Boat Names
Tell us how you named your boat.
Spiritual Guide to Boat Renaming...How to Keep King Neptune Happy
Abbatis (172)The boat was already named for us when we purchased and we decided not to rename it. We haven't been able to really decipher the meaning but we believe it may have a link to Saint Brenden. Are there any thoughts?
Adventure Gallery (#643)In searching for an orginal, meaningful name, I researched the name of the boat from a possible distant relative, Captain Kidd. His famous boat was the "Adventure Galley". My C34 now sails Narragansett Bay, treasure map included.
Air Goddess (#584)My wife Connie was a flight attendant for TWA. The women in that business jokingly referred to themselves as Air Goddesses and the name seemed appropriate for the boat
Allegro (#431)The PO named her when she was commissioned. It's a good name that is the musical tempo meaning "quick and lively" or,literally, "cheerful" so I kept it.
AMUSE (#1416) We call her Amuse, because she will give us fun, rest and a safe feeling.
Analgesic I'm a family physician. Work is very stressful and sailing has always been my mental health break. The name came to my wife one night shortly after we purchased the boat. I immediately said I'm going to stop thinking of alternatives since I knew I'd never come up with anything better for us.
Andante My boat's name, ANDANTE, was given to it by its first owner, the guy I bought it from. At first I didn't care for it, and I intended to change it as soon as I thought of something better. But it has grown on me over the years, and I think I'll keep it. The harbormaster at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay looked it up for me in a dictionary last summer, and according to him it means "moderately slow". That suited me fine, since I rarely race and when I do it's strictly for fun (Mark Weitkamp)
Anyway (#1368)The boat we had before had a perfect name. We called our Catalina 28 MK II "RAINBOWS END". We considered this boat as a pot of gold (at the end of the rainbow). We would have liked to give our new Catalina 34 mkII the same name, but were afraid that that would bring bad luck.Therefor we had to think of a new name. "ANYWAY" means something to us like "what ever". ANYWAY stands for sailing where the wind blows and to love sailing so much that it may cost a lot of money. ANYWAY symbolizes our belief that you cannot force nature when sailing, but to take it as it is. The reason we have given our boat an English name is because we want to be sure as possible that coastguard stations in every country and other ships immediately can understand the name of our boat in case of emergency (Jan-Willem Allersma)
Apache (#788)In 1968, I was the Commander of an Air Cavalry Unit in South Vietnam. My unit's name was APACHE, with my radio call sign being "APACHE-6". Later, as Test Director for the Army's AH-64 Attack Helicopter, I found it ironic that its name would become "APACHE". When I bought my first sailboat in 1981, I named it APACHE and carried that name forward to my C-34. My namesake Attack Helicopter performed exquisitely during Desert Storm--almost as good as the sailing vessel it was named after! Ron Hill
Aquavite (#224)Aqua = water, Vite = fast in French (most folks will probably think we're a Swedish liquer).
Atlantic Rose (#1058)Named it after my wife, Rose. It's my way of being with her, since she doesn't really enjoy sailing.
Aurora (#1221)She had the name on her when I purchased in '05.
Avalon (#912)Legend tells us that King Arthur's home after death was named Avalon. Also, the beautiful resort town on Santa Catalina Island near Los Angeles is called Avalon. Since I bought the C34 after retiring from a job in Los Angeles and it would become my summer home away from home, my non-sailing wife and I decided Avalon was the most suitable name.
Bajan (#893)My Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather were all born on the Island of Barbados. The people of Bardados call each other Bajans just as we call each other Americans. We decided to go back to being Bajan. We know that changing boat names can be bad medicine but, we are sure the spirits of our ancestors will watch over us and bless our boat.
Banshee (#46)She screams like a banshee!
Bear Territory (#1421)We are both avid Cal football and basketballs fans (that's the University of California at Berkeley). The Cal mascot is the golden bear. A few years ago a chant sprung up which has gained considerable acceptance on the occasion of a game about to be won. It goes:You know it, you tell the story, You tell the whole damn world this is BEAR TERRITORY Well, it seemed only fitting that our boat, which we intend to race, be also called Bear Territory. Naturally, the spinnaker will be blue and gold (David and Sherry Smith).
BlackDragon (#804)Update - Escape Velocity was going to be the name. The kids didn't like the name or the fancy explanation. The old boat was SnapDragon. The new boat has black canvas. They wanted BlackDragon. The next boat can be Escape Velocity...
Blondes Preferred (#???)I happen to have a passion for women with blonde hair, they are usually very happy and fun to be with. Not that I don't like to look at brunettes and redheads, but Prefer blondes. Hense, that's how I came up with the name.
Blue Wind II (#1373)When we bought our first boat, a Columbia 8.7 in St. Pete, FL, in 1992, our two daughters were very young and they named the boat "Blue Wind." It didn't make a lot of sense, but it was like the names kids give dogs, so we kept it. We all learned together how to sail on Tampa Bay on that old boat. A few years later, I was transferred to landlocked Winston-Salem, NC. I sold Blue Wind and told the girls that someday we would have another boat and we would name it Blue Wind II to continue the good karma. The girls are grown now and gone, but Blue Wind lives again in a Catalina 34. She's called Blue Wind II.
Boogedy (#832)The first owner named her "Boogedy". We never thought about changing it because our first 2 boat names we changed and had very bad luck (not Catalinas). The first owner said the name had to do with a Disney movie. The name has grown on us and we really like it. To me it means rock and roll and sometimes on the great lakes that is what you do, so I think the name fits.
California Roll (#295)We were in a Sushi bar right after we bought the boat and were sort of over served on saki when the naming of the boat and our new cat came up. We bandied a few names about when I looked down at my plate and said, "California Roll" and the name stuck. (MY friends 27 Catalina was named Sweet Roll" so it all made sense to us.) The cat was named "Niko" which is Japanese for cat and the evening was complete. I still have California Roll but the cat provided a coyote a dinner shortly there after so Niko is gone but California Rool is alive and well in Alimitos Bay here in Long Beach.
Calliope (#666)Just liked the sound of the name and love the old circus attraction.
Carina (#304)Carina means keel in Latin. It is also the name of a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere (Michael Weaver)
Captaurus (#1179)We named our boat after our Bith Signs. My wife, Sharon, is a Capricorn and I am a Taurus. We put the two names together and came up with Captaurus.
Captivated ( #1285)While vacationing in Florida, we were driving along the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva. As we admired the view of the Gulf of Mexico with the sun setting on the water we were reading the names of the signs along the road. My wife noticed a sign which read "Captivated" and she remarked that should we ever buy another boat that would be a great name for it. Three months later we bought our 34, (which had never been named), and found the decision was an easy one.
Cat's Paw (#1360)In sailing terms, a cat's paw is a light air that ruffles the surface of the water in irregular patches during a calm. These calms were things that we were familiar with in July and August on the Chesapeake Bay. This is the definition we use when people ask us about the boat's name. A cat's paw is also a hitch in the bight of a rope made to form two "eyes" into which a tackle can be hooked. Finally, a cat's paw is a tool, and also a "person used by another as a tool." This definition comes to play when the captain asks the crew to raise the anchor from an exceptionally muddy bottom after a night of 25 knot winds, and the crew replies, "I'm not your X*spam-no-more*#OX cat's paw."
Champagne Lady (#380)We tried for several weeks to come up with a new name for our boat when we purchased it. We met several times. Evan bought a boat name book. However, we never agreed on anything and decided to keep the name that was on it. It was the best we could come up with as we all liked it. Probably was the reason we bought it! (Conrad Vanino II)
Charley's Angel (#1095)She survived the direct hit of hurricane Charley in 2004. Our old Hunter 30 was not so fortunate.
ChriSea (#832)When we bought the boat,her name was BOOGEDY. My partner is named Chris. As a child her family called her Chrissy. So, I sucked up real good and suggested we rename her ChriSea. Chris agreed.
Cross Fade (#1510)My company creates and produces videos, films and commercials. Cross Fade is a term used to describe two different scenes fading against one another. It is a deviced used primarily to denote a transition in time.
DBL VISION (#1025)We started out on a 16 ft Scorpion, which is a surfboard style sailboat, then a 1984 Catalina 25 we bought in 1998. We moved on to a 1985 Catalina 27 in 2001 and now have a 1990 Catalina 34 we bought in 2004. Each boat has been named DBL Vision with various changes in fonts and graphics. We have gone through the ceremony of un-naming and re-naming each boat to appease the sea gods, plus the wine tastes pretty good too. HA HA!!! The name DBL Vision = Dave & Liz Barger's Vision. It can be explained further by what we wrote on the back of our owners manual binder: "The product of two people in love with each other and in love with what life has to offer. Our vision is to spend our lives pursuing a dream of sailing around the world. This is reflected in the name of our first boat, the name of our second boat and any boat in the future that will fulfill our dream."
Delirious (#2015)Our new C34 was on order and we were at a friend's house one winter evening discussing sailboats (they sail a newer C36). At that time we had lists of boat names, but none of them had truly appealed to us. At some point RuthEllen, my wife, suggested we sell our homes, resign, and take our boats South. I told her she was delirious. We each said "That's It!" simultaneously. DELIRIOUS: Wild with excitement, enthusiasm. Affected with or characteristic of a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication. Characterized by excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc. A state of violent excitement or emotion. That is sailing as I know it; at least when the wind is favorable.
Despido (#1029)Well original name was Cherokee Rose upon purchase. Our club already had another vessel by that name. So what to do what to do. A friend went to other languages to find unusual names U'hane(Hawaiian peace). So I started looking and found Despido, Portuguese for Naked. Is there any other way to sail in Sunny Florida?
Donnybrook (#1010)Well, my wife and I are a mixed marriage, I am a MSU grad, & Mary's a U of M grad. A problem to start!I'm Irish & she's German...more problems, when under sail, it's a DONNYBROOK That's how we settle the problems! About the only thing we agree on is a drink of "Burnett's Gin" after we set the hook ! (Richard & Mary Horan)
Dolphina (#1602)All four of us love dolphins and had a chance to swim with them in the Dominican.
Dolphin's Wake (#334)My wife loves Dolphins, and likes nothing better than sighting them at sea, hence the name (Bob Duffey).
Due Professori (#1472)Looked for that meaningful name for our new 34. Having recently come back from Italy we decided on a romantic Italian name but none surfaced. Since my wife is a professor and I an adjunct professor (upon retirement) decided to call the boat 2 professors but in Italian.
Dun Wish'n (#1488)Had everyone over for a house party and each person through a name in the hat. After a few drinks and food my wife and I went through all the names and picked one we liked the best. The name came from a boat seen in Nova Scotia.
Equilibrium (#1554)My wife thought that we needed balance to our lives... hence the name, Equilibrium.
Exile (#1325)The name "Exile" is a gift from the recording artist Enya (listen to that song). The name coincidentaly also currently describes our current spiritual predicament.
Fainche (#505)"FAINCHE" was a mythical Irish saint, who, when threatened with marriage, threw herself into the "LUFF ARN" (river) and swam underwater to the sea. It isn't easy finding an unused name for your boat!
First Light (#1497)Our Catalina 28 was named C'est Si Bon but wanted to select a new name for our new C34, knowing that such a change was risky. My wife Cam and I purchased a book of boat names and began a tedious study, including selective elimination until we culled the list to three names. We selected First Light which matches our lifestyle - both of us being early birds, and often awaking at "first light". We enjoy the head turning as folk spot our boat with the large graphic name First Light added prominently on the aft portion of the hull.
FlyingJenny (#1467)My girlfriend (wife now) and I were having a hard time coming up with a new for my first boat. That's when a good friend of ours said I should name it after the two things I love most in life (sailing not included). My job(pilot) and my Wife Jennifer. It's our third boat and the name remains the same....
Forget Me Knot (#146)I bought the boat in NY and it was named Damakata which meant nothing to me. I am not superstitious so I felt a more meaningful name was necessary. My wife loves gardening so I felt if I named her after a flower she would like it more..it worked!! She loves it. Around the time I bought the boat my father passed away and never got to see the new boat. So forget me not seems again appropriate. Also in the summer I often think about sailing so I never do forget about her. From all points of view I thought I named her well.
Freedom (#713)My wife and I were boatless for ten years prior to aquiring Freedom. We devoted our lives to raising a family of two children and four dogs. So when the kids grew up we decided to get back into sailing. We chose Freedom because that is what we experienced after raising the kids. And now the kids care for the dogs when we are sailing, Such a deal.
Fullshell (#1440)Our son-in-law had an oyster farm on Tomales Bay just north of San Francisco which I helped him with. It was called HalfShell Oyster. He picked up a Catalina 22 and of course named it Halfshell. Our grandson has also taken up sailing on the bay. When we purchased our Catalina 34 this year there was no question of the name. Our boat is called Fullshell, our son-in-laws' boat is Halfshell and our grandsons'is Quartershell.
Glory B (#589) My wife's name is Glory Ann (Glory A). I named our boat "Glory B" as they both require lots of love, money, and work.I have to deal with a or b sometimes both. If A ever leaves I can just add gone to the B (Frank Tompa).
Gone with the Wind (#709)I will sail at a moments notice. I live aboard and actively sail this vessel. I keep her tidy below to expedite leaving the slip. Therefore I can be "Gone with the Wind."
Gorbash (#1268)Gorbash was named after one of the dragons in the kid's movie "Flight of Dragons". Needless to say, our two boys had something to do with the naming process.
Gravity Storm (#1278)We named our first real cruising boat, a Beneteau F265, the Gravity Storm. We are BIG Jimmy Buffet fans. There was a song on the Off To See The Lizard album, Gravity Storm. We liked the way it sounded, and the words rand true. Since our original S/V Gravity Storm was docked at Lake Lanier, GA. and land locked, after we sold her and bought the C34 we wanted to keep the name. We get asked about it all the time. We treat her like a Lady, and sail her on Mother Ocean although cannons don't thunder and there's nothing to plunder, and we miss her when we're gone.
Gryphon (#821)Original owner's name was Griffin. A Gryphon is a mythological beast with the head of an eagle on the body of a lion (Doug and Marcy Sanford).
Guac Amore (#1442)Guac Amore is a euphemism for 'love guacamole' & the name for this boat fits for many reasons....she's berthed in Southern California, a State famous for growing the best tasting avocados in the world. The owner has an Italian heritage, and we all know that when the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's Amore! And finally, the name was inspired by the hunter green interior cushions and a canvas package on the dodger and sail covers that closely resembles the color of guacamole. That's Guac Amore!
Hope She FloatsHusband fixed holes with stuff that repairs cracks in swimming pools. She didn't always float!!! We would tie her up to the nearest out-island for the day, then bale her out & head for home.
Hopscotch (#341)How often do you sail in a straight line to your destination? Remember the childhood game? Hopping from one side of the game board to the other, turning around and doing it again in the other direction. Sounded better than Zig-Zag or Wig-Wag.
Ibis (#1338The whole boat name selection process was much more challenging then anyone in our family might have imagined. Some names were too formal, others too cute.Most didn't represent how we are or how we approach life. It consumed hours of research and discussion. In fact, we still hadn't decided on a name until walking into the office to fill out federal documentation forms. An Ibis is any one of a variety of horn billed wading birds common to the more tropical climes. It also happens to be the mascot for my alma mater, the University of Miami (FL) sports teams. Coincidentally, the day before documentation, the whole family received from Grandma in south Miami a package that contained four sweatshirts with the Ibis logo....that clinched it (Mark Rochlin).
'Imi Loa (#582)'Imi Loa is Hawaiian for "Voyager" or "Traveller" which is what we hope to be doing very soon. It can also mean "Seeker" which is appropriate because I was in the middle of a search for my birth parents when we bought her (Greg & Cathy Sherwood).
Independence (#1428)We upgraded to a 34 from a Catalina 30 named Independence. Besides the fact that we like the name Independence, we have too many shirts, jackets, towels, hats, bags etc that have been embroidered with 'INDEPENDENCE' to start over with a new name. We knew we definately needed to change the name from its original name of 'FRANKIE'S BABE TOO'.
INIS SUI (#951)INIS SUI (pronounced iniss swee) Gaelic for Isle of Joy
Inspiration (#22)I named it because in my business, Jewelry, one needs as much inspiration as possible to do it well. That means I have to spend a lot of time working on "Inspiration". If I don't then I can't afford "Inspiration". As you can see it's a vicious cycle but someone has to do it.
Jambalaya (#64)She came with the name and we don't want to temp fate.... OK, we just like the name....
Jenny Jewel (#1717)We have always called our daughter Jennifer, Jenny Jewel. So it was easy for us. Our dinghy is named after our 2 grandaughters, the EmmaClaire.
Jet Lag (#1130)My Wife Judy flies with United Airlines... always on Jet Lag
Joie de Vie (#554)In short...it's French for Joy of Life. That's what sailing is to me!!! Marina=Fishing Bay Harbor Marina, Deltaville, Virginia.
Judyg (#310)Guess how? Yes dear.
Juliana (#680) Juliana's previous owner told me how she brought his family through a violent Chesapeake Bay squall with 75 mph winds -- and I thought, "She's not only beautiful, but she's a fighter." Juliana is the name of a fighting saint described in a 10th century Celtic poem by Cynewulf, and is the early Roman form of my daughter Julia's name (Bryan Pfaffenberger).
Kemosabe (#344)There's a Far Side birthday card showing the Lone Ranger retired. He finds out that Kemosabe is Apache for horse's rear end.
KikkertjeMy boyfriend is Dutch, and one of the first words I learnt ( cant remmeber why!) was " kikker" which means frog.....so the boat became " Kikkertje" which means Little Frog in Dutch
Kindred Spirit (#55)Our Catalina is the 3rd boat we have sailed together as a couple. Both of our previous boats were ones in need of tender loving care and attention after sitting on land for numerous years. Alan has a real knack for rescuing ships in distress! When we decided a Catalina 34 was the boat we really wanted, we began to search and search. Most were out of our price range, until Alan found one, on land for 2 years, filthy and tired-looking. When we began to work on her, we knew her name had to be "Kindred Spirit"- like her predecessors, she would be rescued. We have only owned her for two months but already she is sailing again and looking like a Catalina should! Alan and Michele Watson
Kitty's Cat (#622)My family is of Celtic origins -- Scottish, Welsh and Irish. As such, the names of my previous boats have paid homage to that background. Names such as Pog mo Thoin, Breab Thoin, Scottish Rebel and Gaelforce were the norm. When we acquired our C-34, we started thinking of names. My wife, Kitty, fell in love with this boat more than any of our other boats. She spent more time on her while I was away on business than I did. Knowing how you can't name a boat before you have it -- boats have the tendancy to name themselves. It came to me that this was indeed, Kitty's Catalina. So, the name took shape -- Kitty's Cat! The boat honors the two loves of my life. Amazingly, neither lady is jealous of the other.
Lady Di (#596)The boat had another name when I was married to my last wife...probably no one else has ever had this problem. Anyway, on the day we were married on a beautiful 100 foot 1929 motoryacht in Newport Beach harbor, the ceremony was performed off the stern of our boat. I had the name of the boat changed that day, to Lady DI, so that as my new wife, Diane, came down the aisle on the top deck of the motoryacht amongst our guests, she could see the stern of our boat, with the new name!! However, there was one little problem. As she approached me as I stood waiting for her with my best man, she began to cry...and her sister who was her maid of honor kept telling her to look at the boat!! Of course, she did not have her glasses (Bill Hendrick).
Lady Di (#1119)My current (& last) wife never knew I had desired a sailboat for the past 18 years. After September 11, reflecting on what was important in life, and getting older, this topic got discussed. Unbelievalbly, Dianne told me I should get that boat I always wanted and enjoy life now. I started looking at C25's and it grew to the C34 we now have (understanding all the negotiations one goes through as the price increases geometrically). The boat was named by the previous owner but did not fit our image. Dianne suggested "Chardonnay Lady" (after all she supported my dream) but I told her I could never pronouce it correctly on the radio (Southern accent), let alone spell it! So we comprimised with "LADY DI", becasue both are beautful and wonderful "ladies"(but still full of excitement).I used four bottles of good champane and all the proper prayers to decommission and to then re-commission her. Then the Coast Guard took nearly 8 months to re-document her. But she has been nothing but pleasure (and expense) and the name will follow (II) in later years if I can ever talk her into a "larger Catalina" on the coast.
Lady J (#1281)After a "spirited" discussion over Christmas dinner for which there was no consensus among four of us, we just decided to change the name from Lady Z to Lady J. Turns out to be a good name. (Ken and Shirley Jones)
Bold textL'ananas is French for "the pineapple". During colonial times, the pineapple was the symbol of hospitality, and a pineapple was often placed above the door of a sailing captain's home to announce that he had returned from a long voyage and was opening his house to his friends.
Laura Lynn (#1645)Was in the process of buying the boat and it went through a little roughly. My honey and I struggled to come up with a name and then it came to me to name it after my Love.
La Vita (#1666)Aside from work, for over thiry five years of outdoorlife, primarily camping, skiing and boating, has been a way of life for us. As we had children, they too became seasoned sailors. La vita means "the life " in Italian. Our 34' was named and christened one cold sunny day in November 2003 in honour of those lives in our family,past,present and those to come. Being on the ocean is truly a wonderful way of life. Family is very important to us as well, so the chosen name is most appropriate. We look forward to the day when perhaps we'll have a new generation join us for "the life" aboard La Vita.
Lil-Tiger (#65)My Wife went to LSU and they are called the tigers; She is very dedicated to LSU (Louisiana state University)as is her family. She told me i can pick the boat but she has to pick the name... What a deal.
Loco VientoLoco Viento means crazy wind in spanish. The grammer is wrong, but it stands for we are crazy for strong winds. (Glen Herman)
Lost Lagoon (#1714)On June 21, 1956 I asked Suzanne to marry me, a year later we were married. The location was on Lost Lagoon in Stanly Park Vancouver British Columbia Canada. It has been smooth sailing ever since.
Lucky Dog (#1372)I bought hull #1372 in Aug. At that time she was named "Kin Ship" and that name really didn't work for me. My friends always said how lucky I was and one evening after a couple of beverages I thought of that old kids saying "you're a lucky dog". After a few more beverages it was official, "Lucky Dog" was the new name P.S> my dinghy is "Lucky Puppy"
Luna Loca (#1090)Our last 4 years of my Navy career were spent in Spain. Love the country, love the people, love the food and drink. Vicki has always had an afinity for the moon, full moon week each month is an event. We have always thought Luna had a special ring to it...combined with our memories of our time in Spain.... and our habitual crazyness...Luna Loca is the result.
Lyssa (#393)When my wife and I adopted our first boat, a 26' sloop, we anguished over her name. The search took the entire winter. We wanted a name that sounded like a traditional sailboat name, and had significant meaning for us. When I discovered the name Lyssa, and my wife discovered that at its root was the Greek word for "madness", that cinched it! With our adoption of our 1987 Catalina 34 (#393) this year, we could do no less than give her the same name (Pete Smullen).
Maple Sugar (#1539)We live in Canada and wanted to have a name that would be meaningful, fun, spirited and just plain fit comfortably. We were walking through the Harbourfront Antinque Market in Toronto tossing out names. There were several good ones, but this one just seemed to stick. The icing on the cake, so to speak, is the complementary name for our dinghy which we called Taffy.
Mariposa ( #1408)Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly which pretty well describes sailing
Me Own' QE, b.m.eWe wanted the name to be a little different so...it is My own Queen Elizabeth..since this is our second boat and we wanted to keep the same name but did not want it to be II or something along those lines....and...I play a bagpipe and Scottish bands have such things as Drum Majors abbr. D.M. or Pipe Majors, P.M. and Quarter Masters, Q.M we decided to have initials also....as follows....b = bigger, m = more, e =expensive... That's it hope it all makes sense to you (Gib Loesel a/k/a Pipes88)
Meriah II (#1065)"They Call the Wind Maria" from Paint Your Wagon was the inspiration and driving force to name our last two boats Meriah and now Meriah II. My wife, Roberta, and I thought it was a good name and would always keep us in a good wind (Gerry & Roberta Misener, St. Louis, MO).
Miranda Moon II (#329)The 11th moon of the 7th planet, discovered in the year of my birth, named after the character in Shakespear's "The Tempest", early theories entertained the moon Miranda had been shattered in a galatic collision and then recombined under the forces of gravity. Having survived my own unbelievable health issue years ago, the 7/11 themes in our names and lives seemed to flow well with those reflected by Miranda's orbit. I may be no gambler, but not willing to snub a winning combination.
Morning Dew (#833)My daughter and I discussed, debated and argued over various names and ideas for renaming our (new to us) Catalina 34. We narrowed it down to Idiot Wind (an old Dylan tune) and two Grateful Dead tunes: Sugaree and Morning Dew. We woke each morning to all three songs. We decided that Morning Dew just seemed to make sense. Our next dinghy will become Idiot Wind :)
Music (#1583)Our first boat was a 28MkII Named "Slow Dancer" and that's a long story. Our new 34 is named Music after the Crosby,Stills & Nash song "Southern Cross". We love the singers and the song and the name made perfect sense. I play guitar and Southern Cross is one of my favorites to strum and sing.
Nachas (#579)It's simple, my wife named it! (Peter Resnik)
Nauticlew (#427)We made a decision to sell our powerboat and buy a sailboat last winter. Our sailing friends were so happy they bought us videos and books to read while it was snowing outside, thinking that we would know everthing we always wanted to know about sailing by the time it was spring and we could put the boat in the water. After watching these videos over and over, my husband asked me if I was understanding all of this and I responded with "No, I have no clue what they are talking about." That was it. The boat is Nauticlew, and it certainly fits for now. We are really having fun learning.
Notes-A-Float (#363)My fiance named it. Since I'm a music lover and guitar player, she chose Notes-A-Float. We have music notes on either side of the name.
Ocean Rose (#1448)We bought our 34 in December of 2005 after owning a 1983 C-30 for 10 years. We did the usual listing of Greek God names, places, and things and came up with nothing that inspired us. Sailing in Boston Harbor we have over 250 miles of coastline available from the many harbor islands. The islands are populated with a variety of flora and fawna, one of which is the Rosa Rugosa or 'beach rose' as it is commonly called. The rose is a bright red when it blooms and also produces the edible 'rose hips' that are also popular as a perfume. The 'beach rose' gave my wife the idea for the name but leaving out the word 'beach' as we didn't want any name with 'beach' rock' or other hard, non-navigable surface in the name. So the name of 'Ocean Rose' was adopted. The name is proudly displayed on both the Port and Starboard stern quarters with a graphic of a rose between the two words. We have a 9 year-old daughter and after I had just put the name on the boat, she was standing by the boat and my wife said "that's the real Ocean Rose".
Ohana (#1149)Boat came that way when we bought it, had great graffics so we left it,OHANA means "Home" or "Family Home" in Hawaiian
Otra VezWe had a 1991 C34 ( "Hard Times" ) that we bought in 1993 and sailed until the end of 1998. We kept it on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, TX and spent most weekends on it for most of that time. Then, we gave in to the "bigger boat" itch and bought a Stamas 44 ketch that lived in Kemah, Tx on Galveston Bay. In July of 2006, we did a complete 180 and bought another C34 to have back on Eagle Mountain Lake to get back into having a boat close enough to spend lots of time aboard ( and without hurricanes to worry about!!!! ). "Otra Vez" is Spanish for "again", so this seemed like the perfect name for the object of our "full circle" in boating.
Pablo's Girl (#551)The PO had named the boat Goldeneye II, after a duck from the Chesapeak bay area and that did not excite us very much so we decided to change the name. Since I got to name the previous boat (Southern Cross) it was my wife's turn! So Cyndi choose her email and ebay account names which is Pablos-girl on the account that her nick name for me is Pablo (spanish for Paul) and that she and the boat were my girls. Also, boats are always refered to as being female. It had a nice ring to it.
Painkiller (#1320)We're from Scottsdale Arizona and Painkiller is berthed in San Diego (Californians call us "Zonies" as we invade their beaches and enjoy their beautiful weather in the summer ) She's our escape capsule from a hard week at the office and helps kill the pain of 110 degree desert heat. Painkiller is also our favorite drink, one which we got a taste for during our many charter trips to the Virgin Islands, so stepping aboard will always conjure up fond memories. Contact us for our "secret recipe" !
Panache (#643)When Kay and I bought our first Catalina (27) for Chesapeake Bay, it already had the name PICCANTE. We were going to change it, but neither of us came up with a name we were excited about and she grew on us; we eventually decided to keep it, as the image of tartness, freshness, etc. was perfect for the little 27-footer. When we bought our first Moorings charter boat in the BVI, the 38 seemed enormous to us. The idyllic BVI was so therapeutic, we decided on PANACEA. When we named her in 1990, we had never seen the name on another boat. Little did we know that within two years, BoatUS would list that name among its "top ten" sailboat names! Then we sold PICCANTE and moved up to our Cat34 #643 for our "home boat", we couldn't break what now seemed like a tradition, and looked for an appropriate name that started with "P". Keeping a bit of the meaning of PICCANTE was also important to us, and we hit upon PANACHE as the perfect boat name for us, since we view ourselves as somewhat unconventional, a little brash, but hopefully with a bit of style as well. And the best part was that when and if we decided to bring PANACEA home, we could also change its name to PANACHE by buying only two new letters! (-; The potential for cost savings carried the day! The only trouble I have is when someone who doesn't know the word tries to hail me and invariably comes up with "PAN-ACHE" (rhymes with pancake).(John Hakemian)
Panache (#982)The boat has a certain flair and the day we bought it we ate a a restaurant named Panache (Robert Schall)
Passing Wind (#275)We really struggled over renaming the boat - we wanted to let everyone know it's a very fast boat, but wanted to temper our bragging with a little humor. After much discussion we came up with the perfect name. Boy, do we ever get a lot of comments!
Peanut (#1294) My wife's nickname for our son is Peanut (he's 21 now). Anyway the boat was named after him because as I told him the day I bought the boat, "like you I am going to love this boat and have a lot of fun with her, but like you I know it's going to be a pain in my ass and drive me nuts more often than I wish."
Post Tension (#1499)I am a structural engineer, sometimes doing work on concrete buildings that are reinforced with post-tensioned (PT) steel cables. My weekend time on the boat is relaxing, frequently following (post) a tension filled work week. The stays are tensioned by the mast (post tensioned). Other engineer's usually recognise the meaning.
Premier Cru '92 (#1202)Got the name with the boat just purchased (1/2002). The name derives from the 1855 wine classification ordered by Napolean III. Of the 58 chateaux rated, only four were given Premier Cru status. Built in 1992, a somewhat "free" translation of the boat name is "Best of the '92 vintage".
PRET (#1783)PRET is dutch for FUN and is the initials of our names. The moment we decided to buy the boat we both knew its name immediatly. Paul & Elly Ruisendaal
Puff (#19)My wife and I could not agree on an appropriate name as this was our third sailboat and we both had strong feelings that the name had to "fit". Our grandson came sailing with us one of our first weekends and he immediately said this is like "Puff, the magic dragon's boat". It is accented in forest green and Puff was a favorite story of his. Given that all sailors are looking for that energy lift that a good strong puff will provide, we quickly agreed that "Puff" she would be. We added a graphic of a dragon and the name Puff to both sides of the boat. We are constantly being complemented about the name and graphic. It is one that everyone seems to remember.
Ramble This Way (#645)The two of us met at Georgia Tech and played in the marching band. Tech's fight song, Ramblin' Wreck, has 3 verses, and the band director would tell us to ramble this way (play to the alumni-laden home stands), ramble that way (turn around and play to the student section), and ramble off the field. We'll get 3 boats out of this naming scheme, and hopefully we'll time it so that the last boat will take us into retirement - appropriate for "Ramble Off the Field," don't you think?
Rapparee (#232)When I purchased my first boat in 1978 on the 4th of July I left for a five week honeymoon in Britain and Ireland shortly thereafter. Upon returning home I was sitting at my bar listining to the Clancy Bothers and Tommy Machem sing a medly of Irish rebel songs when I heard "The Outlaw Rapparee", my boat was named. The "Rapparees" were Irish freebooters (Robin Hoods), the remnants of Bonnie Prince Charley's Army that was defeated by King Billy and had to hide in the hills or face the hangman. My C 34 is my third "Rapparee".
Reposant (#657)Like most people we had a hard time finding a name we thought fit the boat, and what we thought that it would bing us. "Reposant" is French for restful or relaxing. I think that it has been a good choice of names, because we never think about work when we are at the boat.(Mark Van Bunnen)
Rio Blues (#448)I grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where my husband and I met and were married. We have since had "the blues" for Rio. Since then new owners purchased this boat, liked the name and kept it.
Rosalina (#1521)My wife's name is Rose and as a full partner in enjoying the boat, we decided to combine Rose with Catalina, hence Rosalina. In UK waters it is not a common name,it is relatively easy to communicate on VHF and has a little Spanish warm weather sound to it.
Royal T (#1363)Our boat is being paid for by royalty payments that I receive for a high school chemistry textbook I wrote. But rather than call it Royalty, we decided to use a slight variation based on our last name. (Sal and Patti Tocci)
Royono (#440)Royono was named after a US Naval Academy 72' racing yawl of the mid-60's. The name means "Happy Home on the Water" in an American Indian language.
Ruach (#1506)Story on naming of boat: Last year (2005) I was single handing my Catalina 27 up to Maine when the engine went out. Later I would learn the problem was a simple clog in the fuel line, but at the time I had no idea what was wrong other than I had no motor and I needed to deal with sailing the rest of the way. The wind was 35 knts at a beat until I rounded Cape Elizabeth. Then, in Casco Bay the winds settled down, way down, but shifted some to WNW. Yeah, that would be my new direction. I tacked up and up until I was opposite the fort in Portland Harbor. Then the wind died. Completely. Have you ever heard about the calm before the storm? I'm sitting there, in a dead calm. Sheets pulled full in to catch every wisp of wind. That's when it hit. 35 Knt winds just swept across the harbor. She broached. I never thought a boat could be slapped down that far without capsizing. With the top of the mast 1 foot off the water (really) she spun around. I was instinctively and frantically reaching for any sheet I could get my hands on. And then... she came up on a *perfect* beam reach. When I say perfect I mean it. She was so balanced that I had no need to touch the wheel - in what was till a 35 knt wind. Since then I have been thinking. First about a new name for my C27 (Cheeky Monkey), then, as I realised I'd be moving on, for a name for the next boat. I felt I had been touched (for a second time in my life, but the first shall remain private), and the boat should carry a name referencing "Spirit". I had almost settled on that name when I came upon "Ruach". "Ruach" is a Hebrew word. It is used over 200 times in the Old Testament and it is context sensitive. It is the perfect name for her. In one context it means wind. In another context it means breath. In another contest it means spirit. In the final context it means Holy Spirit. I sail at ease, knowing I am forever in good hands.
Salty Dog (#1102)In memory of an old friend who introduced us to boiled peanuts, boating on the Gulf of Mexico, and to the "salty dog" (vodka and grapefruit juice) in leiu of the sundown gin and tonic.
Samantha Jean (#247)It's not an unusual name but when I was trying to convince my family what a great idea it would be to own a C34 I figured it would be great to get as many family members on my side as possible. So, I named her after my daughter. I did the same thing when I bought my Hunter 34 in 1985. I named her Stacys Pride after my first mate.
Sand Save (#223)Sand Save is a golf term (my other passion). If you're in a sand trap near a green (as I frequently am) and you get out of the sand in one shot, then putt the ball into the cup on the next shot, you've accomplished a "sand save." Since it's about the only thing I can do with any consistency on the golf course, I thought it would be a good crossover name to combine sailing and golf. On the starboard side of the boat, I've got the name with a small island beach scene and on the port side I have the name with a small golf green and sand trap.
Sarah Lynn (#637)I named my boat Sarah Lynn because I'm a divorced Pahwakee Indian Lesbian who now lives with Lynn on the Sarah Lynn...the love of my life
Sasha (#980)We spent our last 2 years working in Russia, where Alexander(dra) is a very common first name for men and women. Alexander is our family name. Sasha is the common nick name for Alexander and we thought it fit both us and the boat(we didn't much care for the previous name either). We had a fun party toasting Poseidon and the 4 winds with champagne in the name change ceremony too.
Saucy Jack (#1236)Saucy Jack is named after the privateer which was captained by my 3xgreat grandfather in the war of 1812. She sailed from Charleston South Carolina and was the most successful privateer out of Charleston in that war (Cas Patrick).
Schipperke (#1052)A schipperke is a breed of small, very curious, dogs. They were reportedly bred in Belgium to serve as canal boat dogs, catching rats and keeping intruders out. The name means "little captain" or "little shepherd," depending on the commentator. Our schipperke dog is named Quincy and he got sea sick on his first real voyage on board Schipperke!
Searcher (#179)"Searcher" is the name the original owners in 1986 decided upon. The second owner kept the name. I am the third owner and I will also keep the name.
Sea Rover (#1409)Derived from "Zeerover" which is Dutch and which translates into "pirate of the high seas". This in turn relates to my last name Kaper (which translates into Pirate). Perhaps my Dutch ancestors were pirates of the high seas (Jaap and Emma Kaper).
Sedona Sunset (#219)The year before my purchase of #219, fall of 2004, my wife and I were vacationing in Sedona, AZ. We witnessed the most incedible sunset we had ever seen. we purchased the boat very late in our season and planned to rename her for the next season. After much deliberation, we decided that even though there is no ocean in AZ. we would name our new boat after the sunset that was indelled in our minds. Each time out, we are reminded of one of the most beautiful sights we had seen.
Segovia (#489)Previous owner was a fan of Andres Segovia, the classical guitarist. He named the boat Segovia. I am also a guitarist so felt the name worked well for me also.
Serenity (#152)Bought it used and didn't want to tempt fate by changing the name - which wasn't so bad.
Shadowfax (#1800)We thought long and hard about this one. Hull #1800 was (and now is) rumored to be the last production C34 Hull, so we thought it needed a strong and powerful name. Shadowfax is from the Lord of the Rings, and is the name of the King of the Horses, that carries the wizard Gandalf into battle. White in color, strong, and faster than the wind.
Shamrock (#1570)Figured we needed a name to bring all the luck we could get. It seems to work.
Shared Float (#1369)The name has a double meaning. The most obvious is that she floats, and we share her. The less obvious involves a term of art in construction scheduling. "Float" is, essentially, extra time. "Shared" float is that which is owned by both the owner and the general contractor. My wife is an engineer and a construction scheduling expert witness. I am a construction lawyer. When we have extra time, we share it on our C34!
Sheer Bliss (#1055)We wanted a peaceful name and went to our favorite ski area-Snowmass, Colo, and found a ski lift named Sheer Bliss. (Bruce and Wendy Fowler).
Sheni (#696)When the wife and I are out on our boat we feel as though we are in our own little world which the group Alabama wrote a song about, She and I. Drop a couple of letters and spaces and you end up with the name of our boat SHENI. The name and the song by Alabama petty much tells most of the story, the rest of the story can be found in another song writer/singers work, and that writer/singer came from Alabama.
Sjora (#1420)Sjora was/is a Swedish sea goddess. Chris is Swedish. (Bob & Chris Lancaster)
Single Malt (#901)When we purchased our vessel it was called Robert E Lee. This is ok for you Americans but over here in Australia it was a bit out of place. However, I hear you say, what has Single Malt got to do with Australia? Absolutely nothing geographically, as everyone knows the best single malt whisky comes from Scotland. We were in Scotland a few years ago, and were enjoying going around the distilleries and having a wee dram at the end of each visit. As Single Malt is the best whisky there is, and Catalinas are the best yachts, it seemed just right. We do keep a bottle on board for those cold evenings, but up here in the tropics, its often better to have a cold beer
Slow Dance (#354)Is there anything more intimate? My wife actually thought it would be an appropriate name for our Catalina 34.... and having had the pleasure of sailing her around Buzzards Bay, Vinyard and Nantucket Sounds, I too agree.... it is a most intimate experience!
Splash Dance (#580)When I purchased the boat I was required by the Bank to have it documented. No problem, I'd like that anyway. In the meantime, I was thinking of what to name the boat. Jenny K was on her transom, as the previous owner named her after his daughter. That was sweet, but meant nothing to me so a new name was in order. It wasn't until I was signing documentation papers that I learned a new name wasn't just a nice idea, a name is required by the Coast Guard. Otherwise, no documentation, no loan, no boat. Yikes! A name, a name, quickly! I had to have something to resolve this issue right away. My friend had a boat named "Sunset Grill" and I like music, so "Sunset Serenade" was created. Not what I wanted, but I was in a pinch. All paperwork handled, the boat now belonged to me.........and the Bank. However, the name issue kept bothering me. I just wasn't satisfied with it. Then too, I didn't want something tricky, too cute, or too naughty (I'm single and caught hell for !! My Catalina 30's name "Insatiable"), but I wanted something that captured the essence of the boat. In thinking about how a sailboat goes through the water, nodding and dipping from side to side, it seemed to me to be a dance. As she does this dance, she splashes happily along. "Splash Dance" caught the essence, freedom and joy that I wanted in a name.
Starbird (#1335)When I was trying to decide on a name for my boat I came across a road in the Puget Sound area called Starbird. It sounded like the perfect name for a sail boat since the ancient sailors and modern sailors use both the stars and the birds to help with navigation. The boat has been perfect for me.
Stargazer (#1035)Our family is the third owners of hull #1035. It's most recent name was Irish Mist, and being that we are 4 parts Scottish, 1 part bad ass German, and 1 part Irish,...the name had to go. After nineteen years of being married to each other, most of which was spend in mortal combat to be Alfa Dog, it was clear from the start of the naming process that my wife and I would be wise to use the same proceedure we came up with to name our two beautiful little girls. That being that we both made a list of no more than twenty-four names that we liked. Each could delete twenty-two. This left us with four names to...ah..discuss. Stargazer was one of my selections, and it came to me from our families general delight in astronomy.
Stromboli (#413)Stromboli is named after Mt. Stromboli....the world's most active volcano off the coast of Italy. In Greek mythology, Mt. Stromboli was the home of Aeolus....the god or custodian of the winds.
Summer Breeze (#644)We sail from Atlantic City ,New Jersey mostly in the ocean. We enjoy the wonderful warm summer breezes...so it was a perfect name for us..just like the Seals & Croft...sailing along on a summer breeze.
Sunset (#1229)We have gorgeous sunsets here in Southwest Florida year round. Also, we are entering our "sunset" years of sailboat cruising. One of our previous boats was named "Moonrise" because we used to view beautiful moonrises from our cabin in the San Juan Islands (Bob and Donna Lou Martin)
Su * Wen * Sa (#754)Our daughters names are Suzi, Wendy and Sara, so we took the first few letters of their names to form the boat's name. We told them it was a Native American word meaning "lost inheritance."
Symphony (#248)Symphony Musician now semi retired working 6 months in Florida winters, cruising 6 months north summers.
Take Five (#900)There are five members in our family. We all like to sail.
Tango V (#1748)When we bought our boat, we wanted a name easy to tell in every language, as we are french canadian sailing on Champlain lake and maybe want to go south in some years, my wife found that Tango should be a perfect name for our boat, as it was already took, we add a V for five. ( Nicole & Donald Pomerleau )
Temperance (#538)My wife always tells me that I go from one extreme to the other with no middle ground. The day I was to sign papers on the boat, I saw a book that said the word of the day was "temperance," the virtue of moderation of passions and desires. So we now start this new life of sailing with Temperance (Dan & Freddy Tucker).
Third Star (#913)My wife Ramona and I had tried out different names while commuting to work and we did not like each others choices. I said as a joke lets name it Third Boat since it is our third sailboat. Ramona countered with Third Star. I liked it, so it is.
Too Much Fun !! (#252)Story on naming of boat: Anyone who has met Diane will understand the name Too Much Fun!! You'll note that there are 2 exclamations behind the name for #252. The first TMF was a Catalina 30, with which Diane and I were harbor hopping back to Ventura after winning a trophy in the '98 Newport to Ensenada race. Our first stop happened to be close to a broker's dock in San Diego where #252 was being offered. We'd talked about having a C34 and the rest, as they say, is history. #252 had been completely neglected by her first owner, and her rehabilitation was extensive. Happily, after lots of TLC, $$$, and love, this has become an extremely well equipped and very well maintained little vessel. We're very proud of her.
Tweety Bird (#1346)Naming Tweety Bird was easy, since it's my wife, Gloria's, nickname (Jon Arck)
Unzipped (#1484)When we bought our C34 we were looking at an 1988 model year C34. We rejected it, but as we were walking back up the dock we passed a new 2000 C34 and decided to just have a quick look. The next thing you know we had made an offer and she was ours. We had never done anything like that before and we both felt disjointed, crazy, unzipped. Laura and I both enjoy spending time on board and find that we can go for a quick evening sail and become unzipped from lifes little problems.
Up Spirits (#894)The name has two origins; one is highlights the lifting of one's spirits by the very nature of sailing; the other comes from the Royal Canadian and Royal Navy tradition of serving the ration of rum, the pipe being "up spirits, hands to muster for grog". 100% attendance at rum muster was common. Both names apply aptly to our boat, a real 1989 beauty (G. Wiseman).
Upon A Star (# 52)First, it is important to know that I am an incurable fan of Walt Disney. I grew up glued to the TV watching the "Mickey Mouse Club" and "The Wonderful World of Disney". After deciding to purchase Star (then, "In the Mood") we agonized over the appropriate name (who amongst us didn't?) for what seemed like eternity. My wife, maintaining all the while that it was my decision, kept rejecting the names I came up with as either too esoteric, too cerebral, too mystic, or too ... whatever. One day, at work, the radio station I was listening to started playing a compendium of all the most memorable tunes from Disney movies. One of my all time favorites is Pinnochio, and when they played "When You Wish Upon A Star" from the movie, I had my name; and wishes do come true! (Bob Mack)
Visionary (#1422)I'm an optometrist, an optimist and nearly retired and my family didn't much care for the rest of the names I came up with.
Voyager (#1345)Voyager was named for what we plan on doing with her. Take as many trips as we can to as many different places. Short trips, long trips, who cares (Craig and Nancy McAllaster).
Whisper (#1544)As we searched for names we avoided boastful and comical ones. To us sailing is an excape from the noise and chaos of every-day life. It is partly why we prefer sailing to powerboating. We wanted to be reminded of the quiet elements of sailing we enjoy. Hopefully this will have a calming effect on our Skipper, making it difficult for him to raise his voice to the crew.
Whither the Wind (#126)We generally tend to steer courses that require as little sail managing as possible. It's just easier to steer a new when the wind changes. It's all really because we're basically lazy. Hence we go "whither the wind". (Jerry and Debbie Nielsen)
White OrchidWhite Orchid is a rare and beautiful flower, found in the Caribbean, that goes from island to island on the wind (the seeds that is!) - this is our retirement plan, hence the name White Orchid.
Wildflecken II (#1990)Wildflecken is a German name, meaning wild place or wild spot. It is the name of the German village (and U.S. Army post) where my wife and I met and married. The original Wildflecken was a pretty wild place, and now Wildflecken II can be a little wild with the occasional squall line.
WindseekerThe Boat started out in it's life as "80 Proof" in Long Beach CA. It's owner was Dean Buur. He and his wife cruised and raced actively in the LA and San Francisco areas. Dean upgraded to a C42 in 1998 and we bought the boat in Marina Del Ray and had it shipped to Bayfield on Lake superior. We already had a C30, "Windsong II", and decided that the fleet should all be named Wind----. Thus it became Windseeker as that's what we were looking for most of the time.
Wyvern (#864)A Wyvern is a flying dragon. And as anyone who is a fan of PC role playing games knows, you can "always get home on the wings of a Wyvern." Thus when we purchased our 34, we felt it was appropriate to christen it Wyvern. My wife and grandchildren were the ones who "did the research on the PC."
YachtaSeaCarol, a constant reader, says name speaks the exploration and adventure of sailing. We find ourselves with friends in winds of change and fortunes of fellowship pleasure cruising. The sails follow the red and silver ribbons of sun and moon sliping into home port with tales to share and memories to treasure. YachtaSea. Fitting such a voyage to name is good for life, love and happiness. Carol and I wish your sailboat equal admiration of your heart.
Yachta Yachta Yachta (#1634)We our avid Seinfeld fans and we use the saying that we did this or went there or yatta yatta yatta so we were able to put it in boating lingo and changed it to Yachta Yachta Yachta. We used it on our C28 and had so many remarks on how it was such a great name we decided to keep it on our 2003 C34.
Yo! (#39)YO ! comes from Nina's racing a Sunfish on a small lake that we lived on previously. The kids racing Hobie 16's didn't know what "Starboard " meant, so Nina just yelled "YO !" It got their attention !!! (Bill and Nina Collins)
Zuma (#960)Our boat name,"ZUMA",was inspired by a 1975 record album by Neil Young (with Crazy Horse) by that name. There is a song on the album called "Through My Sails" (with Crosby,Stills&Nash) that we enjoy. We have since learned that there is a beach in California named Zuma.
