From the article, “The solution for some is simply to stop paying on Jersey Dreamin’ or Just Do It or Bally Hoo.”  I know there are a lot of boat dicks on High-Street so maybe they can explain why boat names seem like they come from the biggest douchebags on the planet.  Or is it that the increased number of letters, (compared to a vanity plate) just allows the inherent lameness and stupidity of people to really shine?  It makes me smile to see their bathtub toys repossessed.

phoQ wrote:

maybe they can explain why boat names seem like they come from the biggest douchebags on the planet.

You've answered your own question.

Sail boats for me as a kid meant sea food, transportation, escape and on rare occasion, plunder. Usually alcohol. Names, or other identifiable markings were my absolute last concern. I've long since marched my oars inland until someone asked what they were.

Can't speak for the others but I read way, way too many sea stories.

I have to agree that naming boats seems to bring out the douchebag in most people.

I discussed this article with Husband™, who first shed a couple faux tears for these poor, poor impecuniates who are getting their boats repo'ed, and then we started talking about stupid boat names.

I said that if I were ever to buy a boat--which will never, ever, ever happen--I'd paint "The Boat" on the boat's ass just to piss off the blue-blazering crowd; to which Husband™ responded that I'd have to spell it "B-O-T-E;" to which I responded that in that case, I'd have to spell "The" as "D-A."

If you ever see DA BOTE go cruising past you on the water, it'll be me, and I'll have gone completely insane.

Ah don't always be the critics guys. There are only so many good names out there to name your fleet of bikini girl fishing charters.

Something about boats brings out the yahoo factor, you should see the names they come up with in Florida. That said, almost none of the people I have worked for have ever named their power or sail yachts something moronic. Although one fellow, the owner of a popular national food chain, selected for his 10 million dollar racing sailboat a spanish name he thought meant "very macho men". Unfortunately on his inaugural race to Mexico he found all the locals in the harbor and dockside bars snickering as they walked past. Turns out the word in Mexico sometimes designates a macho man of a very different flavor.

... Owners found they could not sell a boat for what they owed and could not refinance either.

The solution for some is simply to stop paying...

The depreciation of yachts even in a good economy is so precipitous that as soon as you buy it you owe much more than you could ever get for it used, often 50 or 60 percent more. The default scenario was in full swing even during the boom years.

It will be interesting to see if we see a rash of scuttlings of the really expensive yachts. Back in the 1990s recession this was a common way out of a loan. But the insurance industry fought back and put an end to that business as usual. I remember one guy who thought he would be safe if he sunk his multimillion dollar yacht in 800 feet off Washington and jump in the liferaft. The insurance company paid hundreds of thousands to raise the yacht and drum up a case to prossecute the hapless fellow.

On the other hand, give the used market for boats about a year and the finance companies will be seriously desperate to unload the unsold inventory. If there ever were a time in our lifetime to sell it all and cruise around the world it is coming up.

Last edited by Johnny_Rotten (2008-05-20 03:24:15)

Johnny_Rotten wrote:

Ah don't always be the critics guys. There are only so many good names out there to name your fleet of bikini girl fishing charters.

Something about boats brings out the yahoo factor, you should see the names they come up with in Florida. That said, almost none of the people I have worked for have ever named their power or sail yachts something moronic. Although one fellow, the owner of a popular national food chain, selected for his 10 million dollar racing sailboat a spanish name he thought meant "very macho men". Unfortunately on his inaugural race to Mexico he found all the locals in the harbor and dockside bars snickering as they walked past. Turns out the word in Mexico sometimes designates a macho man of a very different flavor.

So you're saying he put the "mar" in "maricon"?