Do you name small boats?

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
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Oct 21, 2008
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I have a 16 ft boat, Should I name it, is it bad luck not to name it. I kinda thought you only named bigger boats, say over 30 feet.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,088
Re: Do you name small boats?

Ayuh,...

You can Name anything, any name you Want....

My 34' Houseboat is named "Mom's Paycheck"...
It's 8' dingy is named "Mom's Support Check"....
 

Summer Fun

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
2,251
Re: Do you name small boats?

Yes started with a 16ft cuddy = Happy Ours, then a 2150 cuddy = Summer Fun. and now a 30ft = Wayne's World. :)
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Do you name small boats?

My first boat was a wooden Thompson, lapstrake construction with about 600 tiny brass bolts that I tightened by hand, shortened the hull to get into solid wood and built a new transom and keel. It was named "@#$%&" for obvious reasons. If an engine can have a name, the boat it's hanging on can have any name you wish regardless of boat size.
 

bowman316

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Joined
Oct 21, 2008
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Re: Do you name small boats?

I might name mine "Allie Rae" After my Gf. I just like the sound of it.

Or I might name it "explorer"

Would you say it is bad luck to not have a name?

I am pretty sure the boat has never had a name, at least not offically.

You can register names with the state, or USCG.
 

exsailor

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Mar 3, 2009
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Re: Do you name small boats?

I've owned six boats in my lifetime ranging from 14' to 28' and I've named every one of them. :)
 

25thmustang

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Mar 20, 2008
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1,849
Re: Do you name small boats?

I might name mine "Allie Rae" After my Gf. I just like the sound of it.

Or I might name it "explorer"

Would you say it is bad luck to not have a name?

I am pretty sure the boat has never had a name, at least not offically.

You can register names with the state, or USCG.

I'm not sure I would name it after my GF or my wife. Call it harsh, but my father always taught me, if your going to name a boat after a lady, name it after your daughter. Your daughter will always be your daughter, your gf/wife, may not always be your gf/wife.

With "that" being said, I would name it if you would like, noone would think twice of a 16' boat being named.!
 

bowman316

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Oct 21, 2008
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Re: Do you name small boats?

I have had it unnamed for a year or so, and no really bad luck, But not good luck either.

seems like i always have to tinker with the engine, and it always seems to happen when i am the one water skiing, and have to come back in the boat.
 

AZSenza

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
521
Re: Do you name small boats?

My 22 ft bowrider is named after my wife "Kelly Marea" its a custom decal (Removable)!
 

CATransplant

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Feb 26, 2005
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6,319
Re: Do you name small boats?

You must name all boats. The smaller the boat, the more impressive the name should be. For example, you might name an 8' dinghy "Queen Mary III" or something military like "Lexington II."

How else will your boat know that you respect it, after all?

Of course, if you have a troublesome boat that gives you nothing but grief, you might want a name that reflects your attitude towards it. "Worthless Piece of #$^@" comes to mind for a couple of boats I've owned. :D
 

cbavier

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Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Do you name small boats?

Name it. I named mine "Own-It" but I wish I'd named it "Winter-Sux"
 

Ryno 13

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Mar 5, 2009
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Re: Do you name small boats?

I have a 17' Ebbtide that does not have a name. The previous owner (good friend) did not name her either. He had nothing but good luck with her and I have had relatively poor luck in the sense that every time I take her out something goes wrong. Mechanical problems, injury, etc. are just a few of the issues. I am going to be naming her as I am beginning to think it is some sort of curse! I am the third owner and I am fairly certain the first owner never named her. Should I go through the name changing ritual as a precaution to ward off bad spirits?

Also, I thought it was bad to name your boat after a female loved one... wife, GF, daughter because that person will then soon be out of your life. True story... I had a friend that named their Grady after their daughter and within a year she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Sadly, she died at a young age. I will not be naming any boat of mine after a loved one!
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Do you name small boats?

me either, just in case.

Think about how much naming a boat after a woman would inflate their heads too.

I think I will name mine "explorer" I'm always looking for new islands and such.
 

Fu-Inator

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
81
Re: Do you name small boats?

When I bought my boat used, it was not named. Although the boat was in good shape, the previous owner got into a situation where he HAD to sell it after only owning for a year (he bought it new). He was upside down on his loan and had to pay a nice chunk of cash to his bank before he could sell it to me. So, there are many ways the ?bad luck? can hit you.

I?m new to boating so I need all the help I can get, therefore we named our boat for good measure.:D
 

cbavier

Lieutenant
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Apr 8, 2007
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Re: Do you name small boats?

Hey Ryno name her "Jinxed" ..... ;) Ha! Ha! Ha! :D
 

5150abf

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Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: Do you name small boats?

My 16 is named Catmendo, name it if you want, it is your boat.
I have seen names on 10' tinnies before, whatever you want to do.
 
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