Argh . . . Can You Judge a Boat by its Name ?

[watergypsy]

Hi All,
this is probably a slightly frivolous post, hence adding it to off topic area.
We named our boat 'Anarchy' in the spirit of believing we are responsible for our own actions and should be able to make informed judgement about how we live our lives. We are a peaceful pair but really hate following silly laws.. We do however respect sensible ones.
I am concerned that some authority figures might see the name of our boat and think "uh oh trouble."
Of course my other half tells me I worry too much. ( I prefer to think of it as careful planning for all contingencies)
Do you think the name of a boat has any bearing on how you are treated in OS ports?

Cheers

A & P
S/V Anarchy

[Feral Cement]

There are a lot of boats out there with bawdy, rowdy, lawless, reckless, and dangerous names. I'll bet most harbor masters have seen worse, in boat names and boater behavior.

My 2 cents....

John

[boatman61]

'Anarchy' is not gonna cause you any probs or judgements... either with authorities or other cruisers... however if it had a name like 'MuckeyFluck'.... that would be different.
I love Wharram Cats but when this boat turned up in Andratx, Mallorca... I did not go over to say 'Hi'.... I'm not a Purist or anything.... I just feel a boat should have a name that shows it some respect.... not the owners warped sense of humour.. or possible personal problems....

[SaltyMonkey]

I guess I am tired of seeing the same ubiquitous boat names over and over again. "Anarchy" is one of 'em sorry to say. Agree with boatman61 "I just feel a boat should have a name that shows it some respect", although I am saving a strange name for my next one.

[Pelagic]

I guess it is all in the eyes (or ears) of the beholder… Judging from below, you have nothing to worry about...

Here is a list that was compiled of boat names

According to Boat US the '2006 Top Ten List of Most Popular Boat Names:

1.) Aquaholic
2.) Second Wind
3.) Reel Time
4.) Hakuna Matata
5.) Happy Hours
6.) Knot Working
7.) Life is Good
8.) Plan B
9.) Second Chance
10.) Pura Vida

Here is the list that the author found particularly irksome and I agree with him that calling a mayday from a boat called “Ship Happens” would invoke a Karma attitude from any help

Top 10 Stupid Boat Names - Messing About In Sailboats

“I thought it might be a good to come up with the top 10 Stupidest Boat names.

Here are some other beauties I found pecking around:

- a Little Nauti
- Adoryble (On a Cape Dory Typhoon)
- All Gulls and No Buoys
- All my Ex's (on a stinkpot so had it coming)
- Bad Atti-toad
- Bada-bing-bada boom (another aquamoron)
- Banker's Hours
- Bay Bay
- Baysic Necessity
- Beaverlicious (hmm! interesting)
- Beer Bait n 'Ammo
- Bezerker (a little scary as it was on a Hallberg Rassy)
- Better Knot
- Between the Sheets
- Big E Nuf (amazingly this was a sailboat. Probably motored a lot)
- Bikini Bottom
- Bimini Cricket
- Bite Me (on a fishing boat)
- Knotty Boys (at least it wasn't knotty buoys)
- Messing About (what an excellent name for a boat)
- Gravyboat
- Bottoms Up
- Boat-acious
- Buoys in the Hood
- Learning Curve (written upside down on a sailboat)
- Sea-duction
- Sea ya
- Loon-a-sea
- Cur-n-Sea
- SeaRenity
- Tip Sea
- Seanile
- X2Sea
- LegaSea
- Itza -Du-Zea (Oyvay)
- Tax Seavation
- Slipless in Seattle (now that's clever)
- Feelin Nauti (I bet you are)
- Nauti Girl
- Nauti & Nice
- Reel Nauti
- Nauti Nurses (I think most of the Eastern Fleet would show up if they ran into trouble)
- Nauti Intentions (OK now I am going to throw up)

[Mark Zarley]

We being from the midwest or "cowtowners" , usually avoid interacting with people on " The Hedonist, Masterbaiter, Boobysmoucher, ect. This mindset can cause us to miss out on meeting some interesting people , such as Dave and Donny commercial fisherman from Long Island, Exumas on the Double D.

[watergypsy]

Thanks for your thoughts guys, especially the thought that went into contributing the lists, Pelagic.
Boatman61, I hear what you are saying about respect
:-)
and John ( aka Feral Cement) your thoughts are worth more than 2 cents.
A :-)

[senormechanico]

Seen in Mexico:

2 boats, each with a single guy aboard.

They buddy boated everywhere.




"Blow Me" and "Bullship"

[Ocean Girl]

I like the name Anarchy, I don't think it will give you trouble. Now if you had a bunch of biker mad max looking blokes on yer bow when you pulled into a marina, well then there may be some locked doors and "closed" signs by the time you tie up.

I have become much more tolerant of boat names, they have meaning to the owner, that is what counts. My very good friends and neighbors named their boat "Second Chance" a lot of those names out there but hearing their story and their dreams brought that name to life for me. I think that is how it is when naming your boat, it clicks and that is that.
Cheers to you Anarchy!
Erika

[David M]

A funny boat might be that after reading it for the first time but not after the tenth time you have read it.

[Lancerbye]

I heard an interesting Mayday call this summer where the captain seemed reluctant to give the Coast Guard the name of his boat. I am sure I heard giggling in the background reply from the Coast Guard when they asked him to spell out the name of his vessel. It was Farq-U-2.

[Anzo]

6X (say it aloud!) might cause you a problem or 2.

As long as it's not Osprey (gag) you're ok with me.

[hummingway]

I didn't like my boats name when I bought her but as my affection for the vessel grew so did my appreciation for the name 'Honeysuckle'. I do love the flower but my boats name lives in a dimension apart from any semantics and I can't imagine changing it. Based on this I would avoid a name that lived in some other compartment of my brain. If Anarchy can live happily side by side with your feelings for your boat then I say it's a marvelous name. However, if you called it Anarsea you might make the list of worst names and gain some notoriety

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by watergypsy

... We named our boat 'Anarchy' in the spirit of believing we are responsible for our own actions and should be able to make informed judgement about how we live our lives.

A boat's name often reflects the owner's personality, but I don't associate "anarchy" with being responsible for one's life. Maybe something like "Our Way" would better reflect yourselves.

A worthy boat should be respectfully, or at least neutrally, named. Silly is silly, but it is the owner's boat.

[markpierce]

I get a first impression of owners by their boats' names, but I don't judge the boats by their names.