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Old 27-10-2016, 13:11   #1
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What can't I name my boat?

I am the new owner of my first sailboat.
The boats current name is not one I intend to keep, but I'm having difficulty finding a name I like.
In the meantime I've started a page with the name "SV Unknown" as a place holder.

I have to say it's kind of grown on me for its implications (ie into the unknown).
However I could see how this could create some confusion over VHF.

Are there names that one simply cannot have (like mayday) and do you think unknown would fall into this category?

Thanks
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Old 27-10-2016, 13:17   #2
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

I think "Unknown" is fine.

I like boat names that are easy to understand on the radio. Even better if they are easy to understand and spell for people who speak English as a second language.
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Old 27-10-2016, 13:22   #3
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sannyasi View Post
I am the new owner of my first sailboat.
The boats current name is not one I intend to keep, but I'm having difficulty finding a name I like.
In the meantime I've started a page with the name "SV Unknown" as a place holder.

I have to say it's kind of grown on me for its implications (ie into the unknown).
However I could see how this could create some confusion over VHF.

Are there names that one simply cannot have (like mayday) and do you think unknown would fall into this category?

Thanks
I would think of it this way do you really want a boat name that has the option of being assumed as a prank or someone looking for an "unknown boat" instead of looking for you when the S''''T hits the fan??

Yes some of the names like Mayday Etc are not acceptable but if you have a boat that does not required to be registered as such the name options are possibly open to do what you like.
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Old 27-10-2016, 13:24   #4
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sannyasi View Post
I am the new owner of my first sailboat.
The boats current name is not one I intend to keep, but I'm having difficulty finding a name I like.
In the meantime I've started a page with the name "SV Unknown" as a place holder.

I have to say it's kind of grown on me for its implications (ie into the unknown).
However I could see how this could create some confusion over VHF.

Are there names that one simply cannot have (like mayday) and do you think unknown would fall into this category?

Thanks
If your boat is Coast Guard documented, they enforce this rule:
The application for documentation must include a name for the vessel composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals and may not exceed 33 characters. The name may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; may not contain or be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
Congrats on the new boat, and welcome to CF.

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Old 27-10-2016, 13:25   #5
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

That's my concern with vhf is someone calling out to an unknown vessel, and the call being ambiguous to me.
Suppose one would be "sailing vessel unknown" x3 and other would be "Unkown vessel" x3
Or do you use "unidentified vessel" over vhf?
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Old 27-10-2016, 13:50   #6
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

I thnk you've answered your own question.
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Old 27-10-2016, 13:59   #7
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

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I thnk you've answered your own question.
Yep. Its a bad name for use over VHF.
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Old 27-10-2016, 14:00   #8
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Welcome to ownership and the forum, Sannyasi! I can't speak to your taste, but my criteria for naming was (of course) avoiding VHF and customs problems (no reserved VHF words or cursing), but also looking for clarity. I therefore set some parameters: No more than four syllables; Easy to pronounce in English so I did not have to spell it out every time; No sexy double entendres (Happy Hooker???); and nothing too cutesy that gets really old (Naughty Buoys was right out!).

The best advice I got was to look through my iPod playlist and Netflix accounts. I did not use a movie title or song directly, but it gave me some ideas of the types of artwork I liked, and some creative ways to say things. Please don't come back with naming your boat Minuet in B-flat!
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Old 27-10-2016, 14:08   #9
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Think you answered your question. If you have doubts about the name over VHF, then there is no doubt - but rather certainty that the name isn't fit for a vessel.

Think of all the database issues you'll encounter by calling it unknown. If you ever have cross agency lookup or cooperation, one side will probably think the name of the vessel is actually unknown.

Call it SV Uncharted. Obscurity.Uncertainty. Faraway.

Not unknown.
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Old 27-10-2016, 14:30   #10
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Your ex-wife's name is probably not good either.
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Old 27-10-2016, 14:44   #11
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

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Originally Posted by Wood View Post
Your ex-wife's name is probably not good either.
I've heard it advised that a daughter is a better choice than a wife; daughters are forever, wives....

But I still have mine and I'm stuck with... I mean I love her very much!

---

More seriously, if repeating the name 3 times in hurry is difficult or 3 times in front of your wife or mother would be awkward, it's a bad name.
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Old 27-10-2016, 15:09   #12
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Yes. Bad idea.

Apart from the radio issue, think about how often someone has to record the vessel's name for various purposes.

Now think of all of those places with your vessels name shown as "Unknown".
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Old 27-10-2016, 15:19   #13
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sannyasi View Post
I am the new owner of my first sailboat.
The boats current name is not one I intend to keep, but I'm having difficulty finding a name I like.
In the meantime I've started a page with the name "SV Unknown" as a place holder.

I have to say it's kind of grown on me for its implications (ie into the unknown).
However I could see how this could create some confusion over VHF.

Are there names that one simply cannot have (like mayday) and do you think unknown would fall into this category?

Thanks
Can't be any worse than the one I heard a few weeks back.

Bend over, Bend over. This is in your mothers bedroom. Do you copy
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Bend over, Bend over. This is in your mothers bedroom. Do you copy
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Old 27-10-2016, 15:23   #14
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Some years ago I was Mayday relay for a cruising boat with a severe medical emergency. As it happened, I was the only station available, and so was involved for some while, trying to relay to and from the USA. I was en route Mexico to Marquesas, the Mayday came from near the Ecuadorian coast. It was a lot of traffic, under difficult radio conditions.

It was made much more difficult by the name of the Mayday vessel: "Up Yours". At each stage of organizing help, I had to go through the process of convincing the other operator that it was a serious and genuine distress call. It made a big impression on me...

In the end, the US Navy had a nearby warship that rendered aid, and the skipper's life was saved.. but it could have been a lot easier to organize.

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Old 27-10-2016, 15:32   #15
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Re: What can't I name my boat?

Point taken... Bad name it is.

My search for a name will continue.
It may be a while before the documenting phase, so I've got some time.

Thanks for the responses.
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