What are the do's and do-not's of naming a new vessel?
For instance, I'd imagine it'd be bad luck to name a yacht after a famous wreck, eg, the Titanic?
Thanks!
Answers:
Another don't is name your vessel in a disrespectful manner to the elements. Example typhoon master,hurricane buster,ocean shaker, or names like wind goddess, some of those deities are really vain and may not think your vessel is worthy to carry there name. As for naming ships after ones that sank it's common enough in fact there is a titanic 2 being built as we speak this one is a cruise ship. The champagne bottle being broke over the bow is supposed to bring you luck. For fiberglass boats I suggest breaking it over a bow cleat or anchor. It is regarded as bad luck to change a vessels name. There is a renaming prayer that I saw in sailing for dumbies I don't remember the prayer but should be easy to look up or just go to the book store and look in the sailing for dumbies book .
Stay well away from the champagne bottle
Depends what country you are from as they all have a different criteria. In the UK you cannot name a boat that has already been registered with a name you request. In the US you can have several boats registered with the same name. If you choose a name and its not accepted you can add a 1 or a 2 on the end of it. For example you may want to name your boat "Dawn Star"? If that is not accepted go for "Dawn Star 2". The number 2 is usually written on the hull in very small letters and hardly readable. When you launch the boat, open a bottle of your own choice pouring it over the bow along with a prayer of your own choice. Trying to crack a bottle of Champers across the bow does not always work and is considered bad luck if it does not break the first time.I believe the Titanic launch took several attempts to break the bottle?
They say that you should not change the name of a boat because it is bad luck. I have not noticed the effect. We have both kept the name and renamed some boats. Sometimes it takes a while on the boat to determine the right name.
Also, don't name a boat something that doesn't sound good on the VHF radio. We have seen some that it would be embarrasing to have to call.
Don't call it Titanic
It is reckoned, if you are superstitious, bad luck to change the name of any boat or ship. Of course many people do but they are obviously not superstitious.
There are no laws to stop you re-registering the vessel with a different name though assuming the name you chose is approved and acceptable by the registry office.
If you have a boat and are superstitious you will quickly learn that according to superstitions you should never put to sea on a long voyage starting on a Friday and definitely not on a Friday the 13th of any month.
There,s loads of superstition regarding boat naming, that would take me aaageees to type out, cos I can't type. However, the site below just about covers it all!
It's funny that the first answer mentioned a champagne bottle. Titanic wasn't christened. no champagne bottle cracked on it's hull, so perhaps that one tradition you should consider. but you may have to check with your country's boating company. I mean in Australia for cars we have the RTA (Road Traffic Authority) and we can check the availabilty of a number plate, so maybe there's something the same with boats, and i'd watch for copywrights.
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