Navigating the Difficult Waters of Naming a Boat
Many people dream of owning their own boat some day, and if that day has come for you to finally take in all the boats for sale, it's a truly exciting one. You'll be excited to take command of your new vessel and take her out on the water, but there's one small matter that you should take care of beforehand: the name. It's up to you whether or not you decide to carry out the traditional naming ceremony, smashed bottle of champagne and all, but either way, deciding on a name should be high on your list of priorities.
It's important to get the name right the first time, since not only is it costly to have it repainted on the boat itself, it's also considered bad luck to change it at a later point. If there's one situation in which you don't want to risk bad luck, it's when out on the water. Here are some tips for choosing a name you'll want to keep.
Name it after someone you know
Naming a boat after a lost loved one is a wonderful way to remember them. You can either just take their name on its own and use it for the boat, or use the name in a word pair or short phrase. It doesn't need to be someone no longer with you, either. If you name your boat after your partner or a parent, they'll be over the moon.
Take inspiration from something you like
There are names and phrases spread throughout music, film and literature that would be fantastic names for boats. Pay attention when you're listening, watching or reading and things will probably jump out at you, so make a list of the ones you like.
Make it fit your personality
If you're a humorous sort of person, then choosing a jokey, light-hearted name is a good way to convey this aspect of your personality. If you're not, it can seem forced, but that doesn't mean you have to pick something dour and serious. Even without humour, you can have fun with some wordplay. Just go for something that seems right for who you are and not terribly inappropriate.
Consider the name's effects
You might think your semi-crude pun will make a hilarious name for your new boat — and you could be right. But if you're out at sea and in radio contact with other vessels, using the name of yours, you might suddenly find it all rather embarrassing. Likewise with names that ironically reference sinking or other mishaps; they may not seem so funny when you're alone on the water in rough weather.