TATTOOS FOR SAILOR with MEANINGS

Hey guys, being a sailor myself i've always wanted to get a Tattoo on my body something to show that im a sailor and something to remind me for who i was when ive grown old. But!.. i've also wonder what tattoo should i get? and why should i get it? does it resemble any meaning for being a strong sailor?? 

Well, if you are having the same questions Don't worry i have sort it all out for you 😉

 HERE ARE 16 CLASSIC SAILOR TATTOOS with MEANINGS BEHIND EACH OF THEM

1. FULLY RIGGED SHIP

 A tattoo of a fully-rigged ship from the age of sail means the sailor had been around Cape Horn, the rough, stormy waters around the southern tip of South America. A fully-rigged ship is one with three or more masts, square sails fully deployed.

2. NAUTICAL STAR

The star is a symbol of a sailor always to be able to find his way home. The nautical star is a five-pointed star in dark and light shades counterchanged to resemble a compass rose.

3. SHELLBACK TURTLE

Sailors can wear the Shellback Turtle when they get initiated into King Neptune's Court after crossing the equator. 

4. CROSSED CANNONS

The crossed cannons mean a veteran has seen military service as a sailor.

5. SWALLOWS (my favorite)

Sailors earn a new swallow tattoo for every 5,000 nautical miles traveled, which is about 5,754 regular miles.The circumference of the earth is 21,639 nautical miles

6. SINGLE ANCHOR

A single anchor means the sailor crossed the Atlantic or has been a member of the merchant marine, a fleet of civilian ships that carries military cargo. In wartime, this fleet is mobilized to carry war materiel, including troops and supplies.

7. ROPE ON WRIST

A knot of rope on a sailors wrist identifies him as a deckhand, someone who maintains the hull, decks, superstructure, mooring, and cargo handling. Deckhands are still common in ocean-going vessels, though they're far less likely to be maintaining wooden ships.

8. HULA GIRL

Hula girls signify the sailor has been to Hawaii.

9. CROSSED ANCHORS

Sailors wearing the crossed anchors on the webbing between their thumb and index finger are identifying themselves as boatswain's mates, the guys who maintain the deck and take care of smaller boat operations and damage control parties.

10. HOLD FAST!

These words are a charm spelled out on the four front-facing fingers on each hand. Sailors hope it brings them good luck while gripping the rigging. Holding fast means the sailor isn't going to let the line go, no matter what. Sailors were a superstitious bunch and life on a sailing ship was tough (to say the least). Anything that gave them the edge in saving their own lives was worth doing.

11. COMPASS ROSE

Another good luck charm that allows a sailor to find his way home.

12. DAGGER THROUGH A ROSE

This tattoo means the sailor is loyal and willing to fight anything, even something as sweet and beautiful as a rose

13. GOLDEN DRAGON

When a sailor crossed the International Date Line, he earns the right to wear the Golden Dragon tattoo. The International Date Line is the imaginary line of longitude that separates two calendar dates. When someone sails from East to West, they set their clock back one hour for every 15 degrees of longitude they pass. When they pass the date line, they've gained a full 24 hours.

14. KING NEPTUNE

Another badge of honor earned for crossing the Equator.

15. LIGHTHOUSE

 symbolizes safe passage to home port

16.HELM

symbolizes control of a destiny

So.. i hope this blog helped ya'll sailors to choose the right one. I wish ya'll have a safe voyage. Till next post. 

Please share this among our sailor friends, especially those that are new to this adventurous journey to meet the horizon ⚓😎