Apostrophes & Boat Names

[DailyLunatic]

Stupid Question.

When you have a boat name with an apostrophe, for instance, "I'm Going" how would you handle this? Does the apostrophe cause any problems? Radio, or otherwise.

Forgive my ignorance, but I am contemplating boat names and my final list has two with apostrophes. I want to know what I am getting into.

Thanx,
-sterling

[Cherp]

The art of placing the apostrophe is largely lost. You could call it The Floating Apostrophe.

[jaybird1111]

Over the radio, I'd not bother with the apostrophe:

Ex: I'm Going: "India Mike Golf Oscar India November Golf."

I'd expect the bridge tender to figure it out, I'm sure they can.

Nevertheless, there is a whole lot to be said for simple single-word names. And think about that requirement for calling three times: "I'm Going, I'm Going, I'm Going." How very confusing that would be over the radio.

Keep it short and simple if possible.

[rwidman]

I don't think an apostrophe will be much of a problem if it's used in a normal context as in the example above.


An example of a really stupid boat name:


People we know (not well) named their boat "Does It Matter?"


What do you think happens when they ask for a bridge opening and the bridge tender asks for the name of the boat? Same thing for a marina.

[Sundae Driver]

Originally Posted by rwidman

I don't think an apostrophe will be much of a problem if it's used in a normal context as in the example above.


An example of a really stupid boat name:


People we know (not well) named their boat "Does It Matter?"


What do you think happens when they ask for a bridge opening and the bridge tender asks for the name of the boat? Same thing for a marina.

My brother named his boat "After You!" at the suggestion of the person he got the license transfer from here in Virginia. She told him, when a girl asked what he named it, he could say I named it "After you!".... Of course, one can imagine the coasties hailing him...

Kindest,

Sundae

[The Smokester]

Are punctuation marks allowed in USCG documented names?

"...The application for documentation must include a name for the vessel composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals..."

[DailyLunatic]

Originally Posted by jaybird1111

Over the radio, I'd not bother with the apostrophe:

Ex: I'm Going: "India Mike Golf Oscar India November Golf."

I'd expect the bridge tender to figure it out, I'm sure they can.

Nevertheless, there is a whole lot to be said for simple single-word names. And think about that requirement for calling three times: "I'm Going, I'm Going, I'm Going." How very confusing that would be over the radio.

Keep it short and simple if possible.

Thanx, I was wondering how spaces were handled as well. You saved a second question.

-sterling

[MarkJ]

On the VHF you say the word "apostrophe" loudly, clearly, and condescendingly, perhaps with a slight British accent (upper class).

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by Cherp

The art of placing the apostrophe is largely lost. You could call it The Floating Apostrophe.

Yeah, no kidding - how many times have you seen posters on CF form the plural of "dinghy" as "dinghy's", or, write the plural of "Beneteau" as "Beneteau's"?

[wa2enm]

Originally Posted by DailyLunatic

Stupid Question.

Forgive my ignorance, but I am contemplating boat names and my final list has two with apostrophes. I want to know what I am getting into.

Thanx,
-sterling

I worked at a marina a few years back and had to listen to VHF chan 16 & local bridge freq. all day. I quickly learned that all those cutsey names were often very hard to understand/figure out: by the callee, by the bridge tender, and by me. I wished those owners could hear what I heard.

Remember too, the guy on the other end of the transmission may be a E2L or E3L (English as 2nd language, ...). Add to that the stress of an emergency situation and you've got a problem on top of a mess!

Don't go for cutsey, Keep It Simple Sailor.

[letsgetsailing3]

Seems like to me this simplifies your list, if you just drop the names with apostrophes.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

Yeah, no kidding - how many times have you seen posters on CF form the plural of "dinghy" as "dinghy's", or, write the plural of "Beneteau" as "Beneteau's"?

The 'postrophe is often used quite correctly when talking about modern production boats as in ... Hunters' rudders and Beneteaus' keels but it should be plural not singular

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by jaybird1111

calling three times: "I'm Going, I'm Going, I'm Going." How very confusing that would be over the radio.

Could be worse, could be seriously embarrasing if you weren't going but arriving, so to speak, instead.

[markpierce]

Who's on first ....


Doesn't matter. Half the population doesn't know the proper use of apostrophes.


A significant proportion of the boating community names their boats in a silly, disrespectful, or confusing manner.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Could be worse, could be seriously embarrasing if you weren't going but arriving, so to speak, instead.

That would actually be hilarious when heard repeated on the radio


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum