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Explain your boat's name

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/12/2003 : 21:40:04

There's lots of personal baggage in the choice of a boat name. Here is mine:

(1) boat name had to be short, easy to say on the radio
(2) boat name had to be 100% unique
(3) boat name had to reflect my personality

Indiscipline is a song title from my favorite band, King Crimson. The song is about obsession. You never know what the singer is obsessed with, only that he "carries it around for days and days, playing little games, like not looking at it, and then looking at it to see if I still liked it...........I DID!"

Describes me to a tee when I first had the brochure for my first boat. We considered other King Crimson titles: "Book of Saturdays" and "Thrak Attack". Although Spike favored Thrak Attack, Indiscipline was the winner. Now that we own the domain www.indiscipline.org we are kind of stuck with it (3 boats now!)

Besides, Indiscipline means fun. Not the "a place for everything and everything in it's place" yacht club kind of boat (or crew).

What is the story behind your boat's name?

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2003 : 22:04:29

I dont have a clue what Triska means. Thats the name she had when I bought her and it stuck. Any ideas ?

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2003 : 22:14:48

WOTAM:

Def: 1) Norse God of Nautical Bankruptcy
2) Acronym -- Waste Of Time And Money

Inspired by the number of boat units and hours flowing into restoring it. More typically spelled WOFTAM but I left the "F" part out.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2003 : 22:43:10

That's a great story, Jim!

Selecting a boat name is one excruciating exercise. After considering about fifty possibilities (e.g., Nimue, Calypso, Cassiopea, Liberty, The Libertarian, the Latin equivalent of Fresh Start, ad naseum), I settled on Antares which is my guiding star.

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2003 : 23:20:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 There's lots of personal baggage in the choice of a boat name. Here is mine:

(1) boat name had to be short, easy to say on the radio
(2) boat name had to be 100% unique
(3) boat name had to reflect my personality

What is the story behind your boat's name?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jim,

I can relate to alot of what you say. We found naming our boat really difficult. Our PO had painted the hull black (which we thought looked great) and wanted to recognize the color in the name. We finally selected Moonglade which means moonlight reflected on water. We have had plenty of nights with the full moon shining across the water.

A close second was "Sable Sides" but that sounded a litlle too "working class."

This is a great question to ask on the forum. I look forward to further rsponses.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2003 : 23:20:10

I wish I had a good story on how my boat became "North Star", but the previous owner didn't provide me with one.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 00:31:29

Sailing is my main way to get rid of stress in my life. When I have the boat trimmed just right, close hauled in a perfect 8 kt breeze, the sounds she makes are a quiet symphony - the hiss of the wind blowing past my ears, the gurgle of the wake, the slight rattling of the sailcloth vibrating along the leach, and a deep bass rumble of turbulence on the rudder. That's under sail. Then, later in the afternoon, as the sun dips to the western horizon, I drop anchor in one of my favorite coves to spend the night. In the twilight time, the wind dies away and the lake becomes a mirror reflecting the deepening blue of the sky, and the only sounds are bird calls, and perhaps a whisper of conversation from another boat anchored nearby, punctuated by the splash of a striped bass hitting an insect on the water. No telephone, no TV, no traffic noise, just peace and quiet for a few hours. "Quiet Time" says everything I feel about sailing in two simple words.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 03:57:26

I've shared this too many times, but for those who didn't get it the other hundred.....I bought this Cat in 1983 when my daughter was an infant. I had wanted a bigger boat, but my wife wanted me to stay trailerable. Since we are on the Pacific, the name that stuck for a time was "Pacifier". It may seem a little silly now, but it worked for us at the time.

In 1992, we sold her to friends, who changed the canvas and trim to burgundy. They liked the keel cable hum, so called her "Fine Whine". I hated that name.

In 1998 we bought the boat back after selling our Tartan 30 named Molika (MOlly and LIbby are daughters, wife is KAthy, but I told people that Molika was Polynesian for 'naked maiden')!

We renamed the C-25 Encore!, partly because I teach theatre, but mostly because we are going around one more time with the same boat! NO, we never used a re-naming ceremony....and she's still floatin' and winning a few races now and then.......

Gary B.
Encore! SK/SR #685

Edited by - on

Jared
1st Mate

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USA
70 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 07:24:13

The name of our boat is "Saba Rocks". It used to be "Serendipity", but we decided to change the name and hope for good luck. "Saba Rocks" has a strange story, but that is what makes it fun.

I always wanted a dog, a Siberian Husky more specifically, and my wife wanted nothing to do with them. Well, I came home on Valentine's day and there was a little furry Siberian Husky pup laying in my wife's lap - needless to say, she now loves dogs! We decided to name the dog Sabaka, which we thought meant wolf in Russian - turns out "Sovaka" means dog in Russian, but hey, we thought we would call her Saba, since we went to Bitter End Yacht Club (where we learned to sail) in the BVI for our honeymoon and had a room overlooking a little island/restaraunt called "Saba Rock". Anyway, "Saba Rocks" is the obvious play on the island and how much we love our dog (though rocks sounds kind of 80's-ish).

BTW, our spaz Husky pup loves sailing oddly enough for a sled dog. She loved our Hobie Cat and loved staying dry up on the Catalina now. If I ever remember the camera, I will post a picture of the dog and the new boat. That would be a fun post, pets on the boat pics.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 08:54:48

My goal has been to sail as much of the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Superior, as I can before I have to quit sailing - for whatever reason. "Gallivant" seemed to fit. It means to "frivolously wander seeking pleasure". I found it while "frivolously" thumbing through the dictionary looking for a boat name.

Al
GALLIVANT
C25 5801

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 09:08:31

osmepneo

is classical Greek, kinda.

When I bought her she had a skunk on the transom and was named Airhead. Char and I didn't like that so we decided we'd change the name.

As a pastor, I've named my last few boats with classical Greek, somethin unususal that might attract some attention, and open the door for a conversation with something else. We had discussed several possiblities, but had made no decision until shortly after I bought the flag for my pick-up bouy. I wanted an orange flag and found one, just one, bought it and went home to open it, and discovered that it had a pair of skunks on it.

We were stuck, the skunk stayed, and I started playing with possible names '

osme means frangrance.

pneo is a root word for pnuma, which means wind, breeze of spirit.

So osmepneo means the fragrance of the wind. Or, the fragrance of God (Holy Spirit = God).

Edited by - on

Spain
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 10:29:21

"MARGARETA" was the name my wife dropped when she married me. I thought the name should not be lost so we applied it to the boat when we bought it.
It has been an interesting boat name particularly when we often rafted up with a boat named "TEQUILA"

Lee Spain
"MARGARETA" '78 25FK

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Bob3589
1st Mate

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31 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 10:29:53

I've had my 83 C25 TR/FK about 7 months. The PO named the boat Hauoli which means Happiness in Hawaiin. The meaning is good but the word has some drawbacks. I had to get on a Hawaii website to find the meaning of the name and people always ask me what it means and how to pronounce it. I have been thinking about changing the name to something easier to pronounce and understand. The other day a guy walked by at the marina and said when he first saw the name he thought it said Hanoi --- that's when i really starting thinking about other boat names.
Coming up with a unique boat name is difficult but i agree it should be easy to say and understand over the radio and be short and reflect something about the owner. Maybe by next spring i'll come up with a new name. Also have to consider all the work of removing the old name and putting on the new one plus the re-naming ceremony. I've read other threads about removing names and eliminating the letter shadow. Sounds like a lot of work.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 10:46:41

My first keelboat, a Spirit 23, was named Barber Hauler. I had my own shop then and am still a licensed barber. Years ago we had a white Alfa Romeo that we raced as team Casper. When I bought my Merit 25 I named it Casper. This boat has been named Semper Libre and Cooper’s Island, I first wanted to name it Beater, I like all of the nuances of that for a neglected 1982 boat. Everyone hates Beater. On this site it is listed as Mocca Latte, (the hull is coffee and the deck is white), but my son says that is not going to happen. He wants to call it HOP because that is his nickname. I am stuck, how about 2790? XXDCCXC?

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

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USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 10:50:55

My Catalina came from the original owner, he bought it new out of the Fort Walton, Fla. factory and named it "Mary Anne" for his wife. They sailed the upper Chesapeake for years. After seventeen years of sailing her they were in their 70s and had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. That is when they decided to sell her. I found them online after about 4 months of looking for a good boat and brought her home.

I liked the name but I wanted more of a "mine" feeling so after a bit of study I decided on Moxie. It sort of nodded to the original name and embodied not only their life with the boat but my future as well.

Moxie is one of those words that everyone knows what it means but can't quite define it.

It is synonymous with Courage, Determination, Expertise. Turns out it is also a soft drink.

It is also the name of a famous Trimaran raced by the indefeatable Phillip Weld. Phillip shattered every previous record with his victory in the 1980 Observer Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race, crossing in under 18 days. Not to mention that he was a 65 year old Grandfather at the time.

So I guess that I found a pretty good name.

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Sunshine Daydream
1st Mate

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57 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 11:48:04

"Sunshine Daydream" Grateful Dead. It just sounds nice, that's all.

Edited by - Sunshine Daydream on 11/13/2003 11:57:59

1grndslr
1st Mate

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34 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 11:57:15

I like to play. The boat is owned by a bunch of us Childs', so "Childs Play" It's also the recognition of the spirit of the child within us all.

Ted Childs '86 C25 TR/FK #5272
Lake Lanier, GA

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 12:24:15

We named our boat "This Side Up" (with a vertical arrow on ech side of the letters - just like an appliance carton) because our C22 sunk.
We got so much ribbing from our yacht club that the naw name became a pre-emptive strike!
Derek

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 12:24:26

On a cruise of the Gulf coast of Florida, I stopped at South Seas Plantation, a resort on Captiva Island. As the wind blew through the pine trees it created a low hum. "Captiva Wind" reminds me of Captiva Island.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 12:52:35

A boat with a skunk on the transom named "airhead" is the best reason I've every heard for a re-naming ceremony! What was the PO thinking? (thats a pun).

Very funny that you ended up with a flag with 2 skunks!

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 13:05:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 Very funny that you ended up with a flag with 2 skunks!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

And a boat named Fragrant Breeze.

Edited by - on

KTwomey
1st Mate

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USA
43 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 13:16:16

Akuna Matada

Comes from the Disney movie “Lion King”. Means “No Worries”.

I think they actually spelled it with an “H” but I liked it better without.

We get lots of reactions from kids who see the name and even get waves and smiles from people passing us on the road when we’re towing her.

Edited by - on

GeorgeB
1st Mate

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90 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 15:44:19

Abegweit

Comes from native language of the peoples of the Eastern Canadian maritimes. Means "cradled on the Waves"

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Terry Annis
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 18:31:46

"LEMATIKE" PRONOUNCED LA MA TEAK
This is a combination of my kids's names LErae, MATt, mIKE,

Terry & Kathie #789

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 18:48:08

My wife and I wanted two major purchaces I wanted a boat She wanted a Baby Grand so we decided to get both. Therefore, we figured it only right that our boat have a musical link so "C" major became Sea Major.

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Raskal
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2003 : 18:53:07

This string was a great idea and should be the longest ever (after "I hate Honda outboards"!) so I'll keep it short.

The previous owners had named it "Ocean Piper", but that was a little too romantic for my tastes, and anyway they hadn't bothered to paint it on the sides, so I was free of the curse.

My boat has the camel colored hull so I was looking for one of those coffee and cream type names. Latte, Java, and most everything you could think of has already been used on dozens of boats, but one day while working on the hard I was sucking down my Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Coolatta when the light bulb went off in my head..."Coolatta" it would be...

Rich Kokoska

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