Renaming a boat!!!!

[BAproject]

So I understand that it is bad luck to rename a boat....I have done some reading on this topic and there are of course several different rituals that can be performed to insure that bad luck is not bestowed upon your vessel...

...I'm not really superstitious, but this is one of those things....and I have a new name for here....the old one just isn't going to work for me.

Any thoughts on the process...or stories of people who have unsuccessfully renamed a boat?

-BAproject

 

[NoGin]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

There is a big ceremony you are supposed to go through. I did this this summer as offerings to the sea gods. Wrote the previous boat name on a piece of steel with water soluble ink as supposed to and tossed it over the bow. Did everything text book and had constant mechanical/electrical problems with my boat. I did not have nay problems from the sea, however.

Do a google on boat re-naming and you will find the ritual to do.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[BAproject]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Ha....I found the same ritual on Google....requiring a speech to several greek gods, and ingot with the previous boat name...and apparently several bottles of champagne.....

The question is, does it really work...did you have electrical prob's before the rename.

One has to wonder if these problems were going to happen regardless...boats tend to be high maintenance (so I'm learning)....

-BAproject

 

[thundercraft260]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

renamed boat....and first time out with her.....o/heat and seized the engine....the new name of the boat is SEAS THE DAY....turned out to be seize the motor

Good luck

John

 

[NoGin]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Hey John, you in Mt. Sinai - Seas the Day ???


I launched her and kept her at the mooring until i completed the ceremony. I didn't want to chance pissing off the Gods!!! I do think I may have caused a good amount of my problems this summer by not properly maintaining her.

Why not spend a few bucks and have an excuse for a good party and Christen her right!!!

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

...or you could just peel off the old name and slap on the new one. In some cases renaming might just be the ticket. Remember the Exxon Valdez? Renaming that big iron boat was probably the best thing Exxon did with it.

 

[BAproject]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Yep...that is one way to look at it....But then again a little renaming ceremony with a bunch of friends and some champagne doesn't seem like a bad idea at all. As long s they can handle all the weird ritualistic jargon I have to speak

-BAproject

 

[NoGin]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

... and it is actually quite fun!

 

[BAproject]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Sounds like it will be....

Now I just have to get her running and cleaned up so I can have the ceremony at sea....or else I might have a problem

-BAproject

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Oh man.... just use the search tab and you will have your questions answered.

I posted this 7 years ago here on iboats

Christenings and commissioningsThe tradition of christening and commissioning a ship started well before the first ten revenue cutters entered the service. The practice dates back to ancient times when the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Vikings called upon the gods to protect their ships and crew from the perilous sea. Religion played an important role in these ceremonies. In fact, christenings originated as a way to appease the gods of the elements.Christening gives a ship its identity. Over the years, different cultures and people changed and shaped the way ceremonies were performed and some of these traditions were carried over into modern times.A ship is traditionally christened or given its name at the time it is launched into the water. When a ship is christened, it is tradition to break a bottle across the ship’s bow. This practice began in Britain in the late seventeenth century. Previously, an official would sip wine from a "standing cup," a large loving cup made of precious metal, then pour out the remaining wine onto the deck or over the ship’s bow. The cup was then tossed overboard. This practice soon became too costly and a net was used to catch the cup so it could be re-used at other launchings. Wine was the traditional liquid used to christen a ship, although other liquids were used such as whiskey, brandy and water. At the close of the nineteenth century champagne became the popular liquid with which to christen a ship. However, during prohibition ships were christened with water.Ship’s sponsors were generally royalty or senior naval officers. In the nineteenth century, women became ship sponsors for the first time. Women sponsored ships more and more frequently, although it was not the rule.The actual physical process of launching a new ship from a building site to the water involves three principal methods. Oldest, most familiar and most widely used is the "end-on" launch in which the vessel slides, usually stem first, down an inclined slipway. The "side launch," whereby the ship enters the water broadside, came into nineteenth-century use on inland waters, rivers and lakes. It was given major impetus by the World War II building program. Another method involves ships built in basins or graving docks. When ready, ships constructed in this manner are floated by admitting water into the dock.The commissioning ceremony completes the cycle from christening and launching to full status as a cutter in the United States Coast Guard.

Here is a link to the ceremony too http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

 

[BAproject]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Thanks for the History Bob_VT! Interesting stuff. The link you posted is the same actually what got me started on wondering if I should follow through with the ritual.

When I get her running next year I will indeed have to take the proper avenue when renaming her.


-BAproject

 

[Bretamo]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

If you get a used boat that was never named, and then as the second owner you give it a name - is that bad luck??

Fun topic!

 

[crazymadbastard]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

If you get a used boat that was never named, and then as the second owner you give it a name - is that bad luck??

Fun topic!

no, it would be bad luck not to christen it!


I am thinking the "stinker sinker" or "The sinker"

 

[marine4003]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Champagne my a**, no wonder she plagued you with problems.....RUM !!! That is the drink of The Gods (Poseidon) SO, if you want a real rename..you will need the following..RUM -SONG -PLUNDER and WOMEN. Have the women wear bikinis,on the boom box ,crank up some pirate music....DRINK RUM, As a prop fill a chest with faux jewelery..(plunder) occasionally dip into the plunder..let out a hearty laugh,while grabbing onto one of the women...Ok, so far you have gained the attention of the Gods,your having a good time ect..NOW,you can re-name your vessel.

 

[BAproject]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

yes...it is bad luck to give it a name if unamed....I'm sure there are rituals for that too

How about champagne and rum....that's sounds like a good idea to me.

I don't know about the pirate music....unless you're a pirate?

-BAproject

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

the po of my boat were horse lovers so mine says "giddyup", as much as i hate it i wont rename it because of bad luck and boat has been trouble free.
by the way i am not supersticious.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Do people seriously believe this stuff, or is it just an excuse to party and act silly on a boat? I'm not a Christian, but is it safe to assume that none of the people who participate in the boat naming ceremony are either? Doesn't it violate the first commandment? Not trying to start a religious discussion, just an observation. I can't believe how widely held this superstition is! More power to you though.

Personally, I don't buy in to superstitions. So I just took off the old name, and when I pick a new one, I'll just stick it on there. For the record, I also don't believe that I will break my mothers back if I step on a crack.

Here's what I wonder... If you rename a boat, is it an official thing? Other than pouring alcohol in the water, do you also have to notify anyone? I've seen boats with no registration numbers, only names. Does that mean they registered the name somehow? Can you just name a boat by slapping some stickers on it?

One more, in certain situations, like calling the lock on the radio, or calling for distress, what do you say if your boat doesn't have a name? I've never radioed for anything, so I don't know the etiquette.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Ever hear the saying "What ever floats your boat"?? People do what makes them happy. It's boating!! Have fun how ever you choose to do so. What ever floats your boat!! I chose to name my boat because I wanted to.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

Oh don't take my tone wrong. I'm all for people doing whatever floats their boat. I'd happily attend a boat naming party and hoist a cold one for the cause. And for that matter, I'd happily have a boat naming party just as an excuse to party. I just wonder how many people really believe they need to do it for luck vs. how many do it just to party. ;-) And if you believe in it, that's cool with me. I was just curious.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Renaming a boat!!!!

One more, in certain situations, like calling the lock on the radio, or calling for distress, what do you say if your boat doesn't have a name? I've never radioed for anything, so I don't know the etiquette.

Have fun!! If you have a boat name you can hail Locks, Marina's, or others by using your name first and then who ever your hailing (Waven' Bye calling Moor's Marina) and they will tell you what channel to go to. Same goes for a boat with out a name ( This is so and so calling Moor's Marina). Happy boating!!