Boaters are a superstitious lot, so it should come as no surprise that there are countless dire predictions associated with renaming a boat. Fortunately, because many find they can't live with the name bestowed upon their pride and joy by a previous owner, there are procedures that allow you to cast off the old name and adopt a new one while avoiding imminent disaster.

The first order of business is to obliterate all references to the old name – on the transom and any other exterior boat surface, in the log and maintenance books, throw rings, PFDs and even key chains. You must be ruthless in routing out every single reference. Be sure that not even the faintest shadow of the old name peaks out from beneath a fresh paint job, white out or a scratching out. Indeed, many prefer to replace old log and maintenance books altogether rather than challenging their luck should some old reference still be legible.

Purging complete, it's time for the renaming ceremony. You have a number of choices: a formal liturgical ceremony such as Captain Pat's, the slightly less elaborate denaming and christening ceremonies devised by John Vigor, burning a mast, putting a penny under the mast, or creating your own ceremony, to name but a few. Whichever you choose, the common denominator is communion with Neptune, god of the sea, and a generous amount of alcohol – usually champagne or red wine. You are, in effect, thanking Neptune for watching over your boat in the past, asking him to do so in the future under its new name, and sealing the deal with your best drink.

Once the renaming ceremony is complete, it's safe to bring aboard any items referring to the new name and to apply the name to the hull.

Not quite that superstitious? Well, there are those who crack a bottle of bubbly over the hull, announce the name out loud, and call it a done deal. It's your choice.

By the way, don't forget to submit paperwork on the name change to the Coast Guard. Gotta make it official.

– Linda Hoff