boat is called Lundy Osprey.
 
Current boat was called Maredunian - the latin name for a pupil at Carmarthen Grammar School - which had to go. Being a Starlight we looked for something celestial, and ended up with Celestine which means heavenly. SWMBO is into meditation and spirituality in which Celestine also has positive vibes.
 
I think "Amulet" is a great name for a boat and have never lost my liking of it. My Dad may have been a genius to think of it or ... actually it was the colour name written on the pot of blue paint which he chose to paint her with in 1964. She's still that colour and still has the name.

Actually:

1. Choose a name which there is a vague chance someone will get right when you say it on the radio.

2. No repeat letters - means if you buy ONE alphabet of stencils you can make the name.

3. If you choose letters with no curves you can paint the name using masking tape with no bother.

4. No letters with holes. Really annoying to mask.

I think that maybe leaves you with MINX.

Quite practical.

And I am waiting for a friend to remind us of my all-time favourite.

"Maid Freya Kitt" A mirror Dinghy on the Clyde I believe.
 
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little_roundtop said:
Edit: A close second was to call the boat Broadsword and the tender Danny Boy. Then we could reprise the scene from the movie "Where Eagles Dare" with Richard Burton speaking into the radio saying "Broadsword calling Danny Boy, Broadsword calling Danny Boy".....
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Here's a ringtone for you:
http://www.moviesoundclips.net/download.php?id=2291&ft=mp3
http://www.moviesoundclips.net/download.php?id=2292&ft=mp3

I'm /almost/ tempted to fit radar with screen down below, just so that we can use the intercom facility between VHF & cockpit mike for "Conn, Sonar; crazy Ivan"

"Engage the silent drive and rig ship for ultra quiet."

Err, Ok, hoist the sails, turn the engine and radio off ;->
 
Ours was named Alaurma by the previous owner from the 3 females in his life

Alison, Laura and Alma

We liked the name so kept it, but offered to rename if he gets another boat and want's to use the name again.
 
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This prompted me to think what if I was to call my boat after my children, Howard and Sally.

Sallard, or Ardlly
 
Our New Zealand built ketch has the name of a Maori Goddess “Hinewai” (for our American cousins, it's pronounced Hi-Ne-Wai, NOT Hine-way).

One meaning of Hinewai is “Daughter of the Water”, so our old 310 inflatable tender was called “Baby Bro”. The sun has destroyed the inflatable floor (£700 to replace!) so have picked up a second hand 260 instead which is going to be called “Little Sis”.

electrosys said:
You've obviously never had a boat called "Sugar Puff" ... with pink topsides.
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Reminds me of a story told by that great Australian yachting journo and raconteur, David Salter, in his book “All Piss and Wind” about racing on Police Car with Jimmy Hardy in Hawaii back in the 80’s.

Dropping their mast on the first day of racing, they moved heaven and earth getting a replacement over from Oz (flown over in bits on the floor of a 747 (happy days)).

Then had to rerig in time for the next race a couple of days later.

The final line of the tight spec the designer gave them for the rebuild was “Paint Pink”, meaning prime the mast before top-coating. But they took him at his word.

After the racing was over, Hardy was congratulated on the podium for his "magnificent pink erection”. I believe the American yachting community was scandalised.


PS If anyone knows where I could pick up a 2nd hand inflatable floor for a Zodiac CFR 310 in the UK, I'd be well grateful.
 
HinewaisMan said:
Reminds me of a story told by that great Australian yachting journo and raconteur, David Salter, in his book “All Piss and Wind” about racing on Police Car with Jimmy Hardy in Hawaii back in the 80’s.
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I had to laugh, only an Australian could get away with this:D:D:D
 
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