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How Owners Name their C36s
It seems the way owners name our boats involve some pretty interesting stories. If you've got a story to share on how your boat was names, email the Webmaster, and on the Subject line place Boat Name (or something similar).
Mahalo Lou
We have been sailing as a family ( 5 of us) for the last 4 years to adjust for a tragic loss to our family. We used to spend every Sunday visiting with my wife's dad (Lou) and had lots of family fun. Unfortunately he passed much sooner than any of us expected and when that happened a great void in our family activities appeared. We live on Long Island Sound and sailing was calling as a family activity to help fill this void. When we selected our first true family cruiser, a Catalina 30, the quest for finding a name was on. We considered many options but one item that was clear was that we wanted to name the boat in memory of "Grampie Lou". I don't recall for sure how we got to looking at Hawaiian words, but I believe it was driven by the beauty of the Hawaiian language. Low and behold we found just the word to say what we felt....Mahalo....which in Hawaiian means "Sincere Thanks". With little thought "Mahalo Lou" became the name of the boat. In 2006, when we bought our beautiful Catalina 36 there was no question but that "our" boat name was coming with us.
Blue Knight by Guido Drogemuller
Being a Police Officer I read all of the books written by Joseph Wambaugh. One of his books was titled "BLUE KNIGHT". When I purchased my Catalina 36 in 1986, it only stood to reason to name my boat "BLUE KNIGHT".
Blithe Spirit by Roland Burns
I am a retired professor of English and literature. My boat is named for the skylark in Shelley's "To A Skylark." The poem begins "Hail to thee Blithe Spirit. . . ." The aura of mystery and mastery that surrounds the bird in the poem inspired me in naming my boat. My 1999 C36MkII is the second boat that I have named Blithe Spirit. The first was a 1984 Pearson 34.
Roland Burns
#1762
Felicity by Helmut Kellermann
When I was a youngster, one of my boyhood heroes was a German World War I sailor named Felix Graf von Luckner who with his three-masted sailing ship called Seeadler destroyed a lot of tonnage without the loss of a single life. After the war he wrote three books about his exploits and went on a tour of speaking engagements around Europe and America. He was very popular in the USA, particularly New York.
Because Graf Luckner was my hero, I always had wanted to name my first son Felix. However,..... when I told my wife about that, she said that in America that name is synonymous with a cat and she was not about to have a son by that name. So, years later we got a cat and I finally got to name someone Felix. Felix was all white, was very loving and a great little cat and we enjoyed his company for 17 years.
So, when we came to naming our Catalina 36, I thought about a white cat and Felix came to mind. Of course, boats are females so we had to name her Felicity.
The definition of felicity is bliss or happiness, all good things to describe sailing or a sailboat. But wait, there is more. The Washington Post has a contest where readers are asked to come up with new definitions of existing words. My definition of Felicity is "Happiness to get out of town". Or, if you say Felicity real fast, it could sound like "Flee the city".
"Magic III" by Bill Miller
First let me say naming Magic III was easy. It was named after Magic II; which was named after the original Magic. The progression was Sunfish, Rhodes 19, Pearson 26, Catalina 30 and my present Catalina 36 . The first two were nameless. Which boat did I love the most? Can not say; I was completely obsessed and loved every one. As a kid in grade school in the late 40’s I would draw pictures of sail boats during class (maybe that is why I am a lousy speller). Also I would draw detailed pictures of dog fighting fighter planes. I even drew a design for the atomic bomb. My theory was you had to split atoms. So I had two needles sticking each other head on. Take that you atoms. I guess I had ADD. After 15 minutes of boring teachers I would start drawing pictures. Hey what’s wrong with that? In college I went to sleep! Needless to say I graduated Magna Com Lousy. (Or was it Magna com Lager?)
I read an essay by Thoreau many years ago. In it he described his amazement at sailing. Remember he lived in a one room shack on Walden Pond; not a really big sailing venue. In his first experience in sailing he was absolutely amazed that sail boats could sail up wind. He wrote, “Sailing is Magic”! I always remembered that. Most people when first introduced to sailing are amazed just as he was.
Naming a Yacht is not to be taken lightly. Back then I was studying for national exams and during my breaks I would write down long lists of names.
I have never been able to find that essay. I think it is buried in the middle of one of his other essays. If anyone should know the name of it and I will send you a gift certificate to West.
"Atalanta" owned by Jan Punt
Our Catalina 36 MkII (#1928) had to be renamed, after three years
of carrying the name of the company of which she had served the CEO.
In the same rhythm of the name 'Catalina' we re-baptized her 'Atalanta':
the butterfly (also known as the red admiral) dancing smoothly
through the waves.
"Diva Di" owned by Duane and Diane Ising
Shortly after buying our first-ever boat in May of 2004 (1999 Catalina 36), I wanted her to have a new name which reflected us personally. My wife's name is Diane and her friends and relatives usually call her Di. Because she has been called "spoiled" by those same folks, she also acquired the nickname "Diva." Our boat has recently been rechristened, "Diva Di" because I figure that both our boat and my wife compete for all my time and money ;)
"Amante" owned by Fred Jackson
"Amante" in Spanish, and maybe Italian, means "mistress," or "lover." My wife's, Ana Maria's, native language is Spanish, and she names our boats. One of her favorite sayings is, "If your husband must have a mistress, it's best if she's made of fiberglass." Hence the name.
"Changes In Attitude" owned by Owen Smith
With a name of "Changes In Attitude" being a Jimmy Buffet fan is a given. When we bought the boat, her name was "Attitude". During a discussion with my wife Carolyn concerning keeping the existing name or changing it to "CARO II" (CARO was our first Catalina, a 25), my wife suggested adding "Changes In" was the obvious answer since I was such a JB fan. My mind said "duh, I should have thought of that".
Interestingly enough, there is another C36 on the Neuse River in Oriental, NC, with the same name, and we know the owners, although that didn't come after we had bought and re-named CIA. Even though I am a retired Intelligence Officer, don't read anything into the CIA part.
"Enterprise" owned by Kirk Evans
I was in the Navy for 30 years. The last 10 of which I was a Captain. Over time, like it or not, I acquired the nickname "Captain Kirk" - even though I was not a Star Trek fan. Five years after retiring from the Navy we bought our secong boat. The PO had a name that was not appropriate for us, so we cast about looking for a name. Many ideas were discussed and cast aside. Finally a family member came up with "Enterprise, you know Captain Kirk and all that ..". I groaned, but the deed was done. However, as a compromise, we named her in honor of the World War II carrier that saw more action than any other and upon which I had an uncle serve as Supply Officer during the war. If you come aboard you will see a picture of the carrier and a "USS Enterprise CV-6" ball cap. Gallant ships should be immortalized in name.
These days the only one who calls me "Captain" is the guy at the fuel dock. I appreciate the gesture more than he knows.
"Cheers" owned by Art Golden
Loving the camaraderie that sailing brings, and the old TV show...its the place where everybody knows your name.
"Lofboat" owned by Thomas C. Lof
When we acquired our first Catalina (a 270), we had a lengthy discussion, especially as our former second hand boat (a UK licence build Catalina 22) was called "Woezel". We never knew to what that name referred, nor did we alter the name. But... give the fact that our family name is Lof (which sounds a bit like 'Love'), and our sailing yacht is a "boat", the combination is surprisingly simple... Her name is "Lofboat". The kept the name, when we passed on to a Catalina 30 MkIII and lateron to Catalina 36 MkII. The latter is now "as a true love-boat" available for charter and time share in Greece (Ionian See). More on http://home.planet.nl/~lofboat !!
"Clair de Lune" owned by Mark and Clara Seger
During the celebration of my birthday with my soon to be bride she requested the restaurant pianist play her favorite Debussy piece. It soon became our song and a natural choice 18 years later for our first boat, C36 hull#2080.
"Scalawag" owned by Michael Stuart
I thought that it meant Playful and mischievous, I was later told that it also meant a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel. Well, I am playful!
"Abegweit" owned by David MacKinnon
Abegweit is the aboriginal name for Prince Edward Island,Canada's smallest province and the place where I grew up. For many years the principal ferry to and from the island was named Abegweit and when she went out of service she was acquired by the Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago to serve as their headquarters. She is moored there today and they have kept the original name. They have also done a wonderful job of preserving her principal rooms and compartments. I have not visited her but in coming years my wife and I want to sail to Chicago and I'll stand on her bows and recall her plowing through ice ( she was the largest passenger carrying icebreaker afloat in the 1950s)!
"Cat Dancer" owned by Ron & Connie Zarriello
My wife and I are cat lovers and sail with two Siamese cats. Sailor(male) @ Alberta (female) , we have taken them on boat trips for over 12 years now. When the boat heels they do a little "Cat Dance" to readjust their footing, hence the name.
"Sirens" owned by Trish and Richard VanGuilder
First for the 'sirens of the sea', which we Floridians call the manatees. Our 36 is fat, slow, and very friendly, just like the local manatees. Fat, compared to our last boat, a trailerable 23x8. Slow, is relative, as we had to have 5 feet chopped off the mast to fit under the local Northern Gulf Coast bridges. Friendly, as we're the largest boat of our family of friends and there for the party boat of any raft-up.
Second reason is for Homer's 'sirens' calling sailors to their doom on the rocks.My wife and dauther were begging for a bigger boat and me claiming we'd go broke and end up on the "rocks'. They charmed me into it! I thank them for their support!
Third reason is I'm a Professional Firefighter(27 years). Our first boat was the FIRE ESCAPE and to keep the theme...SIRENS. Our RIB inflatable is the EXTINGUISHER!
"Annique" owned by Family Baas, Holland
Our c36 is named ANNIQUE. My wife and I have two daughters. Annalies and Frederique. The first three letters of Annalies and the last four of Frederique give the name ANNIQUE.
Family Baas, Holland
"Legacy" owned by Eric & Julie Rouzee
My father, who developed his love of sailing as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, taught me how to sail when I was about 12 years old. Our family summer vacations were spent plying the waters of Puget Sound, the San Juans and the Canadian Gulf Islands on our home-built 31' trimaran. Dad's last boat that he owned, just a few years before he passed away, was a Catalina 34. Years later, when my wife and I purchased our Catalina 36, we struggled for months coming up with an appropriate name. Then one day, while chartering in the Sea of Cortez with some friends, I related the story of how my father had taught me to sail. One of the crew members said, "Why not name it 'Legacy' in memory of your father?"
We knew immediately that no other name would do.
"Purrrfect" owned by Bob Gauvreau
For us, our 2001 Catalina 36 (#1929) is the ideal boat (and we have owned about 15 or so - both power and sail - over the past 30 years.) Whenever we are aboard, we are relaxed, happy and content. And, we also happen to have three cats (actually, they have us...). So, given all of this, the name "Purrrfect" spelled with 3 R's.
"Illusion" owned by Elwin Schwartz
I am an ophthalmologist, and my wife an optician. Our last boat, "Reflection" had a name that dealt in the "optical realm." After purchasing our new 36 mkII this past winter, and while skiing (what we do when the boat is "on the hard"), we came across a trail named Illusion. We had found the perfect name for our boat- something optical and a favorite trail at the mountain we ski at.
"JACK" owned by Andy Nemier
During a sailing trip in our Newport 27, my 10 year old daughter enquired if we could actually name our next boat with anything we wanted. I said this would certainly be possible but it would have to reflect the whole family's views too.
As we were walking to a restaurant, I noticed she was quite quiet and just when I was about to ask her if she was OK - she said "Dad, I have it! I have figured a way to get the whole family involved with a name for that new boat you want - It should be JACK.
My wife is Julie, I'm Andy, my daughter is Chloe and my son is Kal. It was too perfect not to do it. Our new C-36 is JACK - very much a family boat.
"G.V. Black" owned by Robert Taylor
G. V. Black lived in the early 1900's and is generally acknowledged as being the 'father' of modern dentistry. He established many of the procedures and guidelines still inherent in today's philosophy of clinical practice. An interesting (?) note about our boat:
When we met the painter that our dealer had recommended for painting our boat name, the dealer told the old guy (he was in his eighties) that he would never guess the significance of "G. V. Black". The old guy frowned and thought.
He replied, "You know, my father was a dentist and I think that G.V. Black was one of the names on his diploma which I have at home." He rushed home and returned with his father's diploma from Loyola U. in Chicago, and sure enough, G. V. Black was the dean of the dental school at the time the sign painter's father had graduated!! Can't believe that the old guy would remember a signature on his dad's diploma!
"Anuqa" owned by Dennis & Mary Stovall
"Anuqa" (pronounced Anooka) is an Inupiat-Eskimo word. When Eskimos in the 'old days hunting,' would feel signs of wind coming up, it meant a storm was coming and they had to build a shelter - the elder would look into the wind and speak to it by saying the word "Anuqa" - meaning "Aaaa, it's the wind" (i.e. showing respect for the wind and its power/authority over his simple life).
"Lara" owned by June & Greg Starr (#2058)
My wife and I have been married for a bit more than 35 years. We began our life together in 1966. An award-winning movie, Dr. Zhivago, was playing in the theaters at that time and is still one of our favorites. It starred Omar Sharif and the beautiful Julie Christie in the role of "Lara". "Lara's Theme" still brings back fond memories of that wonderful time when everything was new in our lives.
As we start our sailing adventure, aboard our beautiful Lara, the name serves as a constant reminder from whence we came.
"miss Higgins" owned by Ric Blamer
My wife and I met where she spent summers and I lived, Higgins Lake Michigan. We bought our first boat after I moved to Cleveland, OH...
One Saturday afternoon my wife and I were aboard having a cocktail after an absolutely beautiful day sailing on Lake Erie. The sun was setting over Edgewater Park, other boaters were coming in after a day on the water. We looked around and at nearly the same time commented, "...this is nice, but I miss Higgins..." Well the spark of recognition exploded in my wife's eyes, and I new we had a name for our (not so) new boat!
We have owned two boats named miss Higgins. The original was a Catalina 30 Tall Rig W/Bow Sprit. It's number was 3251. It is a 1983 model. And the current miss Higgins is Catalina 36 #448, 1985.
"Different Drummer III" owned by Chris Gregory
When I began to get into sailing, about ten years ago, it was a transitional time for me. I was in my mid-forties and thinking it was about time to ease out of the music business and possibly retire. The plan was to give up my seven-piece show band which I both managed and played drums for, and possibly put together a trio just for fun. I'd always wanted to play Latin drums, but since 1960 had been a drumset drummer.
So I bought some Latin drums, formed my new band and became a "different kind of drummer". I also bought a sailboat-a San Juan 21-the first "Different Drummer". I was hooked on the sailing lifestyle, but after a few years of playing Latin drums we made our first CD which did well.
Now, nine years later I'm on my fourth sailboat, second CD and back to working full time as a musician. Even though we're on the road a lot and work over 100 nights a year, sailing & living aboard still plays a big part in my life and that of my partner, Sherrie Lawhorn.
Incidentally, my dinghy is named "Timbale" which is a "different" type of Latin drum.
"Dunoon" owned by Trevor & Karisa MacLachlan
My wife Karisa and I were married in Scotland near the Clan MacLachlan Castle on Loch Fyne. Karisa had her hair done in a small town nearby on the day of the wedding. We have always had Celtic names for our boats and liked the name of that town, so we settled on "Dunoon" as the name of our Catalina 36.
"Air Fair" owned by Laszlo Preysz
She needs fair air to sail her by and airfare to pay for her (I'm an airline pilot). A play on words my wife came up with "AirFair" 2002 C-36 MkII 2062
"Anodyne" owned by Judy and Dennis Thomas
We are both fans of mystery writer Martha Grimes. She has written a series of novels all named after pubs in Britain. We have attempted to find these pubs when we visit England. One is named "The Anodyne Necklace". We learned that the word anodyne means a magic elixir or charm that cures what ever ails.
A cure for what ails is a good description of our 36. So the name connects our love of England, murder mysteries, and sailing.
"Bombay Explorer" - owned by Mark Balentine
It was a during the stock market / dot.com crash of 1997. I was retired and had lost a fortune but decided to go out and buy another boat despite not being able to afford one at the time. After paying cash for a C36, I returned home and poured myself a Martini. (a Bombay Sapphire Martini.) Then a second.. Then a third... Then a forth.... That night I "explored" the entire bottle of Bombay as I contemplated my recent purchase...
Hence, The Bombay Explore.
"Deja Vu" - owned by Mike Siegfried
I am a boating cliche. In 1987, I moved aboard a 1986 C 36. Life was grand and I soon met a great lady who loved the boat and moved aboard also....along with our new dog. Not long after, we married & she decided that the boat was a complete waste of money and that she never really like boats in the first place. I used the bad boat market in the early 90's as an excuse to hang on, but she finally sold in 1992. We divorced in 1994 & between that, the real estate crash a few years before and the earthquake, I was wiped out. So I saved my money and in 1999 bought a pristine 1991 C 36. When I stepped aboard her and went below, it was like I was home again. I said, "Boy, this is Deja Vu". And so she is. Mike Siegfried Deja Vu