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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 13:35:32

I thought about GEE BEE both since it's my initials and I used to fly. I thought that might be a little vain though.

Stray Cat has some meaning to me since I saved a tiny kitten on Christmas Eve about three years ago. It was supposed to be in the 20's that night and she would have never survived. She had apparently gotten separated from her mom and not eaten in days. She was literally nothing but skin and bones. The Vet said she was only about 3 or 4 weeks old.

Plus my boat just strayed into my life late one night when I'd about given up on finding one after months of looking.

Hey, and I could use Sylvester as my mascot!!!

Edited by - GaryB on 08/21/2008 13:39:40

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 14:00:07

If you don't want to be questioned endlessly about the name of your boat, I suggest something recognizable. I first named my boat Sashimi, because I like sashimi very much, but this was before sushi and sashimi were popularized in the U.S. and most people didn't know what it was. Consequently I received endless questions about it, which usually included a follow-up conversation on why would anyone want to eat raw fish, and etc. ad nauseam. I finally changed the name to Arwen, which before Lord of The Rings, not many recognized, but still thought was a pretty name. I've very rarely been asked about the name since. If of the other hand, you enjoy explaining what it means to everyone who sees it, the way you did for us on the forum, you should disregard this response.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 16:22:22

I was thinking more that I would just tell them that it was a Catalina and and a stray.

After re-reading my explanation above it is kinda lame huh!

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 22:43:45

Gary,

Instead of Stray cat...how about Gray Cat.....Gray has same letters as your first name. If that does not work....maybe thing of some play on words off of you or your wife's middle names. That's how we came by "Robin's Nest". Robin is my wife's middle name.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 08:22:13

If you want your wife to love you go with something like "Sweet Bee" or "Honey Bee."

If you are racing then either find a sleeper name that is easy to forget (if you are winning folks will remember it, if you are losing, you don't want them to) or one that has a little testosterone "Fast Cat", "Killer Cat", "Alley Cat"

The word "cat" is often taken to mean Catamaran, so you may find yourself telling people that it isn't a catamaran often, which will end a load of conversations. For some reason people are transfixed by multihulls.

If you are cruising and want the name to sound peaceful and serene, then you can go with about anything that isn't too long to spell out on VHF.

Synonyms for stray include:
beggar, bum, hobo, homeless, idler, itinerant, nomadic, panhandler, roamer, rover, tramp, undesirable, unrestrained, vagabond, waif, wanderer, wayward

Synonyms for cat include:
aelurophile, ailurophile, ailurophilia, cheetah, civet, cougar, feline, felinity, felis_, grimalkin, grimalkin(an old she cat), jaguar, kitten, kitty, leopard, lion, lynx, manx, moggy, panther, persian, puma, puss, ***, siamese, tabby, tiger, tigress, zibet

Put them together and what do you get?

(Personally I like "Itinerant Tabby", but I think its too long.)

Edited by - Prospector on 08/22/2008 08:22:43

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 08:28:01

I like Stray Cat, it's sounds humorous and has that sense of wandering that is nice in sailboats :)

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 08:39:34

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the common naming conventions based on the boat ("Cat" for Catalina or catamarans, "J"-something for J/Boats) or the generics ("Wind"-whatever for sailboats, "Sea"-anything), they tend to seem trite to me. The only wind-oriented one I ever liked was "Gael Force" on an old wooden sailboat, but then I have Scottish/Irish heritage. :)

My old Precision came to me as "Wind Dancer", and that had to go. My old CP26 came to me un-named, I went with "Tempest" which was kinda wind-oriented (and also follows another no-no: dont name a boat after a storm or disaster!), but at the time I bought the boat I'd just been stormed (big time!) out of an outdoor performance of Shakespeare's Tempest and was going thru a divorce, so figured I could get away with it. My CP25 came to me un-named, however the original owner sailed her as "Wind Child".

I prefer the idea of naming it something more personal, like after the family name or something the kids come up with or something meaningful to the family. Heck, if you have to explain it - that's half the fun! I still dont have any text (other than registration numbers) on the boat. Just a big graphic that a bartender friend of mine did on the sides near the stern - it's self-explanatory.

Be sure to follow the aforementioned ceremonies to re/name a boat. Even if you dont believe in that kinda thing, it's FUN!
(Not to mention covering your transom. Just in case.)

Just my $0.02, but then again I ride the Short Bus...

Jim

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 09:39:28

Well my cousin used to race J24's and they (sick as they were) named the boat Bow Movement.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 09:55:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 ...Bow Movement.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sorry--not for a boat where you call somebody on the VHF... Stray Cat is perfect!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 10:14:04

Dunno if you race, but for some reason I also like "Idle Tiger" - To me it says: I'm just lazing a round, but if I really wanted to I could be dangerous.

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 10:23:47

I had a pair named Mer Girl and Mer Baby once. Mer Girl evolved from the previous owner, who had named the boat Bloomer Girl. I was sanding the name off, from fore to aft and when I finished sanding off Bloo, I stood back to catch my breath, when I saw the remaining letters- "mer girl", I was struck with its elegant simplicity. Mer Baby is a one meter , one design, radio controlled sailboat I was involved in designing. I'm posting a link to a website of some people who still race these little boats because I didn't know they were were still in use and I was always proud of my involvement in creating them. The boat model is OD39 (One Design 39) and my boat is hull #13 (specially requested because I was born on Friday the 13th) and the name of that boat is Mer Baby. :)

http://www.woodlawnsailingclub.org/od39.htm

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 12:05:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 ...Bow Movement.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sorry--not for a boat where you call somebody on the VHF... Stray Cat is perfect!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree, I wasn't thinking of using that name just so you know. As I mentioned they were a pretty crude group from what I heard.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 12:07:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 If you want your wife to love you go with something like "Sweet Bee" or "Honey Bee."

If you are racing then either find a sleeper name that is easy to forget (if you are winning folks will remember it, if you are losing, you don't want them to) or one that has a little testosterone "Fast Cat", "Killer Cat", "Alley Cat"

The word "cat" is often taken to mean Catamaran, so you may find yourself telling people that it isn't a catamaran often, which will end a load of conversations. For some reason people are transfixed by multihulls.

If you are cruising and want the name to sound peaceful and serene, then you can go with about anything that isn't too long to spell out on VHF.

Synonyms for stray include:
beggar, bum, hobo, homeless, idler, itinerant, nomadic, panhandler, roamer, rover, tramp, undesirable, unrestrained, vagabond, waif, wanderer, wayward

Synonyms for cat include:
aelurophile, ailurophile, ailurophilia, cheetah, civet, cougar, feline, felinity, felis_, grimalkin, grimalkin(an old she cat), jaguar, kitten, kitty, leopard, lion, lynx, manx, moggy, panther, persian, puma, puss, ***, siamese, tabby, tiger, tigress, zibet

Put them together and what do you get?

(Personally I like "Itinerant Tabby", but I think its too long.)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Interesting! I'm looking at some of the possible combinations from the list above.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 12:10:30

I've always liked some of the air racing names: Strega, Dago Red, Merlins Magic, etc.. the last one got me thinking about Magic Cat???

I thought about Sentimental Journey but I'd probably have to move up to a C42 to get the name on the boat!

Edited by - GaryB on 08/22/2008 12:11:57

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 13:07:11

I had a thought when I saw Alley Cat on the list. If you spell it a little differently, it could be: Alee Cat

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 16:48:07

Hate cats but the name is creative. Not that I would change names, but anyone come up with nautical name using a dog?
Steve A

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 17:46:22

Indiscipline is a song about obsession from a favorite band (King Crimsion). Plus it suits me (lack of discipline).

Get a name that is unique. Avoid money names and wind and dancer. Avoid girlfriends or wives names because the boat may outlast them. Pick something that sounds good on the radio. Make sure it means something special to you.

Hopefully the web URL name is available (www.indiscipline.org)

My Catalina 25 is actually Indiscipline III.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 18:52:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 Hate cats but the name is creative. Not that I would change names, but anyone come up with nautical name using a dog?
Steve A
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sea Dog?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 18:53:47

Here's a couple of others 've kicked around for awhile.

7th Sojourn
Oh Well!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2008 : 21:49:18

Texas City Kitty
Willit Run
Crazy Cat
Reef Runner

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2008 : 10:01:02

I hailed a bridge operator once as Sarge... He replied that I'd get better service if I called myself Chief.

(Guess which branch he served in...) I'm often asked to explain Sarge--that's the nickname my dear, late wife (and others in the family) used for her beloved, late mother-in-law. So it's a tribute to both. That's how I like to name a boat--something very personal. When you're asked to explain it, you have a special story to tell.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2008 : 10:27:03

Gary, other people can't name your boat. You need to come up with something that is right for you. We owned our C22 for over a year before we named it. Eventually we came up with Nauti Duck which works for us and we carried it over to our C250.

A name should come to you naturally. Don't force it. And, whatever you do, the name MUST please the Admiral.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2008 : 16:12:45

osmepneo is a great name for my boat, and it often opens the door for sharing. One drawback is that the name is difficult for others to pronounce. I get to laugh when others try to pronounce her name. Regardless, the key for me is that the name I choose my boats mean something to me (and is probably based on Classical Greek).

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2008 : 22:59:36

A cat 22 at our lake is called "Stray Cat". The owner is Mike Strayley

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2008 : 09:46:07

I am not good at coming up with names but I have been told in years past that names with CAT in them should be used by Catamaran's or Cat rigged boats. You have to be careful not to use a power boat name also. And nothing that indicates sinking or underwater. I would recommend using google for sailboat names and go from their. But, you have probably already considered all of this. I have tried a couple of names on our 250 but still not happy that I have it right. Good Luck

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