In the days when long distance travel required boarding a boat, you might say, “I’m setting sail tomorrow on the Mayflower.” There’s only one Mayflower and everyone knew where to find it.
Historically, boat crews were traditionally male. Captains knew the importance of creating an emotional bond between his ship and his crew, and the vessel a feminine name helped instill those feelings of connection.
There always seems to be a story about how a boat got its name. There will be so many boats in Mercury Bay Harbour this coming weekend – over 490 of them, here to be part of the Kubota Classic, the world’s largest Billfish competition and each boat has a story about how it got its name.
The naming of a new boat is therefore an exercise in itself. If you are stuck for a starting point, perhaps some of these suggestions may help?
Knot 2 Bad, Empty Pockets, Knot Stolen, Knot Working, Marlin Monroe, Passing Wind, Tax Sea-Vation, Nauti Buoy, Reality Bites, Costaplenty, Weather Oar Knot, Island Time, A Loan At Sea, Drama Free, My Reel Life, Berth Control, She Got The House, Fish and Ships, Reel Secrets, Liquid Assett, Breaking Wind, Gone With The Wind, Knot Dry, Knot Craz Sea, Good Vibrations, Happy Hour, Rodfather, Therapy.
Maori names
Cruising the marinas or viewing launches travelling or at a mooring can be interesting when analyzing the names shown.
Many vessels have beautiful Maori names which may assist in naming a boat or interpreting a named boat.
Some could have a combination using these translations. Note there maybe local interpretations or variations to these interpretations by different iwi.
Awa –stream
Iti – small
Marino – calm
Moa – large
Ata – morning
Hinu – fat ,rich
Ki – full
Wai – water
Wera –hot
Nui – big
Waka –canoe
Tai – tide /the coast
Roa – long
Ao – cloud
Kara – beach
Kau – to swim
Tahi – one /single
Ma – stream
Mana – prestige
Tere – swift
Motu – island
Muri – breeze – the place of
Te – the
Papa – flat
Puke – hill
Rangi –sky
Roto – lakrua – two
