# Congratulations gift for a Navy ship captain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064 "2011-03-01T15:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/1 "2011-03-01T15:14:34Z")
I know someone who is soon taking command of a US Navy ship. A rather notable ship, in fact. He’s a pretty big deal, and I’m very happy for him. My question is, are there any traditional gifts for someone taking command of a Navy ship? My fallback plan would be to send him a simple handwritten note of congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/2 "2011-03-01T15:18:19Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I know someone who is soon taking command of a US Navy ship. A rather notable ship, in fact. He’s a pretty big deal, and I’m very happy for him. > > My question is, are there any traditional gifts for someone taking command of a Navy ship? My fallback plan would be to send him a simple handwritten note of congratulations. If his ship was christened in the traditional fashion (hot babe flinging champagne bottle) see if you can find another bottle of that champagne, or failing that, get an autographed picture of the ‘hot babe’ on Ebay. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/3 "2011-03-01T15:19:26Z")
(Hope it wasn’t Barbara Bush I was referring to as a ‘hot babe’) ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/4 "2011-03-01T15:25:29Z")
I don’t know what’s traditional, but if you could find something related to that ship it’d probably be cool. Ship in a bottle, ship figurine, picture of that ship on its maiden voyage, etc. ---
**Author:** ![FasterThanMeerkats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@FasterThanMeerkats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FasterThanMeerkats)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/5 "2011-03-01T15:54:40Z")
[Aircraft carrier in a bottle?](http://www.seafarer.netfirms.com/2/jfk.htm) Don’t know if you could buy one straight off Ebay, but maybe you could “commission” one for the new captain? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/6 "2011-03-01T17:21:26Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I know someone who is soon taking command of a US Navy ship. A rather notable ship, in fact. He’s a pretty big deal, and I’m very happy for him. > > My question is, are there any traditional gifts for someone taking command of a Navy ship? My fallback plan would be to send him a simple handwritten note of congratulations. What ship? mrAru might be able to make some suggestions, although ship memorabilia is a good suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/7 "2011-03-01T17:27:41Z")
On the lighter side, a pair of ball bearings - to remind him how NOT to command? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/8 "2011-03-01T17:33:14Z")
Maybe some maritime antique, like an old sextant or chronometer. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/9 "2011-03-01T18:00:02Z")
A personal flotation device. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/10 "2011-03-01T18:03:49Z")
Go to a movie auction and purchase the whip from Mutiny on the Bounty . . . ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/11 "2011-03-01T19:27:49Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > On the lighter side, a pair of ball bearings - to remind him how NOT to command? LOL, might have to get him a copy of that movie … > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Maybe some maritime antique, like an old sextant or chronometer. Very good suggestion 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/12 "2011-03-01T19:39:35Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > A personal flotation device. Ding Ding ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/13 "2011-03-01T19:52:40Z")
[http://shipslocker.com/index.php?main\_page=index&cPath=73&zenid=42699097f5ce75666561f11dce8000ea](http://shipslocker.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=73&zenid=42699097f5ce75666561f11dce8000ea) ::shrug:: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/14 "2011-03-01T19:58:00Z")
A smooth-skinned cabin boy. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/15 "2011-03-01T19:58:37Z")
A bag of used corks. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/16 "2011-03-01T20:03:17Z")
Ok, so I’m generally taking it that there’s no traditional gift for a captain, that I can pretty much use my imagination. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be an eyepatch involved… how much do peg legs go for these days? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/17 "2011-03-01T20:24:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Ok, so I’m generally taking it that there’s no traditional gift for a captain, that I can pretty much use my imagination. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be an eyepatch involved… how much do peg legs go for these days? If you go that route, don’t forget the parrot. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/18 "2011-03-02T01:44:42Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > On the lighter side, a pair of ball bearings - to remind him how NOT to command? I vote for the ball bearings. If a man can not laugh at himself then he should sit in a room alone. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/19 "2011-03-02T02:05:46Z")
I’m not following the whole ball bearing thing. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064/20 "2011-03-02T02:07:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m not following the whole ball bearing thing. It’s a reference to the movie, _The Caine Muntiny_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-gift-for-a-navy-ship-captain/573064.md?page=2)