Where does the name Lightship come from?

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, “where did the name Lightship - come from?”

The Lightship L1 travel trailer may look like something from the future, with its modern, sleek, aerodynamic exterior, integrated solar panels, smart-home features, and futuristic self-propulsion, but the name is rooted in America’s maritime history and our co-founder’s personal history.

Stuffed into the backseat of a Subaru on a road trip somewhere near Flagstaff, Ben Parker, Lightship’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer, was thinking about what to call his then-fledgling electrification company. He’d left Tesla, been connected with Toby Kraus (Lightship’s other co-founder and CEO), and they’d agreed to collaborate on, build, and launch the first all-electric, aerodynamic, and self-propelled RVs into the world. 

Traveling with his childhood friend Alex, Ben had nothing but time to talk, think, and bounce ideas as they drove. Alex suggested “Essex”, the name of the boat sunk by Moby Dick. While the fate of that vessel didn’t quite resonate with Parker’s vision for an innovative new company, it did steer his thinking toward a more fitting nautical symbol inspired by American History and his childhood on the coast of Nantucket. 

The Nantucket Lightship LV-112, built in 1936, was named after the Nantucket Shoals, a shallow rock-strewn stretch of water it served for 39 years. The LV-112 was one of 179 lightships that acted as floating lighthouses in areas where permanent structures couldn’t stand. With two bright mast-mounted lights and a foghorn, the LV-112 would anchor 6-8 miles offshore and steer vessels away from the hidden hazards of the Shoals.

Guiding explorers, keeping them safe, and lighting the way; these ideas, so perfectly illustrated by the LV-112 and its two guiding lights, were the kind of symbol Parker was seeking.

In much the same way as our name’s inspiration, we’re on the verge of delivering a vessel that will light the way for the future of recreational travel. Bringing new life and dimension to the name Lightship, still sharing some of the LV-112’s original qualities — now for road-trippers instead of sailors. 

Hope — We’re not guiding ships from danger but we’re convinced that by helping propel people to travel, explore, and connect with nature in a way that better preserves the future of our lands, we’re onto something.

Safety — The Nantucket LV-112 was a double-hulled beast of a ship that could withstand a full side impact. You’ll be glad to know our trailer isn’t made of iron-ore but the structure, materials, and features we’re engineering are built to stand the test of the road and time. 

Camaraderie — Crews on the LV-112 lived together far from land in some cases 2-3 years at a time. That might sound perfect to you. Still, even if it is a week at a time, a long weekend, getting away and spending time with family, friends, meeting new friends — that together time is where memories come from. 

Freedom — Nobody at Lightship is going to require you head out to sea or into danger. But, we do hope that we can give you the excitement, encouragement and experience to take out and explore. To find forgotten places and bask in the beauty of the outdoors and new experiences.

Permanence — Lightship vessels (that’s what the LV stands for, btw) have been long retired. Today, only 15 remain, mostly in museums. When they were built, they were built to persevere and to last. Some may argue that we’re too early to call that for Lightship today but with every step towards production we grow confident that we are building a vehicle that is here to last.

The name Lightship and the two stars that appear in our wordmark all started with an idea born of a conversation on a road trip, and the lesson we take from that is simple. Embrace the adventure waiting for you, and amazing things will happen. The two guiding stars of our logo remind us daily about the significance of our mission. Lightship is guiding new explorers towards the future of RVing, and steering the industry in new directions, towards an electrified future.