[Alberg30] Boat Names

[Charles B. Currier]

My opinion & practice ...

If you do not like the name look into the boats documentation & see what
the previous names were.

I believe that you DO NOT rename a boat, as it is bad luck, even with a
new owner unless it has been sunk. I am generally not superstitious but
the sea is a different animal & this practice I hold dear.

Just my $0.02.

-- 
C.B. Currier
Annapolis, MD
Infinity #57 (Always known that way)
Daybreak #458(PO wanted to name 'The Sherrod' but never got around to
it)

Roger L. Kingsland said:
>
>
> Albergers (hold the mayo);
>
>
> Most of this communication is a rambling build up to a request stated
> in the last three paragraphs; so, if you get sleepy just go directly
> there.
>
>
>
> My family and I are struggling over what to name our new (to us) A30,
> #148.  Her current name, Mahina Manu, is purported to mean "Moon Bird"
> in Polynesian. However, for all we know, it could mean "Oil Slick," or
> even, "Your Fly is Down."   I don't think there are birds on the Moon
> nor do I think there are birds that moon; so, we are willing to flaunt
> nautical tradition and rename the boat.
>
>
>
> My first boat was a brand new 1976 Hobie 16' that was all white.  I
> thought having an all white Hobie among all those colorful, show-off
> boats would be unique.  I used to hang a red bandanna from the
> forestay bridle for just the right touch of tasteful color.  I named
> her
> "Purity," which seemed appropriate given the color (or lack thereof)
> and the singular, go fast purpose of the boat.  The kids in the family
> I sold the boat to some 10 years later renamed her "Generic Boat;" so
> much for high-minded names.
>
>
>
> My second boat, a 1962 centerboard Rhodes 19 day-sailor, came with the
> name "Tonic," which I interpreted to mean good for what ails ya, not
> what you add to gin.  I think it's a great name for that boat because
> she is a joy to sail and sailing her is so therapeutic.  No worries
> with Tonic; even in the strongest gust, she takes on about 20 gallons
> of water then heads into the wind.  The 350-pound cast iron
> centerboard makes an ideal depth sounder;  I just tack every time it
> hits bottom.  In fact, three years of finding the bottom with Tonic on
> Pittsburgh's three rivers has given me the confidence to sail the A30
> on the rivers.  Not that there are any good reasons to do so.  River
> sailing is a very linear existence and I don't think the mast will
> clear the last two bridges en route to Steeler games at Heinz Field.
>
>
>
> That gets us to the new name for A30, #148.  Some time ago, I read
> that the country of Portugal had the Latin moniker of "Non Plus
> Ultra," which translates to "no more beyond," or "there is no more
> beyond (Portugal)."
>  Then, in the 15th century they got into all of that global
> exploration
> so the name didn't quite fit.  Their solution was to take out the
> "Non," the remaining "Plus Ultra" means, "the more beyond."  I always
> thought that would be a great name for a boat and for years have given
> that name to the cruising catamarans I design as a hobby (architect by
> day, frustrated naval architect by night).  I have the Plus Ultra,
> Twin Cockpit Pilot House 42; the Plus Ultra, River Curser 36 (a power
> boat); and several models in between.
>
>
>
> A little side note on the catamaran design: I use the term "design"
> very loosely.  Actually, I was able to cajole a very fine naval
> architect, Chris White, to send me drawings of his Atlantic series
> catamarans.  Working with his hull designs, I modify the layouts
> (mostly) and rigging (sometimes).  Chris designs what I think are the
> most beautiful and functional ocean-going sailboats afloat.  His
> designs are based on solid logic, much of which is described in his
> book, "Cruising Multi-hulls," which can be found along with some great
> boat designs, on his web site, www.chriswhitedesigns.com.  Anyway, I
> do these crazy designs and send the sketches to Chris for his
> comments.  The usual response is, "That's interesting."  Since I know
> what that means when I say it to my clients, I am aware I should keep
> my day job.
>
>
>
> Back to Plus Ultra.  I was a little nervous about giving such a high
> performance-sounding name to a traditional, and not exceptionally
> fast, mono-hull.  When our kids (girl 13, boy 11) pointed out that it
> sounded like a toothpaste, that was the end of that name.  Perhaps I
> will use it when Chris White designs a real catamaran for me.  Will
> someone please reply to my previous request for stocks that will
> appreciate at least 30% so I can get Chris started?
>
>
>
> Next came family names.  I don't mean naming the boat after an
> ancestor (my stepmother-in-law asked us to name our daughter after
> distant relative Unity Yancey; for some reason we declined and she
> gave the name to her miniature Schnauzer instead), but rather after
> ships associated with our family history.  Some of my ancestors were
> ship captains, but we don't know the names of their vessels.  That
> doesn't really matter though because I can claim that whatever name we
> come up with was the name of one of my ancestors' ships.  You'll have
> to take my word for it that I actually even have ship captain
> ancestors.
>
>
>
> My great, great, great, great, great (I might be off by a great or
> two) grandfather had a lumber mill in Nutley, New Jersey and supplied
> the first wooden curbs to New York City.  His schooner, used to ship
> the wood across the Hudson, was named "Charming Polly," which, I
> assume, was his wife's name (I don't think, even then, they named
> boats after parrots); not as bad as either Unity or Yancey, but still
> too old fashioned for my taste.
>
>
>
> My neighbors got onto the fray during the weekly Steeler (you know,
> that pro football team that is going to win its fifth Super Bowl this
> season) game party.  Aside from a strong endorsement for "Passing
> Wind," (11-year old boys have certain "issues," but sure know how to
> do the double meaning thing), a couple of stupid motorboat names came
> up.  Someone suggested "Bag-O-Beer," which is what we all carry to the
> Steeler party host house each week.  Unless we want to entertain
> naming the boat "Heinz Ward," or "The Bus," or "Tommy Maddox," I don't
> think there is much hope for genuine boat naming help from the
> neighborhood.
>
>
>
> Which gets me to the point, finally!  Since the Kingsland's have all
> winter to decide, I think it is only appropriate to make the name
> selection process a little harder, and would like to do some research
> using data provided by Albergers (no buns for the Atkins folks).
> Would you all please be kind enough to send me a story about a boat
> name (or two, three...)?  I am interested in knowing about how you,
> and/or your friends, came up with the name(s) for your boat(s).  For
> Example, Gord Laco is the technical consultant for the new movie by
> Fox based on Patrick O'Brien's historical fiction series about the
> Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.  His A30 (#426) is named
> "Surprise," which was the name of the central figure's favorite
> command, a fast frigate.   I have a friend whose boats have all been
> named after towns in Nantucket (Siasconset, Sankaty, Quidnet) and a
> sister whose many yellow labs had names starting with the letter "T"
> (Tavner, Tuffy, Treetorn, Terra, Tyler, Trevor, Tickles).
>
>
>
> Although suggestions for boat names are certainly welcome, I am most
> interested in the stories behind the names; the raison d'etre (why do
> the French have to eat raisins to come up with an idea).  I would also
> be interested in any humorous names you have seen, even if you don't
> know their origins.  I have found the transoms of motorboats are often
> a good source.  Basically, anything you would like to share regarding
> names will be valuable and will help give us direction and purpose.
>
>
>
> Your help in solving the Kingsland family naming dilemma this fall and
> winter would be greatly appreciated.  If you prefer a private
> response, my email is rkingsland101 at ksba.com.
>
>
>
> Thank you, thank you very much,
>
>
>
> Roger Kingsland
> Chief Financial Officer (AKA, check writer)
> Mahina Manu, A30 #148
> N40°  29.288'
> W79°  54.228'
>
> Author's Disclaimer; This email was produced exclusively by the sender
> and, in the interest of expediency, without the benefit of editing by
> others.  The sender, thank goodness, is a much better architect/sailor
> than speller/editor and, frankly, constantly laments an obvious flaw
> in "spell check," it does not know what the author is thinking.
> Please accept the sender's sincere apologies for any "typos" that may
> appear in this document.  If present, they are certainly unintended
> and hopefully do not cloud the message, or spawn any unnecessary
> lawsuits.
>
>  +---------------------------------------------------------------+ |
>
>            This Old Boat by Don Casey                     | |
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
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 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
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