You’ve bought the vessel of your dreams. Maybe it’s brand new, maybe it’s used, but one thing is for sure: this is your vessel. This is the vessel you have always wanted, the vessel which will take you where you want to go. “Where do you want to go” could be around the world, it could be around the lake, or anywhere in between. When you apply for your vessel documentation, you’re going to have to give a lot of different kinds of information. One thing you will have to offer is the name of your vessel. Have you thought of one? Here are some tips on dos and don’ts of documented boat names you should choose.
Documented Boat Names Ground Rules
When you go to our site, you’ll find that you have to put in a vessel name. So, you can’t just say “well, I’m not going to name my vessel.” Since this is for an official form, only standard alpha and numeric characters in the Documented vessel name will appear on the Certificate of Documentation. Again, as this is official, you’re going to want to stay away from anything obscene, or anything that could be construed as obscene. A vessel name, while it can be changed, is something that will be associated with your vessel and by extension, you.
Different Vessel Names
If you’re like many vessel owners, you’ve probably been dreaming of the name of your vessel for your entire life. Now, here is a chance to make it real. If you haven’t, there are plenty of different ways that you can go. Some of the popular choices include naming your vessel after different things that people tend to associate with the water: waves, the sea itself, wind, sun, warm weather, etc. Other popular names for vessels include figures from mythology: Odysseus, Poseidon, Pegasus, Adonis, and others.
People Will Ask
Something to always keep in mind about the documented boat names of your vessels: people will notice it. Ask yourself: “is this name something I’m going to want to talk about in conversation for as long as I have this vessel?” That’s why you want to be careful about naming it after someone that you just met, or giving it some strange names that people might not necessarily understand. Naming your vessel after a kind of alcohol or something may seem cheeky and fun in the moment you come up with, but after several years of explaining what “Bud Lightning” means, you may come to think you should’ve gone with something else.
Re-naming is Possible
If your vessel was owned by someone else or had another name, you can change it. When you fill out the form at our site, simply put the vessel’s previous name in parenthesis. You’ll probably want to remove everything that has the ship’s previous name on it. That doesn’t just mean the hull; it could mean life jackets, key chains and more. You may even want to have a christening ceremony for the new name, for good luck. If you have questions, give us a call at (800) 535-8570. Fair winds and following seas to you!