My wife is from New Zealand and her Dad built a boat in their living room when she was young!
Going to look at a possible first boat to buy in 1997, she said, "You know my father says that it's very bad luck to change the name of a boat." Pulling up to the house, there's the boat on a trailer in the driveway....... complete with three foot high letters down the side, shouting out......
NANCY LEE! My wife's name is Jenn. "Okay, we can change the name if we buy this one"!
Year's later, we bought our 2001 Grady-White Marlin. I followed all the rules that Capt Nemo, Capt Ahab and even Charlie the Tuna have laid down over the centuries on the proper way to change the name of a boat/ship. Bought the boat and stripped the old name off right away. Waxed out the 'shadow' of the old name. Drove it 100 miles, nameless, to her new home dock. Then had the new name installed while splashing a Bahamian Kailk Gold beer on her bow! The new name was
"HEY MON!"
Spending many trips in da Bahamas, I get great shout-outs from boaters at the Marinas over there! "Hey Mon! How you doing today?" Followed by smiles and laughs!
Pulling into Bahamian Marinas, I'll call them on the VHF. "Old Bahama Bay, this is the vessel HEY MON arriving and looking for a slip assignment please." Comes the Reply with a heavy Bahamian accent, "Hey Mon! How you doing today Mon? Your slip is C-13 and welcome back!" I can almost feel the smile on the dockmaster's face as he gives me the slip number!