A Boat has no Name

May 27, 2016 8:01 AM

I bought a new-to-me Bayliner 175 identical to the one featured in this old promo pic. It's my first boat and I'm thrilled. But what's its name?

Factors that might matter...

The boat is 17.5 feet long with an I/O 3 liter Mercury engine. It's powerful enough to take people tubing or waterskiing, but mostly it will be used for puttering around and perhaps a little fishing. Unlike the pic, my boat also has a matching blue Bimini top and removable rain surround.

This will be my boat. Mr. Carmicha does not like "stink pots" and may never set foot on it. I'm fine with that; it's germane only because getting this boat was an especially big deal to me.

We have an armada of sailboats and rowing boats, but none with names except for White Squall, a very fast boat with a moniker inspired by the Stan Rogers song. Wind and weather names are out, because I don't want to step on that turf.

The boat will never see salt water.

Skip puns, unless they're really subtle. For example, I briefly considered Luna but rejected it as too close to LunaSea

The name does not have to be female or human. It can be a place name, character trait, animal, etc.

I have seen this thread and my friends have all suggested BoatyMcBoatface.

Names under consideration: Moxie (the trait, not the product), Dauntless (or Undaunted), Avalon (home of the Lady of the Lake and I love the Roxy Music album). I'm open to the worlds of sea sprites, gods, etc. but I'm mindful of cultural appropriation. Hope me, hive mind!

posted by carmicha to Grab Bag (33 answers total)

The (pan galactic) gargle blaster.

I also have an armada of small sailboats. It's fun to name them too! I hope your next question involves naming your armada.
posted by slateyness at 8:22 AM on May 27, 2016

If you're going to go with a Hitchhiker's Guide reference, you might as well go for Heart of Gold.
posted by misterbrandt at 8:27 AM on May 27, 2016

Came in to say Heart of Gold. Can't ask a question like that around here without expecting that answer. (Which, by the way, is 42)
posted by bluejayway at 8:38 AM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]

new-to-me Bayliner ... Skip puns, unless they're really subtle

Is Michael subtle enough? You can always swear up and down that you named it after the archangel who casts Satan out of heaven.

Vaguely like Moxie or Dauntless but sillier: Chutzpah. The Royal Navy will have a long list of ships named after sentiments like Dauntless. Can I suggest against Dauntless, though, which sounds like you were thinking of the Divergent books/movies?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:39 AM on May 27, 2016

So, Seaward is out then?
posted by The Bellman at 8:40 AM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

looks like a Blunder Bus to me
posted by H. Roark at 8:42 AM on May 27, 2016

If it has the same style and paint markings, then it looks really 90s to me and I'd call it something like Pop Rocks or Fruit Stripe to evoke that time and some fun nostalgia.
posted by rmless at 8:49 AM on May 27, 2016

Serendipity
posted by Julnyes at 9:04 AM on May 27, 2016

The True Love (my, she'll be yar!)
posted by argonauta at 9:17 AM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

I love the Roxy Music album

The Ferry? Or maybe the Ferryboat?
posted by miles per flower at 9:51 AM on May 27, 2016

In the same vein: Ferryman?
posted by kindall at 9:55 AM on May 27, 2016

Glinda, because witches are unsinkable, and she is the Good Witch of the North.
posted by jamjam at 9:56 AM on May 27, 2016

Nimue is a common name for the lady of the Lake.
posted by cardboard at 9:58 AM on May 27, 2016

S.S. Danny Glover
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:07 AM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

It's an important boat to you, so let its name suggest that. How about Meed, or Accomplishment, or Reward, or Fulfillment or Award or Success. Even Mine might work in a jokey way.

I realize most of those aren't great names, but I think instead of being an homage to something else or a cute pun, you need a name that reflects what this boat signifies to you.
posted by sardonyx at 10:12 AM on May 27, 2016

Mr. Mxyzptlk, and when Mr. Carmicha finally wants to get aboard and have some fun, he has to say it backwards.
posted by jenkinsEar at 10:14 AM on May 27, 2016

It's my first boat and I'm thrilled.

Sturgeon Bae
posted by mal de coucou at 10:40 AM on May 27, 2016

Albatross or (hehe) Gooney Bird.
posted by MoseyMe at 11:08 AM on May 27, 2016

Based on your title, the name of your boat is The Needle.
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 AM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]

... or "The Pointy End"
posted by runincircles at 11:19 AM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Looks like a "Cerulean" to me.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 11:25 AM on May 27, 2016

Clippy
posted by pantufla_milagrosa at 11:56 AM on May 27, 2016

I would name it StormOut, and every time I used it, I would say that I was Ridin' the Storm Out.

(edited to fix URL)
posted by OrangeDisk at 12:04 PM on May 27, 2016

Moxie is going.

I'd consider names evoking upbeat emotions such as Cheers, HiLite, Freedom, etc.
posted by SemiSalt at 2:40 PM on May 27, 2016

I think your husband would appreciate it more if you named it Stink Pot.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:52 PM on May 27, 2016

Response by poster: Moxie is going. - SemiSalt

Can you complete this thought? Thanks!
posted by carmicha at 3:56 PM on May 27, 2016

Cockchafer
posted by furtive at 4:00 PM on May 27, 2016

Moxie is good. Autocorrect strikes again.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:02 PM on May 27, 2016

Evermore.

Cf: I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon / Waiting for the eastern glow ~Led Zeppelin, 'Battle of Evermore'
posted by mal de coucou at 5:43 PM on May 27, 2016

Multipass
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:49 PM on May 27, 2016

See, based on the title and the more inside, my first thought was Noboaty.

But it sounds like you don't want something that goofy. So I'd agree with sardonyx that you need something true to how you feel. What about Joy or Thrill? Then you could go out joyriding or for a thrill ride.
posted by Night_owl at 10:10 PM on May 27, 2016

Response by poster: Another name under consideration that goes to Night owl's comment: E Ticket as in "E-Ticket Ride." My first name starts with E, as does my company name and its logo includes a stylized e. e is my favorite constant. However, I worry that it will be construed as "electronic ticket" or as a reference to ecstasy. When I lived in LA I once saw a fast car with a vanity plate reading E Ticket and it stuck with me. Do people know what it means nowadays?
posted by carmicha at 6:35 AM on May 28, 2016

Given your update, how about The Mox-E?*

Or Moxie Ticket?

Or simply The Little e?


*Reminds me of The Sloop John B, too -- in a good way!
posted by argonauta at 8:59 AM on May 28, 2016