Whats your opinion?

[GFC]

Originally Posted by toocoys

...Wonder if I should go back to the drawing board.

I would.

Pick a name that means something to you, is easy to say and hear on the VHF, easy to remember by other boats and NOT easily misunderstood.

Beachcomber, for example. It fits all the above criteria.

[toocoys]

Originally Posted by GFC

I would.

Pick a name that means something to you, is easy to say and hear on the VHF, easy to remember by other boats and NOT easily misunderstood.

Beachcomber, for example. It fits all the above criteria.

Yeah but there for umpteen thousand boats named "beachcomber" in the database. It's like naming a boat "aquaholic". Very unoriginal. In fact, there's a "beachcomber" that resides in the marina nextdoor and leads every boat parade in our area.

[Wayfarer]

Of those three, I'd pick the third. I like the name. I don't think I've ever seen it on any other boat, and originality is a good thing.

[AZ2Loop]

The name has meaning to you, so that's good. It's just 2 syllables, so that's pretty easy. It's uncommon in our language, so you may have to spell it a lot. When you need to do so it is only 4 letters, so that's pretty simple. I would pick a font that is very easy to read and I would also drop the accent marks -- again, just to make it easier to read.

[Sparks5501]

I like the boku, but the dots over the u make it look like 2 i's. I think the third one is good without the dots. A darker color for the letters would stand out more and be visible from a distance. I renamed my boat. Here is the name we designed. Her contrasting color was Hunter green with gray highlights. Turned out great.

[ben2go]

I am an over opinionated bastid so here's mine.

[psneeld]

Go with it, but I like darker/more contrast.


After 35 years on the radio between the USCG and assistance towing actually trying to find boats with less than common names.... BOKU is not all that bad.... exact spelling is't important as long as it "hearing" it and re-transmitting it is easy....even if the ultimate spelling isn't.


But I can understand peoples concern over it....I would guess all of us that have heard the occasional rescue where it sounds like a Marx Brothers Movie.

[twistedtree]

Originally Posted by Arc

I just think names should be as legible as possible. Art is ok but could backfire when identification is needed in poor conditions

I agree. This is one of my pet peeves with boat lettering and graphics. The boat name needs to be easily readable, and many are not. If I have to look at the name for more than a second or two through binocs to figure out what it says, then there is a problem. I think what you have is at best borderline. And that’s about the graphics, not the name. The name is fine.

One suggestion would be to separate the lettering for the name from the graphic. Then the name can be shown in a simple, clear font, and the graphic logo can stand on its own.

Or another idea would be to use a simple font on the transom for the required name, and use your graphic on the sides where displaying the name is optional.

[Bacchus]

You did not mention if the boat was going to be documented or not... if so I'd suggest reviewing the reqmts for name & more importantly home port.
I dont think any of the home port choices would meet doc reqmts.
Clear Legibility at a distance is a valid comment IMO

[psneeld]

For rec vessels...it doen't really matter... I can clearly make out BOKU (except for the ones with the extras over the letters which could be out of reg)...and MANY rec boat names, through the years I couldn't venture to even guess the spelling because of the font or graphics.


I think the basic requirements are it can be seen and using Arabic style letters...but BLOCK is only required (and often ignored) on commercial vessels (so I am not absolutely sure that is true).

[O C Diver]

Legibility is one of my pet peeves. Really don't understand why people feel the need to make a game out or trying to determine a vessel's name through graphics, and frilly lettering. The object of the name on the stern of your vessel is to have someone be able to easily determine it and contact you over the radio. Often conditions aren't optimal, rain, fog, glare, or low light level. FWIW, the requirements are spelled out pretty clearly in the USCG regulations. Wish they would enforce them. Here's your ticket for being a PIA.

Ted

[twistedtree]

Originally Posted by psneeld

For rec vessels...it doen't really matter... I can clearly make out BOKU (except for the ones with the extras over the letters which could be out of reg)...and MANY rec boat names, through the years I couldn't venture to even guess the spelling because of the font or graphics.


I think the basic requirements are it can be seen and using Arabic style letters...but BLOCK is only required (and often ignored) on commercial vessels (so I am not absolutely sure that is true).

Regardless of the requirements, I think it's a courtesy to other boats to display an easily legible name. It's no different from manning the VHF, which unfortunately many people don't do either. I have the same gripe with boats where the tender is hauled up on the transom and blocks an otherwise legible name. The best solution I've seen to that is to replicate the name of the boat in lettering on the bottom of the tender so the tender becomes a flip-up sign. Simple, yet effective.

[JLD]

I would opt for number 3, as the letters are easier to make out. I would also agree with the comments that the name color should be darker to be more legible at a distance.

Boat names can be challenging. I have a 15' West Wight Potter that I named "Coqui". A coqui is a small frog in Puerto Rico that has a loud mating call. It's beloved on the island and has been a part of the Puerto Rican culture since the native Taino people. As my little boat brought me a lot of joy, I named it "Coqui" and have a frog as part of the graphics. On the Big Island of Hawaii, however, coquis are an invasive species with few natural predators and are considered a pest and are part of an eradication campaign!

Jim

[OldDan1943]

Hmmmm, maybe I will use 8 inch black letter and rename my boat FRED.

[OldDan1943]

One can put the name of their boat on the aft starboard side.
I have seen it done.

[psneeld]

I agree about legibility.. ..I have block letters, have a separate sign with name & homeoort that comply with size because of my dingy, man my radio, laugh at silly names, etc, etc..



But I know most boaters aren't serious boaters.... Pretty over functional, easy over safe, cheap over reliable, fun over technical, popular over traditional, etc, etc...



Most survive their lifetime of boating, rescuers find them in time, etc...etc...


Again, while it still bothers me a tad....even the USCG doesn't seem to find it necessary to change the rules.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by OldDan1943

One can put the name of their boat on the aft starboard side.
I have seen it done.

Eibher or both sides is OK.

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Eibher or both sides is OK.

I was thinking starboard side because my helm is on the starboard side.
I do have the name and hailing port on the stern but that is blocked when the RIB is in the davits.

I do have name boards on either side of the house.

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by psneeld

I agree about legibility..

But I know most boaters aren't serious boaters.... Pretty over functional, easy over safe, cheap over reliable, fun over technical, popular over traditional, etc, etc...

I say 'get over it'. Put the BIG black letters on the stern. The USCG does specify 'a contrasting color'. So if you have a black hull, better use white.

I personally find it difficult to read red letters.

[psneeld]

Your helm position really doesn't have much to do where a name goes....

And "contrast" is in the "eye" of an LEO, then the hearing officer.


If it were that "black and white", the regs may state just that.