The Name Game: Billy Joel's Boat Christening

Billy Joel, the American singer-songwriter and pianist, has had a long and successful career in the music industry. He has also had a lifelong love of boats, and has owned many of them over the years. One of his boats, a 36-foot swordfish boat, was named Alexa, after his daughter Alexa Ray Joel.

Billy Joel's boat was named after his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel

Billy Joel's boat, the 36 Swordfish Alexa, was indeed named after his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. Joel has always loved the water and has been boating most of his life. He has owned many boats over the years, but the Alexa holds a special place in his heart.

Joel's passion for boat design and boating in general is well-known, and he has spoken about it at the Webb Institute, a naval architecture college in Glen Cove, New York. He has also designed and built several boats, including the Shelter Island Runabout, a 38-foot commuter yacht that can reach speeds of up to 50 knots.

The Alexa, however, was built by BHM, a company that is no longer in existence. In an interview, Joel stated that the Alexa was the best boat he ever had. He described it as a tough boat that could handle rough seas and track well. It also had a good speed, reaching the mid-20s in miles per hour.

The boat came before the song, "The Downeaster 'Alexa'", which was released in 1989 and included on Joel's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 album in 1997. The song is about an impoverished fisherman off Long Island, struggling to make ends meet and keep ownership of his boat.

Joel has a strong connection to the water and boating, and this is reflected in his music and his boat designs. He has said that he will always have the Alexa, and it seems that boat holds a special place in his heart, named after his beloved daughter, Alexa Ray.

The boat inspired the song 'The Downeaster Alexa'

Billy Joel's boat, the 36 Swordfish Alexa, inspired his song 'The Downeaster Alexa'. Joel, a native of Long Island, has always loved the water and boating. He has owned many boats over the years, but Alexa holds a special place in his heart as it is named after his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

Joel's passion for boats and the sea is evident in his music, with "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" being a prime example. The song is about an impoverished fisherman off Long Island struggling to make ends meet and keep ownership of his boat, a type known as a downeaster. Joel's own boat, Alexa, is a 36-foot swordfish boat that he designed himself, combining the classic look of a lobster boat with the functionality of a swordfish boat.

In an interview, Joel shared that he has always admired work boats, especially the New England lobster boat tradition. He explained that fishermen risk their lives in ridiculous conditions, so their boats must be safe and seaworthy. Joel's appreciation for the lines and functionality of these boats inspired him to design Alexa, which he considers the best boat he has ever owned.

Alexa is more than just a boat to Joel; it represents his love for the sea, his connection to Long Island, and his family. It is a source of inspiration and a refuge from the chaos of everyday life. In his own words, "I'll always have Alexa."

Joel has owned many boats, including a 57-foot yacht called 'Vendetta'

Billy Joel has had a passion for boats since his youth. He has owned many boats over the years, including a 57-foot yacht named Vendetta.

Vendetta was built in 2005 by Derecktor Shipyards. Joel partnered with Zurn Yacht Design and the skilled builders at Coecles Harbor Marine to produce this classically styled yacht. Vendetta is a bigger version of the Zurn-designed Shelter Island Runabout, a luxury cruiser that can reach speeds of up to 50 knots. Vendetta was designed to be faster and have a longer range than any other commuter boat on Long Island Sound.

Joel, also known as the "Piano Man", wanted Vendetta to combine the speed and durability of a PT boat with the look and feel of a 1930s-era commuter boat and the low profile of a rum runner. Vendetta is capable of impressive speeds, reaching up to 45 knots, thanks to its high-tech construction and dual diesel engines that produce a combined 2,600 horsepower. Despite its power, Vendetta is tastefully quiet due to its well-insulated engine room.

In addition to its performance, Vendetta also stands out for its design and comfort. It features a jet-black glossy hull, teak floors, and a rear section shaded by a cantilever. The interior includes Italian leather seats in oxblood red, inspired by the seats in Gulfstream jets. Vendetta accommodates 12 guests, offering greater comfort than the typical four-person commuter boat.

Vendetta is a unique dayboat, with a hybrid Kevlar mold that has never been used again. It is currently home-ported in Newport Beach and is often seen cruising the waters around Santa Catalina, Dana Point, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

Joel's love for boats is well-known, and he has mentioned that he draws boats in his idle time between concerts. He has owned a variety of boats throughout his life, from an 18-foot whaling dory to a 95-foot steel expedition vessel. His boats have inspired his music, with songs like "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" named after his boat, which in turn was named after his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

He has a passion for boat design and has helped design several boats

Billy Joel is a singer-songwriter with a passion for boats and boat design. He has owned several boats over the years, and has helped design a few as well.

Joel's first boat was an 18-foot whaling dory, which he bought from a guy in Hampton Bays. He has since owned many boats, including a Boston Whaler Montauk, a Shamrock 20, a Steiger Craft 23, a 33-foot Egg Harbor, a 34-foot Wilbur sportfisherman, a 46-foot Wilbur/Jarvis Newman sportfisherman, a 28-foot Ellis lobster boat, a 38-foot Shelter Island Runabout, a 36-foot Swordfish Alexa, a 65-foot Florida Bay Coaster, a 25-foot Munson landing craft, a 57-foot Shelter Island Commuter, a 22-foot Chris-Craft Corsair, a 7.5-metre Pegiva Retro Sun, a 95-foot Inace cargo ship, a 36-foot Ellis sportfish, a 30-foot Rybovich, a 21-foot Atlas Pompano, and a 34-foot Huckins Gurnet.

Joel has a particular interest in boat design and has helped design several boats, including the Shelter Island Runabout and the 36-foot Swordfish Alexa. The Shelter Island Runabout was designed in collaboration with naval architect Doug Zurn and boatbuilder Peter Needham of Coecles Harbor Marina and Boatyard. Joel wanted a boat that combined classic looks with contemporary performance, and the result was a 38-foot commuter yacht that could cruise at 46 mph and reach top speeds of 55 mph.

The 36-foot Swordfish Alexa, named after his daughter, was designed by Joel in collaboration with BHM, a company that is no longer in existence. This boat could handle rough seas and had a cruising speed in the mid-20s.

In addition to his passion for boats and boat design, Joel is also a licensed pilot and has composed classical music. He has said that he prefers custom boats and admires the New England lobster boat tradition. He often draws boats in his idle time between concerts and has sketched many of his boat designs on cocktail napkins.

Joel has excellent taste in yachts, according to Forbes

Billy Joel, the "Piano Man" himself, has had a long and illustrious career as a singer-songwriter. He has sold millions of records, won multiple Grammy awards, and is one of the world's best-selling music artists. But aside from his musical prowess, Joel has another passion: boating. In fact, he has owned several boats over the years, each one reflecting his unique taste and style.

One of Joel's most famous boats is the "Alexa," a 36-foot swordfish boat that he named after his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. The "Alexa" was built with a tough, lobster boat-inspired design and could handle rough seas with ease. It had a spacious cabin and was Joel's primary boat for many years. He loved it so much that he even wrote a song called "The Downeaster 'Alexa'," which peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Another notable boat owned by Joel is the Shelter Island Runabout. This 38-foot beauty was designed by Joel himself and built by the Coecles Harbor Boatyard on Shelter Island, New York. With its sleek, classic lines and impressive speed, the Shelter Island Runabout could reach up to 50 miles per hour. Joel's passion for boat design and his collaboration with skilled builders resulted in a vessel that turned heads wherever it went.

However, the boat that truly showcases Joel's excellent taste in yachts is the "Vendetta." This 57-foot commuter yacht was custom-built by Derecktor Shipyards and designed by Zurn Yacht Design. With its elegant lines and powerful dual diesel engines, the "Vendetta" could reach speeds of almost 50 knots. It combined style and performance seamlessly, making it a true head-turner on the water. The "Vendetta" embodied Joel's love for the sea and his appreciation for beautiful, high-performance boats.

Joel's boating journey began at a young age when he would borrow boats with his friends and explore the waters around Long Island. This early fascination evolved into a lifelong passion, and he has since owned a variety of vessels, each reflecting his unique style and taste. From his first 18-foot whaling dory to the majestic "Vendetta," Joel's boating experiences have inspired his music and left an indelible mark on his life.

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