Repainting Over Previous Boat Name

[tomfl]

I want to rename a boat I bought and am not sure the best way to do this.

The current name is on the sides of both hulls of a cat. There is also a non load bearing crack (close to under part of the name) that needs to be repaired by what the surveyor described as a qualified fiberglass repairman. Not sure just what this entails. I would probably hire someone to fix the crack but might be able repaint the name (or possibly get computer cut letters to cover the old name).

Last time I did this was on my Dad's old wood boat and we just painted on the letters.

[river rose]

I would not recommend just painting over and renaming a boat without the proper ceremony. I have seen this done several times and the boat seemed to encounter all kinds of disasters from that time forward.

[zeehag]

mike--please remove entirely the old name so boat doesnt become confused about identity.
if you have to sand it off, you will find out exactly what that crack entails and you can fix it--even doiy---sounds like a wonderful project for a days fun and games..just make sure your advisor is smarts......

[cruzer757]

Is the old name actually painted on or is it vinyl lettering? If it's vinyl then a heat gun will remove it quite nicely. You will need to do some cleaning to be sure all the sticky residue is gone before applying the new lettering. Also, be sure not to wax the surface until after the new lettering is applied. There will still be some "ghost" image of the old name so try to pick out new lettering that cover's it up.

I also second River Rose advice, be sure to do a proper ceremony when you rename your boat. This entails removing all traces of the old name from inside the boat, old documents, anything with the old name printed on it must go.

Enjoy!

[MysticGringo]

On the stern of my boat I can make out 3 different boat names that have been painted over . Painting over it will leave a slight impression... which will bother you.

I went through a naming ceremony of my own design and would have loved to remove the old names properly. I have never figured out the old names, and I don't want too. When I get the time/money I will remove them properly.

[tomfl]

I may have to come up with my own renaming ceremony since the one claims you need to have a virgin peeing during the ceremony. Not sure about the peeing part but finding a virgin may be a problem.

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by tomfl

I may have to come up with my own renaming ceremony since the one claims you need to have a virgin peeing during the ceremony. Not sure about the peeing part but finding a virgin may be a problem.

Don't you have any friends with kids in diapers? They per all the time.

[David M]

Who said the virgin had to be a human? Just bring a female puppy to the ceremony. Puppy's seem to pee every 5 minutes.

[GaryMayo]

When we named our sailboat, we discovered all the salt over the left shoulder, no umbrellas on the bed type stuff that goes along with naming a boat.

Brother.

We did none of that, and the year went without a hitch.

Fact is, we missed the one where a silver coin is placed under the mast, and we have two masts. Nothing happened.

I probability will do the coin superstition this coming year, as it sounds like a great place to squirl away a little rainy day funds for hard times. Lol.

I do think traditions are important to hand down from father to son, and mother to daughter, as that serves to cement family and cultural bonds. Not enough of that going on today.

As far as a boat naming cermony being needed to ward off evil, anyone that follows that stuff is seeing things I don't see.

[Hudson Force]

Back in 1985 I was able to use a combination of solvents and an abrasive compuond to thoroughly remove the former painted name. Feel free to enjoy the play that may come with a renaming ceremony, but I would not promote the myth that it holds any valid meaning in truth. I enjoy keeping the remnants and records of the first 12 years of my vessel before I was the owner and I would not honor any superstition to take on some search and destroy campaign.

[AirBoyzT]

Originally Posted by river rose

I would not recommend just painting over and renaming a boat without the proper ceremony. I have seen this done several times and the boat seemed to encounter all kinds of disasters from that time forward.

Does this need to be done if you bought the boat and the name was already removed prior by previous owner and never renamed?

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by AirBoyzT

Does this need to be done if you bought the boat and the name was already removed prior by previous owner and never renamed?

Just my two cents but a lot of sailing out of sight of land for lots of folks includes some acknowledgement of what I will call the great unknown. Things like a sudden storm or a big wave out of no where just to name two have a way of causing one's mind to play tricks. Did the wave come out of no where because some obscure tradition was ignored by the skipper or one of the crew? What about the sudden fog that quickly limited vision?

Most of us have a logical side which can quickly go change to wonderment. I have often wondered what it means when I look at a flat calm sea with a surface like glass and not a breath of wind. Sometimes the lack of weather can be more of a curse than strong winds and high waves.

So to answer your question, no nothing needs to be done when you buy a boat and do, or do not, rename it.

You pay your money and you take your chances.

But a google search will sure bring up lots of hits about the right way to rename a boat.

renaming a boat ceremony - Yahoo! Search Results