Boat names can reveal a lot about the owner’s personality, passion, and life experiences. A boat is more than just a vessel used to travel on water. It’s a home, a way of life, and an escape from the drudgeries of work life for a lot of people. And for hardcore boaters, naming their boat is a rite of passage. You certainly wouldn’t want to invest your time and money into buying a boat and then pick a name carelessly without mulling it over. After all, one should choose a name that has a special meaning to them, but be careful not to select one that is too long and obscure. Ideally, if you want to give a personalized name to your 469 Stacer Outlaw, it should be short, memorable, and easy on the ears, especially when an emergency strikes.

Make It Short and Sweet

A boat name that is straight to the point and short makes it easier for everyone to remember. After all, “Sailor Meow” is easier to recall (and funny) compared to “Lucky Aries Cherish Opal Thyme Boat”. Aside from being easy to remember, a short boat name is important when you get into an emergency. If you’re calling for assistance over the VHF radio, you will have to spell out your vessel’s name. A long boat name will make it hard for the other person at the end of the line to understand the name and you need to repeat what you’ve said. Some examples of short boat names include “Zephyr”, “Atlantis”, “Wayfarer” “Odyssey”, “SS Opportunity”, “Vitamin Sea”, “Jawesome”, “Misty”, etc.

Make It Funny

Tap your mind for creative ideas and keep it fun and comical when naming your vessel. Use puns, or skew the title of your favorite song, TV show, or movie that will have a more nautical-themed name. Whatever silly name you’ve come up with, just remember to have fun and find one that suits you. Some funny boat names include: “Midlife Criseas”, “Sick and Tide” “Kids Inheritance” “Hydrotherapy”, “Sea Ya Later”, “Knot Working”, “License To Chill”, “Krill-Minal”, “Ex-squid-sit” “Rest Ashored” and “Rock Bottom”, just to name a few.

Consider Using Your Loved One’s Name

Many boat owners name their vessels after significant others, children, parents, loved ones, and even pets. This is always a sweet gesture and a popular choice among boat owners. If you’re stumped on coming up with a creative boat name, you can think of the names of the people closest to you for inspiration.

Use Your Line of Work To Name Your Vessel

Some boat owners prefer that their boat name reflect their passion for their line of work, while others prefer a tongue-in-cheek approach and incorporate how boating allows them to escape all the stresses on land. If you have a passion for your business or your hustle, naming your boat after it can also serve as free advertising. Examples include “Out of Office”, “In A Meeting”, “Docks Orders”, “Family Affair”, “No Signal”, “Charter School”, “Seafaring Selfie”, “Legal Tender”, “Strike and Release”, “The Musician”, etc.  

Be Original

At the end of the day, what matters the most is just be yourself and be original. Reflect your boat’s name to who you are as an individual.

Make It Official

Decide where you will put the name of your boat. Make sure it is located somewhere visible and, in an area, where it won’t get wet by the water. Don’t place the name of the boat where you prop your Yamaha boat engine. We suggest you choose a large and open area on the boat. It’s up to you if you want the lettering job done by a professional or you can order the vinyl letters and apply them yourself or paint the name by yourself. If you’re doing the job yourself, make sure not to wax your vessel prior to putting on your new lettering. The adhesive will not stick to the wax. Make sure to also apply the letters when the boat is out of the water. Of course, it will be difficult on your part and the water splashes will keep the adhesive from sticking on the boat and might even damage its sticky texture.