What’s in a name, especially a boat name?  Late last summer, in the YachtWorld.com listing, the name Irish Rover stood out, but not nearly as much as her picture. And the more that I read about her, the more attracted I was to her.

The name, Irish Rover fit her owner to a tee.  Afterall, he had every reason to take pride in his Irish heritage. And boats were made to rove or to roam.

But we saw “her” from a different perspective.  She was a trawler. Trawlers are known to be slow cruisers, especially when compared to testosterone-fueled sport fishing boats. Trawlers are for a slow, steady pace. Exploring. Enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. They’re for cruising, whether the world, the Great Loop, or to your favorite waterfront destination.  Trawlers are for romancing the journey. If you’re in a hurry to get there, check with Jet Blue.

We knew her name would not to continue to be Irish Rover.  But what?  CT suggested “Write Boat,” after one of my blogs, knowing she would contribute to this wannabe’s desire to write. I shot that one down, and suggested “Summerchase,” after our old Sullivan’s Island beach house. CT shot that one down.  We spent a few days reflecting on our lives and dreams, and whatever else might inspire a name. We each wrote down numerous possible names, but none seemed to fit the little 2006 Mainship 34T.

And then one evening I looked at Kate, our Brittany/Boykin rescue, and the words of our veterinarian came back to me.  Before I drove to Winston-Salem to choose which of the Brittany/Boykin litter would come home with me, I sought the advise of Scott Senf, our vet. He said to choose a puppy that seem to most reflect my personality. He said, “You’re like me, pretty laid back. You don’t need to choose a hyper dog.” Kate, as she was named by her foster mom, seemed to fit the “laid back” bill. Playing with her siblings, she had plenty of energy, but then she would run back over and lay in my lap as I sat on the ground in the play enclosure.  Today, four years later, she runs like the wind when playing with friends, but the minute she comes into the house, she’s a couch potato.

Why not apply that same logic to naming our boat. We wanted to spend our retirement years cruising. CT loves to sit on the sundeck and sip coffee or wine while she reads. I enjoy sitting at the helm enjoying the beauty of God’s coastal creation as I run the boat and reflect on life. We both prefer the company of family and friends, vs nightlife and a loud scene.  We both prefer holding each other in a quiet, warm embrace and slow dancing vs a loud environment and fast dancing. Trawlers, by design, are slow, steady boats. All things considered, “Slow Dance” seemed the perfect name for our “girl.” She a pleasure to cruise slowly while enjoying the scenery, but when time is of the essence, she can just as easily cruise as much as 17 knots, depending on tide and wind.  Perfect, from our perspective!

“Slow Dance.” A sweet little 2006 Mainship 34T.  It’s a shame they’re no longer built. Considering the attention she gets in every marina we’ve visited, there’s still a demand for traditional trawlers that bring back sweet memories and reflections on life.

Fair winds and following seas