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Old 27-07-2018, 21:21   #1
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Boat Naming Tips?

When it comes to naming a boat, are there any tips to keep in mind?

I have heard "Try and keep the name short."

Is the vessel name written a lot on customs & marina forms? I would assume that's one of the reasons to keep it short.

I would also assume try and make it easy to spell?

Any tips or feedback from your own experience?

Thanks!
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Old 27-07-2018, 21:25   #2
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

Make sure it is easy to understand and spell when heard over the radio. The longer it is the more of a PITA when trying to spell it out using the phonetic alphabet.
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Old 27-07-2018, 21:33   #3
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

Quote:
Originally Posted by StuM View Post
Make sure it is easy to understand and spell when heard over the radio. The longer it is the more of a PITA when trying to spell it out using the phonetic alphabet.
Gotcha! Thanks.
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Old 27-07-2018, 22:27   #4
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

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Make sure it is easy to understand and spell when heard over the radio. The longer it is the more of a PITA when trying to spell it out using the phonetic alphabet.
True, but it's also good to have a name that does not sound ambiguous.

For instance, if boat is called "Nora" on the radio people don't know if you're saying Aura, Dora, Lora, Tora, Pora, North, etc. A name composed of regular words (i.e. "Northern Passage") might be harder to spell but easier to understand.

Also, please don't name your boat "Wet Dream" or something stupid. It's funny for the first week but quickly becomes embarrassing when trying to use the radio.
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Old 27-07-2018, 22:58   #5
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

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Originally Posted by Mediator View Post
True, but it's also good to have a name that does not sound ambiguous.

For instance, if boat is called "Nora" on the radio people don't know if you're saying Aura, Dora, Lora, Tora, Pora, North, etc. A name composed of regular words (i.e. "Northern Passage") might be harder to spell but easier to understand.

Also, please don't name your boat "Wet Dream" or something stupid. It's funny for the first week but quickly becomes embarrassing when trying to use the radio.

In the same vein, puns cause problems.


Don't be like most of these idiots:



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Hilarious boat names for funny boaters who love nautical puns - All things boat
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Old 28-07-2018, 00:35   #6
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

If you plan on cruising.
Two or three syllables of recognizable word(s)
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Old 28-07-2018, 03:30   #7
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

Remember the other boat who is trying trying to call you on the VHF, can they read and pronounce your boat's name?
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Old 28-07-2018, 06:45   #8
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

When cruising the boat names becomes the moniker that people know you by. Choose well.
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Old 28-07-2018, 23:50   #9
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

What are your thoughts on naming a boat with an 'aggressive' or more serious sounding name instead of something cutesy & fun?

Something like "WAR BIRD" etc.?
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Old 29-07-2018, 01:50   #10
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

I would hope with a name like War Bird that you are a military veteran or still in the armed forces?
I surveyed a yacht that had a name that implied that the owner was a particular type of person. When I asked the owner the background behind the name he said he just liked it. I asked around the marina and most of the people thought he was just suffering from short man syndrome!
So chose wisely as that boat name becomes a first impression for most people.
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Old 29-07-2018, 03:45   #11
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

As someone with a boat with a more serious sounding name for there boat I tend to prefer them, Ive never had a boat with what I would consider a cutsie name... But to me anyway a name has to mean something.
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Old 29-07-2018, 04:54   #12
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

We spent more time naming our boats than our children. I agree with the above comments due to practical experiences of hearing radio calls, or bar talk of people explaining their name choices. The name should fit the boat, for example aggressive names for race boats and calming names for cruisers.

Our rules, for what it’s worth:
- no more than four syllables
- can’t be easily misunderstood in English or Spanish (for our planned area)
- no cutesy or sexual names, it gets really old faster than you would think
- say it out loud ten times to a friend like you would if you were calling a river’s worth of bridges. Actually say, mayday mayday mayday this is .... . Spell it phonetically.
- standard spelling (that’s water with an h, gets old)
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Old 29-07-2018, 05:04   #13
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

If you plan on installing AIS, look up the name on an AIS tracking website. If you get hundreds of vessels with that name, chose something more unique. Friends without your MMSI will not be able to locate you.
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Old 29-07-2018, 05:56   #14
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

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Originally Posted by boatingnewbie View Post

Something like "WAR BIRD" etc.?

IMO, some names match a given boat, some not so much. A typical 30' sloop these days probably isn't a "War Bird." Just as a center console with outboards probably isn't "Big Iron." Many sportfishers aren't "Solitude."

And so forth.

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Old 29-07-2018, 06:13   #15
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Re: Boat Naming Tips?

Only advice that I think is worth anything is make it easy and short, with standard spelling....you'll be calling it out a LOT, in duplicate and triplicate anywhere you go We went through hundreds of choices before settling happily on Wake, because it's easy, short, and has multiple meanings that are, well, meaningful to us. However, the old name of the boat (Gros Doux) was cut into the solar arches, and we kept it there to honor her former owners and life
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