What's in a Name?

While we've been on the waterway we've seen all makes, types and names of boats. This is partly from seeing them on the waterway but also from hearing them on the VHF radio, hailing each other, marinas or bridges. When calling on the radio protocal calls for saying the vessel name 3 times when hailing them. When you say the name three times fast it makes you realize that choosing a clear, easy name is pretty important.  Thus why you wouldn't want to name your vessel, "Toy Boat".  Try saying that three times fast, it's nearly impossible. . . . . couldn't do it could ya?

People take alot of pride in what they name their boat.  Sometimes it shows, sometimes, well not so much.  But regardless, it can be quite entertaining and interesting.  It's as though you are seeing just a shade of someone's personality through the name they chose.  The type of name can be based not only on the Skipper's personality but the type of boat.  For instance if it's a catamaran we've seen such names as, Stray Cat, Nautacat and Catiwampus.

Another very seafaring tradition is to name your boat after a woman.  The Rachel Isabelle, Vanessa IV, Lulu and Contessa have been a few we've seen.  I'm usually not a huge fan of naming boats after a woman's name (our first boat was named "The Jolene's Joy", NOT a name we chose to keep) but we did see a mega motor sailer which was named the "Lady Jane".  She was a truly classy boat with beautiful lines and I think her name perfectly suited her.  She was certainly a Lady. (I wish I would have gotten a picture of her, she was beautiful)

Sport fishing boats are almost always a play on words and a tribute to a Captain's hobby of choice. We've seen several good ones on our way down, Right Hook, No Slack, Fin-A-Key, O-Fish-All and Week's End have all blazed past us on their way to the ocean.

Other names take a minute to figure out.  As we were docked in Fernandino Beach Harbor Marina I saw this boat:

It wasn't till I looked up what Chatchka meant that I found the true meaning.  Chatchka is Yiddish/Polish for "a cheap showy trinket".  Quite the contradiction in terms I'm sure you'd agree. After seeing her gum smacking, gold chain wearing Floridian owner it even more especially seemed to fit.  Very friendly fella, by the way, obviously with a sense of humor and/or lots of "trinkets".

Of course, there are always those few that leave you wondering, what where they thinking?  Flying Cloud, Pagan Chant, Chasing Rainbows, Salty Surfer Cat to name a few.

A few other names that have caught our eye on the way down:  Speck(small little sailing catamaran) Slow Flight, Sea Nile, Checked Out, First Draft, Satellite Office, H8 2 W8 (Hate to Wait) and For Sail.

So for the next few months we'll be throwing around ideas for new boat names. "Testing the waters" by saying it over and over again, making sure it's a name that truly reflects perhaps just a bit of our personality and who we are.  And of course, we are always open to suggestions.  

 Camile