Should You Name Your Pontoon?

I was recently asked if naming a boat was considered bad luck. I quickly chirped back that it actually might be considered bad luck not to name it! All superstitions aside, it really is up to you. And if you do decide you want to name your boat, I would like to offer at least one piece of sound advice. Women’s names are quite popular when choosing a boat name and if you decide to honor your spouse or girlfriend, make sure the boat is not old, ugly, in disrepair, neglected and undesirable. If you do this then you may be renaming your boat The Dog House since you could be living on it full-time. Just say’n.

Having walked many piers I have seen all kinds of boat names, some applicable, some tongue-in-cheek and some leaving me saying out loud, “What were they thinking?” But as common as boat naming is, I’m often surprised by how many pontoon owners choose not to name their boats. I have seen quite a few so there are some, but not at a high percentage rate like you see with yachts or larger boats.

I would highly encourage everyone to name their pontoon or any other type of vessel you may own. It adds a little character to your boat and often provides a small glimpse into your personality. The name could be a reflection of you, your interests, your hobbies, but ultimately it’s your choice.

While pontoons were once considered the “little brother” to other vessels in the marine industry, that’s clearly not the case today. The popularity and growth of the pontoon market continues to reach new highs as more people discover how effortlessly comfort and performance come together in the pontoon world. With more and more pontoons dominating the water, it’s time we started participating in more of the other traditions of boating, including naming our boats.

I did look to see if there were any official rules to naming that I should be aware of and I came across a few. The three specific rules to naming a boat are that the name cannot exceed 33 characters, it can’t sound like a distress signal, and it can’t contain obscene or profane language. Sounds simple enough. You just know that at some point someone who was trying to be clever came up with a boat name that quickly prompted these rules to be established. There’s always one.

With an unlimited amount of choices available, it would seem deciding on a name for your boat would be an easy feat. But that could actually be part of the problem. I’ve heard some parents say it was easier to name their children than their boat. That can’t be true, but it feels true.

Since the name chosen will become an extension of the captain, I would advise that you make sure it stands for something or has some type of a special meaning. This is no laughing matter; remember, the name chosen will forever be associated with the owner of the boat and should not be taken lightly.

One other unofficial rule: name your boat before or very soon after your maiden voyage. This typically involves some type of a gathering. Some boat owners have the naming or re-naming ceremony on the dock with the appropriate friends and family members along with the appropriate bubbly beverage. Personally, the first time I saw all the food, drinks and crowd I thought someone was getting married rather than a boat being christened. To a point I guess we are married to our boats. We are committed; we vow to take care of them. We choose them with great care and find one which meets our needs. Depending on your budget you may want to marry–I mean purchase–a low-maintenance pontoon or you may prefer a fixer-upper. Actually, some folks probably take more time, research and consideration in their nautical preferences than choosing a partner for life. But, back to the subject, just have fun…and try not to be the talk of the dock for all the wrong reasons.

Brady L. Kay,

Pontoon & Deck Boat Editor