Dinghy, to name or not to name?

[Renee Schramm]

Ours is named and identified (to aid in recovery if necessary), but it is not directly related to the primary boat's name. That would be a sign that we are away from our boat to those on shore. Sadly, that is an issue in lots of places.

[donradcliffe]

I'm in favor of a subtle association that third world bad guys may not get. Boat was Klondike, dinghy was Nugget.

[Copacabana]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

I'm in favor of a subtle association that third world bad guys may not get. Boat was Klondike, dinghy was Nugget.

But how would someone know which boat to return the lost dinghy to? It would seem to take some esoteric knowledge and thought to make the association.

(also, no offence, but "third world bad guys" is a bit insulting, especially when you travel and meet such kind people all over the developing world).

[jslayton321]

"ROW VS WADE.".....Very Funny jrBogie , I love it!

To Seasick's point: I was stopped by DNR (SC Dept. Nat. Res.) for tooling around in my unmarked dinghy. Explaining it was a tender to my USCG Documented vessel, I was told it had to be so marked. Painted "TT Namaste" on it and and no problem since.

[toddster8]

S/V Arcturus : Lil Booty

But... there is actually a fleet of potential auxilliary craft. Does each one need a different name, or does whichever one I take get the Lil Booty designation for the trip? The zodiac has its own registration numbers, per state requirement.

[jhulmer]

here is a honest one

[Cadence]

Cutest combo I've seen was the Bounder and the Cad

[Sunsetrider]

My dinghy has a name (gosling) but I painted the name of my boat on the bottom so it shows when on the transom. Obviously the boat name cannot be read dockside.

[michaelratinter]

Our dinghy is named CFMWH.

[taxwizz]

My last sailboat was named "BREAKING WIND".
The tender was an 1100 cc Kawasaki Jet Ski named "PHART"

[Hunky Dory]

I like to have fun with boat names. My big boat is Hunky Dory, my dingy is Dory.

[Chris Whitney]

I agree i know which is mine, but the big boat is "Drawn to See" and the Dingy is "Sketchy" doubt if many get the humor.

I think the dingy missing is enough for anyone to suspect the owners are not on board at anchor. Not really worried about someone seeing my dingy at a dock then go looking for a empty boat with the same name.

[jmschmidt]

Do not put the name of your mothership on your dinghy for reasons stated here. Forget locking the doors of the mothership when ashore. If you do, in addition to the items stolen you will only have to pay for a very expensive repair job after the thieves smash their way in. Locks only keep your friends honest, not thieves out. Same with your house. For both houses and boats surveillance and alarm systems (the louder the better) are better.

If your boat is US flagged, put your document’s Official Number on the dink with the words “Tender To” (of T/T). This means that no other registration is necessary and your dink is an official tender to your mothership. This concept is widely recognized by the US Coast Guard, law enforcement and even most foreign venues because it’s in the regs. If you mothership is only state registered, who knows, sucks to be you, I guess.

Your tender must only be used exclusively in support of the mothership: to ferry people and supplies back and forth to shore, to reconnoiter possible anchorages, to transport guests and crew from the mothership to dive spots, etc. So don’t put it in your truck and take it to the lake or the beach for a day outing. Local cops might not be amused.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

My last sailboat was named "BREAKING WIND".
The tender was an 1100 cc Kawasaki Jet Ski named "PHART"

Great!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you mothership is only state registered, who knows, sucks to be you, I guess.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Many times we are reminded that this is a world-wide forum, so that not everything American has validity elsewhere, either in law or in terms.

For example, I recently licensed my boat in Canada, which is a provincial affair, as compared to registering the boat, which is federal here, Canadian.

In the States, the choices are Federal documentation or State licensing.

My dinghy uses an engine less than 10 hp and, therefore, does not need to be licensed, Canadian, in my province. When I had it California state registered "American" I put the CA state registration numbers and bi-yearly stickers on separate boards tied to the handrails of the dinghy. All I need do now is remove the boards, there were no markings on the dinghy itself at all.

As an option, one could just as well put personal identifying markers on the dinghy, photograph it/them for record, for future ID purposes. Doesn't need to be a name, T/T or number. Gee, a cool graphic would suffice, as well as, for another example, deliberate indentations or a pattern in the transom. I think there are many ways to skin the cat, multihulled or mono.