Stern Memories Blog: May 2017

So you just bought a new boat. And now your first pain and pleasure of boat ownership at the Lake of the Ozarks (aside from writing the first check of many) is how to pick a new boat name. At Stern Memories we know a thing or two about boat names because our business is creating items personalized with boat names.

So here are our tips on how to pick a new boat name at the Lake of the Ozarks. (Spoiler alert…the no-fail way is listed last!)

Keep it Fun!

Boat names capture the essence of boating, but in a very personal way. Boating is fun, so boat names should be fun, lighthearted and also make the reader think a bit.

No Inside Jokes

When people see your boat you want them to “get it” so while you have every right to name your boat something that only you or your immediate family “gets” you are cheating the rest of us from your great sense of humor and wit. Let it show!

Keep it Short

The best boat names are short, 1-3 words. One strong word or 2-3 that work and play well together. You don’t want people to have to read a book to figure out your boat name and the longer it is, the smaller the lettering. So, keep it short and sweet.

Ladies First

The age old rule is that boats should be named after a significant woman in your life. We certainly see many of those but they are in the minority these days. However, there is nothing better than honoring the lady in your life by including her in your new boat name.

Work/Career Related

More and more we are seeing boat names that are someway connected to the work done by the boat owner, but in a fun and clever way. One of my favorites is Tow Job. Guess what line of work? Tow truck operator. Wired for Fun? Electrician. Special Delivery? OBGYN! You get it…now think about your line of work and start playing around with puns and twists that incorporate the work type but in a funny way.

Water Related

We see tons of new boat names that are water related – Waves of Fun, Water Work, Aquaholics, Current Address, etc. Just let your mind swim through a river of water related themes and concepts and something will come to you.

Speed & Power Related

If your new boat is a go-fast boat, consider a boat name that is tied to speed. Pretty easy to think of those – Thunder Plunder, Terminator, Excalibur, Spectacular, etc.

Family Related

Often a boat name can include all or part of a family name (last name that is). One of my favorites is Sleigh Ride, but the twist is that the real name is spelled Slay. Miller Time is hugely popular for the Miller’s out there. Just write down your name and starting pondering ways it can be hooked or worked into a boat name.

Pull out the Thesaurus

If you get stuck, open an online thesaurus and type in a word you have in mind. The thesaurus will generate reams of words that mean the same thing. Often one of the synonyms for your original word will make a great boat name.

Ask Around

The absolute best way to pick a new boat name? Ask other boaters. Very simply, go on Facebook and join a boating group for your body of water, boat manufacturer, or any of the national ones (ex. Passion for Powerboats) and ask for help. Give them a few details like the work you do or your last name, or include a photo of a boat. In about 5 minutes you will be inundated with boat name ideas. And some of those may trigger other thoughts in your mind and you’ll finally land on that new boat name that perfectly matches your boat, your personality or your lifestyle.

And when you pick that show stopper of a new boat name, reach out to Stern Memories and let us help outfit your crew with caps, shirts, koozies, totes or boat gear, all imprinted with your boat name. We look forward to helping you get ready for the boating season, with all your new boat name gear at the Lake of the Ozarks!

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

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Lately I have been noticing an increase in the number of center console boats on my home lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and I wanted to learn why. So I posed the question “What are the benefits of center console boats?” on the boating Facebook group, Passion for Powerboats and received a boat load of responses.

One group member summed up the current tide of popularity in four words: Fish, party, go fast.
Like the reverse of the famous 80’s mullet haircut, a center console boat is a party in the front and business (fishing) in the back. Once mainly found on coastal waterways, center console boats are now readily found on fresh water lakes and waterways. The growth in center console boat popularity speaks to what many believe is their versatility and amenities that begins to rival cruisers and bow riders.

Fishing & Flexibility

Center console boats are designed for both fishing and the excursion life. With multiple rod holders, power-packed electronics, ample storage and wrap around access, a center console boat can be a fisherman’s dream. The open layout allows for multiple anglers and the ability to move about the boat when battling that big one! Whether casting, bottom fishing or trolling, a center console boat can do it. The larger tri and quad outboard center consoles are best suited for large lakes and saltwater boating, while the smaller single and dual engine center consoles will work well on freshwater lakes, rivers and near shore saltwater boating. While the anglers are at work in the back, the rest of the group can hang out an party in front!

New Larger Hull Formats

Center console boats have entered into the “bigger is better” stage of their life cycle. The once common single and dual outboard versions are now joined with triple and quad outboard formats with lengths exceeding 40 feet and the longest center console boat topping out at 57 feet (MTI V 57). These larger hull formats give the ride of a cruiser but with the openness of a bowrider. As such, boat owners who once felt they had to move from bowrider to cruiser for a larger more stable platform, now have the option to retain the openness of a bowrider in these larger center console boats. The larger “crossover” center console boats share some amenities of a cruiser, such as a cuddy cabin with AC, water, a head, refrigerator, microwave and small bunk. With larger hulls comes space for on-deck cook stations, sinks, refrigerators, and massive storage. A large center console will never match a cruiser for live aboard comfort, but the new larger models offer a getaway space that can get you out of the sun, offers some privacy and a place to have some comforts of home.

Ease of Clean Up

With fishing comes a mess and with partying, often comes a mess. Fish guts, blood and gore can get everywhere and from a hard day’s or night’s partying the same can be true! Center consoles are built to take a beating, so just hose out the interior, wipe down and you are ready to go.

Open Design

With bow riders, often everyone wants to sit in the bow and sitting on the bow of a cruiser can be a safety issue. A center console offers 360 degrees of bow seating with ample room for guests to sit next to and across from each other as well as easily move from bow to stern. If you like to lay out on the boat, that can be tricky on a center console. The larger formats have sun pads in front of the console and sometimes on top of the Bimini cover, while smaller formats seats that fold down or side benches for sun lovers. One major drawback of the center console boat is the loss of the stern as a swim/party platform. With 2,3 or 4 outboards hanging off the stern, that area is now off limits and access to the water is offered via a side entrance. In a party cove situation, where tying up along side other boats is common, the center console owner will need to pick an end spot or hang out alone so that access to the side door to remains viable.

Outboard Motor Benefits

Whether single, duals, trips or quads all center consoles have the benefit of running outboard motors. Outboards offer better fuel economy than I/O, take up less space in the center of the boat and push the motor noise farther away from the occupants. Additionally, outboards can be fully tilted up out of the water when docked or moored, which helps reduce corrosion plus allows the boat to navigate shallower waters than and I/O. Lastly, outboards typically do not need to be winterized to the extent of I/O’s which can lower operating cost and increase usability.

For all the benefits listed above, there are also offsets and many boaters will have strong opinions against center consoles in favor of traditional starboard console watercraft. The bottom line is to match boat design, performance, styling, features and amenities to your boating lifestyle.

When you find the boat that’s right for you, whether center console, cruiser, bow rider or pontoon and you give it a great name, contact Stern Memories for all your personalized boating gear at the Lake of the Ozarks! We can help accessorize your boating crew, dock, and home with all of your custom boating accessories in Missouri. Visit our website to see what we can create for you. Happy boating!