“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

In painting the Bill Collector and the Sensation on the Morehead City waterfront, I began to ponder the naming of vessels – one of the most enduring traditions of the sea. (After all, you have to think of something when you paint!)  I love the “play on words” when a captain names a boat. Boats are historically named after women.

I’m hoping that the Titanic was not named after a woman. However, I do know of a certain boat, Tritanic, which was named by three brothers whose previous boat, sank (or more appropriately - was sunk.)

So, as I mentioned, many boats are named after women: Maggie, Peggy, Caroline, Ava D, Sandra D, Annie C, Barbara B, Jeanie B, Miss Tammy, Miss Judy, Lady Sarah, Lady Faye, Lady Barbara, Bluewater Lady, Fight-N-Lady, Carolina Lady, Carolina Princess, Kristy Kay, Island Girl, Callie Girl, Diamond Girl, and Georgy Girl.

Times have changed, of course. And the selection of a boat name can be an art form such as the following:  Pelagic- Greek for “open sea;” Serefe -Turkish for “cheers;” Apsara - female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; Avra – Greek for ”breeze;” Halcyon - an adjective meaning calm, peaceful or tranquil; and Styrbjörn - Old Norse for “the strong.”

Then there are those that Jimmy Buffet might like, such as It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Impulse, Dancin’ Outlaw, and  Kee West. For those who prefer country music, George Jones’ voice comes alive on Hello Darlin’.

Boat names also seem to be derived from happy experiences during their summer escapes. Consider the following:  Release, Islander, Carolina Time, Inspiration, Great Escape, Magic Moment, Reel Dreams, Some Kinda Good and No Problem.

With a name like Frayed Knot, Cardinal Sin or Never Easy, you wonder if boaters’ feel a bit guilty for having so much fun on the open water.

The Beagle is the only boat I have seen with his own mascot.

Then there are those who just can’t help but take a little of their work with them. I’m guessing that Miss Calculation is probably owned by a CPA, Mental Floss by a dentist, Wet Floors by people in the floor business, Bobbin by a textile mill, Megabyte by a computer geek, Class Action by a lawyer,  Citation by a policeman, Miss Demeanor by a judge or policeman, Welder’s Ark by a welding company, Chainlink by a fence company, Frequent Flyer by a traveling businessman, and Resuscitation by a doctor.

My theory is that the Penta Gone from Chesapeake, VA works for the Pentagon.

There are names that are derived from the names of captains and boat owners. Examples include:  Captain Phillips for the Phillips family, Dun Rite for the Dun family, MoBoat for Amo, Jim Dandy for Jim, Tailwalker for the Walker family, Fishinnant for the Hinneant family, James Joyce II for James Joyce, Reel Jim for Jim, Haphazard for Hap, and Bizzy B for the Bizzell family. The one where I was privy to spend most of my boating hours was ARKangel, a play on my husband’s initials and his saintly nickname.

I am not sure that I would want to run into Rodeo or Safari on the open waters.

“Sea” appears to be the most popular name:  Sea Striker, Sea Spud, Sea|Sea, Sea Toy, Sea Hag, Seaweed, Sea Creature, and Sea Dancer II. There are boat names that relate specifically to fishing: Offshore, Yellowfin, Marlin and Marlin Fever.

I am completely confused by Pig Rig.

There are those boats whose captains I imagine push the envelope a bit: Wet-N-Wild, Skirt Chaser, Outlaw, Reel Affair, Risky Business, Strip Teaser, Knot Accountable, Hooligan and Piracy.

There’s a boat called Dawg Haus, which could be a guy who seeks the ship’s refuge when he is not getting along with his wife.

If I were giving a prize for the most clever boat name, It would have to be Fahr Frum Wurken. I’m not sure if the owner is of German descent, or owns a Volkswagen, but he definitely has the right attitude toward relaxing unless, of course, the boat is actually not running.

Endorfin is also quite clever for the energetic fisherman.

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. (Perhaps this is why Neptune, still stands watch over the fishing boats on the Morehead City waterfront today.)

A special thanks to the Bill Collector, Captain Stephen Draughon and the Sensation, Captain Dale Britt of Morehead City, N.C. for allowing me to paint their boats.

———————————————————————————–

“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

Now Available:   Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, N.C.