Eric-
The short answer is names on boats serve the same purpose as names for people, so you know who you are talking to (or about).
I don't claim to have the definitive answer for you, but here are a couple of reasons people name boats and ships.
Tradition! Probably the biggest reason. How the tradition started is lost in history, but it probably has to do with being able to identify what ship is coming into port, what ship you as a sailor are to report to/serve on, etc. Imagine being told to report to the ship at the pier and arriving to find 6 ships at the pier, all looking for crew members. Or being a ship owner trying to get information about your ship from other boats that may have come into port from the area your ship is supposed to be going to. Without a name all you get is "Yeah, I saw a boat there."
In today's world, if the vessel is "documented" (which is a Coast Guard registration process, generally only used for boats above a certain size based on displacement), a name is required. The name and home port are required to be displayed on the hull, usually on the transom. The documentation number is inscribed below decks.
The vessel name is used for radio contact purposes.
On a lighter note, if a guy buys a boat, he better name it after his wife or girlfriend if he doesn't want to end up "up the creek without a paddle"! Come to think of it, this may be the original reason from history!!
RBA50 ...noted you are in Goldendale as am I.
Eric:
Most seagoing vessel history comes from the early British NAVY. They are after all, an Island. An ARMY would have done them no good against invaders. In the book "To Rule the Waves," a detailed explanation of how and why their NAVY was formed.
I was in our NAVY for 6 years, 4 active, and 2 inactive. Reading the book to rule the waves after my service was enlightening. For instance, the fighting formation of sailing vessels was such that 3 vessels had admirals (an Arab term) in which the forward admiral led the fight with the admiral in charge in the center and the Rear Admiral in the rear. Such is the placement even today of the "brains" or bridge of a NAVY ship. The Captain's quarters are midships as are CIC, Radio and all controls.
Essentially, the naming process is part of the organizational needs aboard a fighting ship. To have specific jobs, order and discipline, names were assigned. Now called ratings or specialties. In fact, Napoleon on his way to Elba on a British vessel was to have said: "No wonder you British beat us, your ships are so organized...we just run around and shout at each other." Each NAVY vessel has a purpose today.
Back to the naming. Organization went from on board the vessels to the vessels purposes. For example, Destroyer, Destroyer escort, battleship, carrier, minesweeper. Each also has hull numbers that designate it's purposes. Further, each vessel has a call sign which is unique and assigned to it. A Destroyer for instance has hull numbers preceded by a DD. On further, Destroyers were named after famous individuals. Carriers after famous battles, tankers after Indian rivers Battleships (BB) after States. Thus, by its shape, name, hull number, call sign it was easily identified as friend or foe either visually or by radio. Our naming process today has been compromised to include politicians however.
The registration process for large seagoing vessels is also part of maritime needs. Documentation plays a large part in salvage, repair and port entry/departure requirements.
Organization is the primary reason after all this verbiage I wrote. I could have just said "Documentation," to make it quick.
I just thank God that we don't have to register, pay taxes and put a license on our tractors.
Small craft today are registered for some of the same purposes with identification being the main need. However, IMHO, some States have only taxation as their purposes and have gone too far.
Burt (ex RM2, USN 1960-1966)
