Whether unique, boring, historical, sweet or romantic--each month I will be contacting members on how they named their boat.  You can also contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Let’s see your boat’s name in the monthly TMCA Newsletter!  Lovely and interesting stories follow below.   ENJOY----

Adrian and Paula Vuyk, owners of Sundowner Tug Petite Fleur, wrote back:  The song “Petite Fleur”, check Google “Petite Fleur + Sidney Bechet” and here you will hear the music that enchanted us.  To make a long story short, boy meets girl in 1957 and as it goes they had their own little whistle from the song “Petite Fleur written by Sidney Bechet.  We still do use our little whistle to this day.  Years later, following the whistle came the various “whistle” driven boats, in Holland, Scotland, and in the USA.  In 1999/2000 we even made a pilgrimage to Holland and Paris, France, with our Morgan 41.  Over the years, we had a few boats, but we always called them “Petite Fleur” and now we own a small trawler (Sundowner Tug 30) still by the same name.  In 2007 we even met a lockmaster on the Tenn-Tom River that whistled our song!

Jerry and Nell Giallanza, owners of Trawler ROWDY TOO, wrote:  Our original new boat, a 28’ Albin named ROWDY, was lost due to Hurricane Ike.   We kept the name because we thought it was good description of a couple from New Orleans who enjoyed good times and fun.  Well, after the storm and being without a boat, Jerry stumbled across their current boat, a 34’ Trawler with the name, JUDY BLUE EYES—named after the previous owner’s wife who had Big Blue Eyes.  Across the stern was the name, and two big blue eyes were painted on the boat.  Needless to say, that had to go.  Anyway, the Giallanzas renamed her ROWDY TOO!

The owners of m/v Rollin’ Quarters, Paul and Linda Merryman, wrote:  As you may or may not be aware in addition to real estate, Paul and Linda also own a coin operated laundromat.  In the early days of their relationship, Paul would take the quarters home and roll them by hand.  Many times as they talked on the phone, Linda would ask Paul what he was doing and he would reply, “Rolling Quarters.”  So when they purchased their first large boat, the most appropriate name was, m/v Rollin’ Quarters since we had rolled many quarters to purchased it.  Since the current 42’ Carver is the third to be named, it is now m/v Rollin’ More Quarters.  The Merrymans have enjoyed many hours of cruising, relaxing times, and continue to do so.  By the way, Linda Merryman upgraded Paul to an auto coin machine for rolling those quarters!  (Keep those quarters coming, Paul!)

Troy and Deana Jones, owners of s/v Storyville, reported back:  Storyville is the name of one of our favorite bands.  They were from Austin and played blues/rock.  Two of their members were the rhythm section of Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Band.  We have been to see them live many times, and their music has played an important part in our lives.  We happen to think s/v Storyville is a pretty cool, unique boat name.

Here is another Storyville story.  Troy thinks the band possibly named themselves after the famous “Storyville” in New Orleans—the prostitution district of New Orleans from 1897 through 1917.  The district was named after City Alderman Sidney Story who wrote the legislation to set up the district.  Besides the expected activities, Jazz was the preferred music and the area was key in the development of Jazz.  s/v Storyville must have a musical name!

Ernie and Camille Rogers, sailors of s/v More Good Timin’, wrote back:  Ernie and I purchased a Hunter 380 about 5 years ago.  She was named s/v Good Timin’.  We couldn’t come up with a better name than that, so we didn’t change her name.  s/v Good Timin’ always lived up to her name and we had lots of good times.  When we were looking to purchase a new boat, we agreed upon a name before we ever found the boat.  We figured “more” boat and “more” good times.  Therefore, it had to be s/v More Good Timin’.

The owners of s/v Cuba Time, Rob and Barbara Spangenberg, replied:  For years we owned a boat that we raced with a regular crew—my bothers, cousins and a couple of good friends.  The regular drink was a Cuba Libre—run, coke and a quarter lime (without the lime, it’s just a rum and coke—ugh).  During one of our heavy cockpit conversations, we decided that the drink had all the crucial ingredients—the coke had caffeine to keep you alert and sugar to give you energy, the lime prevented scurvy, and the rum made you feel good about it all.  Anyway, once a race was over and the boat was tied up, all the sails flaked and the gear stowed, someone would always say, “It’s Cuba Time!”  And the best part of the day would begin.  That phrase has such a good association that when the Spangenbergs got s/v Cuba Time, it seemed natural.

Dan and Judy Wilson, sailors of s/v Scout, wrote back:  We moved to Clear Lake in 1993 from Northwest Houston.  I had been Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 24 in Oak Forest, the oldest Sea Scout ship in the United States for seven years.  After we moved, I was promoted to Commodore of the Sam Houston Area Council Sea Scout fleet.  Judy and I bought the Watkins 29 around 1996.  My son, who had been Bosun of the ship, suggested s/v Scout.  The name seemed right.  s/v Scout has hosted Boy Scouts and friends from many coast and mountains since.  Our boat recently was posted as “Boat of the Month” on the Watkins Owners website!

George and Karen Clark, owners of s/v Free-N-Easy, replied:  George’s report: We bought  s/v Free-N-Easy brand new 38 years ago, and we are now both 65 years old.  We are also some of the original TMCA members and organizers.  As others have already described, it was very difficult to come up with a name for her.  After 38 years we are both having a problem coming up with the decision and procrastination process that lead to the naming process.  However, I do remember that it was an over two-week ordeal to come up with her name.  If our memories improve, we will respond to you.  (George and Karen Clark joined the TMCA in 1979!!)

Karen Clark’s report:  We bought the boat with another couple, Camille and Jim Tichenor (Jim was best man at our wedding) and later bought them out.  Camille and I prepared a three-page list of names for the guys to choose from.  s/v Free-N-Easy is a synonym for “carefree” and hence placed on the list.  Jim wanted a symmetrical name which eliminated most candidates.  The guys picked s/v Free-N-Easy.  We girls thought nothing of their choice until we decided to get a spinnaker.  The guys wanted to put a naked lady on the sail.  We girls vetoed that and have since wondered if the guys were thinking “carefree” or something else when they named our sailboat!  Later when racing the boat, we bought T-shirts with Free-N-Easy/sailboat picture on them.  Some were given to my nieces in Ohio, who promptly wrote back that we needed to change the name of our sailboat if they were to wear our T-shirts--so much for “carefree!”

Daniel and Elizabeth Monticello, owners of s/v Ensemble, wrote back:  We bought our Pacific Seacraft 31 in 1998 after we did a bareboat trip to the BVIs with our daughters who were 12 and 13 at the time.  We had the best time together!  Being from the Great Lakes region, sailing and going up to the cottage on Lake Huron frequently, we had always thought it would be nice to have our own “cottage” someday.  So after going to boat shows, walking around marinas around Clear Lake and armed with the old adage “never buy a new boat when you can find a great boat someone wants to part with,” we began our quest.  We found our floating cottage, and our daughters thought the boat should be something about being together.  Ensemble is French for together, and that’s how we named s/v Ensemble.

Deedy Payne wrote: Our 46' Seamaster sailboat was called Wandering Star when we purchased her and, although it is a cool name, we wanted to make her our own. Because we love the southwest and lived in Arizona for 17 years, we chose a name that represents that part of our lives. Kokopelli is the flute player who is known as a fertility god, prankster, healer and storyteller. Kokopelli embodies the true American Southwest and dates back over 3,000 years ago, when the first petroglyphs were carved. Legend also has it that the flute playing symbolized the transition of winter to spring. Kokopelli’s flute is said to be heard in the spring’s breeze, while bringing warmth. Whatever the true meaning of Kokopelli is, he has been a source of music making and dancing, and spreading joy to those around him. We hope our travels on    s/v Kokopelli continue to be joyful and aboard our boat we are able to spread joy to others. Read their blog at http://sailingkokopelli.blogspot.com/

How Did Your Boat Gets Its Name?

This is the fourth month of TMCA members’ stories about their boats.  Your response has been terrific!   Whether historical, sentimental, funny, unusual or not, each month I will be contacting members on how their boats were named.   You can also contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Let’s see your boat’s name in the monthly TMCA Newsletter!  ENJOY….

How Did Your Boat Gets Its Name?

This is the third month of TMCA members’ stories on their boats.  Your response has been terrific!   Whether boring, sweet, or romantic, or unusual, each month I will be contacting members on how their boats were named.   You can also contact me directly at secretary@tmca.nu.  Let’s see your boat’s name in the monthly TMCA Newsletter!

A New Column  ---   How Did Your Boat Gets Its Name?

I have always been fascinated by boat names.  Was a person’s  boat named after a lovely line in a Frost/Shakespeare poem or “Gee, it was named the Titanic when I bought it”.   Whether boring, sweet and romantic, or whatever, each month I will be contacting you on how your boat was named.   You can also contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Let’s see your boat’s name in the monthly TMCA Newsletter!

How to Sail a Boat Better - Use the Secret of a Mainsail Wind Shadow
By John N. Jamieson

If you are anything like me, a trip to the foredeck on a pitching, rolling small cruising sailboat doesn't rate high on your "most fun" things to do. Did you know that you can use your mainsail to make this much safer and easier? Learn how to sail a boat better than ever before with these five easy steps for savvy sailing skippers

Navigation Compass Secrets - Three Tips to Make Compass Course Steering Easier
By John N. Jamieson

How many times have you tried to steer an accurate compass course, only to find that you wander off a bit too often. Or maybe you are tacking your small sailboat and need a reference when you tack through the wind. Use these three easy navigation compass secrets to boost your sailing skipper skills to the next level.

A vessel safety check is a courtesy inspection of your boat performed by a trained specialist from the United States Power Squadrons or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. You cannot be fined for failing one, so it is highly advised that you have one performed to make sure your boat is safe for use.

How To Buy Marine Binoculars
By Sam Lewis

When looking to buy marine binoculars, you'll have some different considerations than buying binoculars for land use. First of all, you'll need to decide whether you want a pair of waterproof binoculars. Most likely you will, since in the marine environment it is very hard to keep moisture from seeping into the inside of your binoculars. This will cause mildewing which will eventually destroy them.

Boating Tips - Why Boaters Need Binoculars
By Vincent Saponar

It seems that in the camping, hiking, and birding worlds; everyone knows and understands the benefits that binoculars bring to the table. For campers and hikers, binoculars bring you closer to the nature you came to enjoy. They also help you find specific points of interest or land marks that will prevent you from getting lost. And Birders could never be satisfied just watching a hawk fly over head looking for a field mouse without the 8x or 10x magnification a binocular provides. However, many boaters don't carry binoculars with them on their journeys.

Sailing Skipper Secrets - Do You Know How to Fight a Marine Fire With PASS?
By John N. Jamieson

Does your sailing crew know the location of each small portable fire extinguisher aboard? Have you trained them in the simple technique called "P.A.S.S."? Make these five easy preparation steps today to fight any deadly marine fire that crosses your path in the future.