# Name a boat **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596 "2000-12-28T23:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/1 "2000-12-28T23:58:59Z")
My brother-in-law has bought a boat that was damaged in a storm earlier this year while it was docked in a marina. It needs extensive repairs but will eventually be seaworthy. He wants to give the boat a new name which tells the story of its past: how it was a wreck that rose again like a phoenix from the ashes. Is there an account in any mythology of a “marine phoenix”? Can anyone suggest a good name that comes from myth, legend or anywhere at all? Thank you for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Upham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Upham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Upham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/2 "2000-12-29T00:20:29Z")
There’s an folk song about a boat being rased by her crew after her captain abandoned her, the name is Mary Ellen Carter (rise again, riseagain, that her name not be lost to the concience of men, like the Mary Ellen Carter rise again) There was also a US Sub named the Squalis which sank in the late 30’s. During the 2nd WW when the US was experienceing a Sub shortage in the Pacific it was raised (hopefull had the dead bodies taken out) and renamed the Sail Fish (though the crew knew what had happened to it and always called it the “Squailfish” Whatever you do, do NOT name it “Solitare” half the boats out there are called Solitare. The best boat name i ever heard was “Wet Dream” (what, it makes sence…) and named my own Stone Free (Jimi song) Other boats i know of and can remember at the moment that have been resurected are the Victory, the Constitution, the Hiada, the Sackville, Wasa (or Vasa), Marie Celest (spooky story there…), and, an onld friend of mine, the Black Duck. Anyway, that’s all i can do for ya, later later Upham ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/3 "2000-12-29T00:21:55Z")
Why not something simple like “Sea Phoenix”? ---
**Author:** ![Upham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Upham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Upham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/4 "2000-12-29T00:23:36Z")
Hell, why not just Phoenix? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/5 "2000-12-29T00:36:12Z")
Several of the battleships sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor were re-floated and went on to finish the war, notably the [_California_](http://www.greatwhitefleet.org/battleship/44.html). She, along with other Pearl veterans, managed to extract some small amount of revenge at the Battle of Surigao Straight, where she helped sink the battleships _Fuso_ and _Yamashiro_. Or, you can have a brand new one built under the guise of “refurbishing” the old, actually use a couple of the old pieces, and name it the _Constellation_. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/6 "2000-12-29T00:44:34Z")
From mythology, try this: [Alcyone - Halcyon](http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/a/alcyone.html) I can’t think of any resurrecting water beasts/gods. Other possibilities: [Apu-Hau](http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/a/apu-hau.html) [Pariacaca](http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/p/pariacaca.html) ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/7 "2000-12-29T00:52:40Z")
Thank you - that’s great so far. I can’t wait to show my brother-in-law a printout when he gets back from holiday. It’s also great that no-one mentioned River or Joaquin. ---
**Author:** ![Upham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Upham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Upham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/8 "2000-12-29T01:18:23Z")
Hey, Sofa King, if i was to say Battle of Tushuma would that mean anything to you? just wondering if you’re as obsessed with Naval History as i am Upham ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/9 "2000-12-29T01:25:33Z")
How about the “Flying Dutchman”? That’s the name of a ghost ship supposedly doomed to sail forever. It’s appearance is also believed to be a bad omen for sailors. Hmmm… Maybe it’s not such a good name after all… ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/10 "2000-12-29T01:39:12Z")
My parents’ boat is called Phoenix. Their old boat perished in a fire, so they got a new one and called it Phoenix. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/11 "2000-12-29T01:45:59Z")
Um, the Sea + Phoenix. Seanix? Nah, that’s stupid. I once had a pontoon boat named My Moustache. Can anyone think of the obvious pun? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/12 "2000-12-29T01:59:49Z")
I’m definitely capping the T tonight. And with a name like **Upham** , I suppose you are, too. After citing my suggestion to **G. Nome** , I got totally sucked back into an [article on Leyte Gulf](http://www.battleship.org/html/Articles/History/Leyte0.htm). Interestingly, the _California_ actually benefitted from its sinking, as it was refitted with a sophisticated fire-control radar upon being rebuilt, which allowed it to heap dozens of tons of shellfire before many of the other battlewagons could acquire targets. One of the other Pearl veterans, _Maryland_, zeroed in on the miss-splashes from the _West Virginia_ which were tall enough to appear on its own radar, while the Japanese ships were invisible. _West Virginia_ was the other “sinker” from Pearl who was there, and also had the best radar. As a clarification, the _Yamashiro_ was literally broken in half by torpedoes before it could fully fall into the American trap; but the _Fuso_ bought it hard at the hands of its contemporaries, the old battleships. But hey, this is G. Nome’s thread. 'Nome, please don’t name a boat _West Virginia_. It’s never seen the sea. And, it’s a nice place, but you wouldn’t want to live there. ---
**Author:** ![Upham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Upham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Upham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/13 "2000-12-29T05:06:24Z")
hahaha, good call on the name man. I always heard it as Crossing your T, but anyway it was outdated by Jutland… The thing that always pissed me off about Pearl Harbor is none of the Aircraft Carriers were there and all that was in harbor were ships like the Nevada… kinda run down old battlewagons with the basket weave mast. I’ve heard the Americans had broken the Japanese Purple code and didn’t want it too look so How do i get ahold of you with out hijacking other people’s threads? Upham ---
**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/14 "2000-12-29T05:22:22Z")
Resurection, how about that? ---
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/15 "2000-12-29T05:32:41Z")
How about Lazarus? He died and was raised from the dead. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/16 "2000-12-29T07:38:45Z")
**Ye Gods, man, are you daft?** You never, _ever_ rename a boat, it’s [bad luck](http://www.globalpsychics.com/lp/Superstition/boat.htm)!! And if you must, never end a boat’s name in the letter “A”, or she’s bound for Davey Jones locker for sure. A few others: [ul] [li]Never whistle in the wheelhouse, you could whistle up a storm.[/li][li]Say your prayers if you find a sewing pin aboard – it can cause your hull to leak, your lines to break or your nets to rip open.[/li][li]Never throw a mop or bucket overboard.[/li][li]Never [eat bananas](http://www.azinet.com/captjim/bananas.htm) aboard a boat.[/li][li]Words that should never be spoken while at sea include: egg, knife, minister and church. Never, ever have a clergyman aboard your boat. In fact, you’ll court certain disaster if he even stands next to it.[/li][li]Don’t cut your fingernails or hair while under way. A deadly storm surely will follow. Also, if you cut your hair during a rising tide, you’ll catch a cold.[/li][li]If a blue vein runs across the bridge of your nose, you may drown, unless you were born on a Sunday, in which case you’re in the clear.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/17 "2000-12-29T09:25:03Z")
In Ranma 1/2 the movie (An anime flick), The character Kuno has at his disposal a “Family vessel” (It turns out to be a tiny little rowboat) called Sub-Dragon the 5th. (If I remember correctly) I always thought that was a cool name for a boat. Even if you didn’t have 1 through 4. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/18 "2000-12-29T15:26:14Z")
How 'bout something cool like **Poseidon’s Revenge** or **Neptune’s Vengeance**? [hijack] **Ashtar** , I LOVE Ranma 1/2! Of all my hubby’s anime movies, the Ranma’s are the only ones I’ll watch. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/19 "2000-12-29T15:36:15Z")
Never spit into a wind, one you get your own back and two you get becalmed. Never do anything important in the building and commissioning of a ship on a friday, this is very bad luck. I heard a tale of the Royal Navy deciding to put this tale to rest by breaking all these rules from signing the order for construction, laying the keel, and launching on fridays. It was even named HMS Friday. It sank on its maiden voyage. Here is one version, halfway down the page, [http://www.halifaxmagazine.com/aug99/fri13th.htm](http://www.halifaxmagazine.com/aug99/fri13th.htm) and y’might like this me hearties, [http://www.nmcrclosangeles.navy.mil/NavyTerm.htm#friday](http://www.nmcrclosangeles.navy.mil/NavyTerm.htm#friday) ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596/20 "2000-12-30T06:15:45Z")
Thank you very much for your help. I’ll print this out now and make use of it. Although my imagination is undoubtedly working overtime the boat looks to me a little bit like the one Natalie Wood met her death on. There was a picture of it in Vanity Fair recently. If I was going to be superstitious at all (in keeping with the seafarers here) it would be to hope my sister doesn’t have one hissy fit too many at sea. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-boat/47596.md?page=2)