Reviewed and Updated: October 19, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Are you looking for amazing nautical themed tattoos that stand out from the rest? Check out the best vintage ship tattoos and traditional ship tattoos here.
People who enjoy sea adventures would surely be fans of ships and travel.
Traditional ship tattoos symbolize happiness, new beginnings and journeys through unique designs. Sailor Jerry’s clipper ship tattoos represent and show the importance of the determination to be “homeward” and evoke in people a call to adventure.
Traditional tattoos are often referred to as old school tattoo styles. By getting these traditional style tattoos, you honor the ancient history of the work of art by getting a piece of this robust representative design or symbol in your body. The traditional Japanese tattooing is called Tebori while in southern India, especially Kerala, it is known as Pacha kuthal. It takes almost 4-6 hours to complete the tattooing process of traditional ship tattoos. Let’s explore some stunning ship tattoo designs to steer you in the right direction.
Ship tattoos under the red sky
This traditional tattoo ship has four high waves on top of each other, making it one big ship. This traditional ship tattoo flash has a scene of the ship sailing through the green sea against a red sky background. These traditional ship tattoos are stunning with all the gradient colors and designs used in these sailing ship images. The details on each topic are so good. The clouds provide a framework for the sailing ship tattoo. Also, a yellow rose is drawn on top of the ship’s traditional tattoo. The detail of the traditional ship tattoo gets excellent color. Ropes from the ship connecting the ship and various ship elements are included in the arm ship tattoo design. This neo-traditional pirate ship tattoo can be done on any part of the body. This neo-traditional ship tattoo is given awesome colors that emphasize the shape of the sea world and the ships that pass through it.
Traditional ship tattoo
This traditional billowing sail tattoo represents images from many cultures. Japanese tattoo masters often use these designs to show the style of liberty and the long history of their culture. The mainstream naval style design of the traditional black and gray ship tattoo has images of flowers on the ship’s wheels. The most common meaning that the images of these many ship tattoos try to convey is the nature of the ancient pirates’ struggle. Many symbolic purposes are meant by these nautical tattoos and sailor jerry and pirate ghost ship tattoos. These old school tattoos use images of pirates and seafaring ships to add symbolic meaning to these old school tattoo designs. Also, a red lotus flower is drawn at the end of the ship ship area. Lotus or lily-like flowers are one of the sacred spiritual flowers used in India, China, Vietnam, etc. These nautical tattoos are traditionally worn by people associated with these cultures or are seafarers themselves!
Pirate Ship Tattoo and the Kraken
A cool monster tattoo that will send chills through your arms. This traditional ship tattoo featuring a sailor jerry is a creative twist. These tattoo designs depict a green monster with huge, orange eyes and long tentacles grabbing the sailing ship in the deep dark regions of the ocean. The sailing ship with some sea gets a dark gray color. And the green monster and its orange eyes and tentacle parts emphasize the traditional pirate ship tattoo design on the arms. You can also get these pirate ship tattoos anywhere on your body like legs, back and shoulders. Two red flags are displayed in this pirate ship. This decorative body art has become more popular tattoos than swallow tattoos. The idea of these sailor jerry pirate ship tattoos comes from different symbols and sailing stories like the old man and the sea etc.
Rose and ship tattoo
American traditional ship tattoo is made with a substantial naval style ship hull and rose pin at the bottom of the ship tattoo. The whole tattoo is in black and red. American traditional tattoo ship sails through the sea or ocean with birds flying nearby and substantial clouds in the background. Also, line rays are generated in the ship tattoo design to show the size of the ship. The background of the ship also gets a tiny bit of red. The lower needle rose is bright and strong red. Four leaves are drawn as an extension of the rose that the ship tattoo holds above. The entire tattoo symbolizes the importance of boldness and confidence. The red color increases energy and faith, and the rose represents the bright and bold sentiment of the journey.
Classic ship tattoos
This traditional pirate ship tattoo is given a background of the sun setting into the sea or ocean. With five elevation layers, a red flag can be seen at the top of the ship tattoo. These ship tattoos have birds flying on either side of the ship. This marine style ship tattoo sails through the vast ocean with the tides marking its water world. Like palm trees, these tattoos are of high length. A small tattoo design of the same can be done as a heart tattoo. These traditional American sailor Jerry tattoos capture the essence of tattoo culture. Common meanings of luck are demonstrated through this old-school traditional tattoo. Such a classic American style of a sailing ship or anchor tattoos are now gaining popularity among travel-loving people. These traditional old-school naval ship tattoos convey a sense of the sea world and the ships.
Clipper ship tattoos
A clipper is a merchant sailing ship that originated in the 19th century. The blue sea with vintage shaded ships is framed with red sky clouds and a floral rose design. The tattoos of ships with floral border design make it more presentable. In most vintage ship tattoos, a red rose is drawn at the bottom of the ship tattoos. The Sailor Jerry ships are getting a tan and a gray color with a gold articulation. Most seaman’s canisters have red or green flags on the upper mastiff. The designs of green-yellow shaded leaves have accompanied the red rose. And the side floral design or pattern given to the ship tattoos has a black leaf pattern. This tattoo looks wonderful placed on the bicep.
Octopus and ship tattoos
The octopus pictured here looks like an elaborate and spooky monster. The seaman’s canisters are perfectly made and in the correct colors with a red flag at the top. A curly pattern of clouds has been drawn in this ship tattoo design. Also included in these tattoos is a huge silver moon as the background for the ship. The highlight of this tattoo is the snake monster. This snake monster with more than one long tail in the green water captures the sailor jerry ship in the seas. A scary but simple face is given to the snake monster in these ship tattoos. A color mix of brown, orange, yellow and red-maroon is used for the beast. The white color of the ship’s sails and clouds contrast quite well with the octopus. You can get this tattoo on your arms, legs, thighs or even on your chest.
Ship tattoo in a skull
Pirate ships in these tattoos are scrawled in the outline of a skull. These tattoos are often known as pirate skull tattoos. You can spot pirate ships in the sea with pirate flag on them as shown in the picture here. A sunset setting is given for this pirate ship skull tattoo. This traditional ship tattoo has a lightning bolt pattern in the skull outline of the tattoo. The dark gray clouds and dark gray sea show the solemn dark atmosphere in these pirate ship tattoos. Along with the yellow flag on the ship’s mastiff, a white flag on the front of the pirate ship is also held in the tattoo. You can get this tattoo on your legs, arms, back, chest etc.
Traditional ship tattoo in black and white
This black and white traditional ship tattoo is neatly inked and placed on the neck. The big clouds behind the big ship, the crows flying near the ship and the sun setting in the sea are scenes that we always imagine with the colors, even if it is a black and white picture. Set in a simple black outline, this tattoo features a lot of nautical elements with a minimal design. If you are looking for a bolder design, you can add color to this simple ship tattoo. However, remember that the neck is a delicate area and it is difficult to get an accurate design for this area. These black and white traditional ship tattoos would also look great on your shoulders.
Realistic ship tattoos
This traditional ship tattoo is a colorful treat for the eyes and body. The design and layout are perfectly done with matching colors in this tattoo. Also, the wild unsteady nature of the sea is shown through the blue waves through which the ship is sailing in this tattoo. Hints of a cloudy sky can be seen above the sailing ship and birds hovering nearby. This tattoo would be absolutely stunning placed on your arms or shoulder.
If you are looking for more examples of traditional ship tattoos, check these out.
- Traditionally worn sailor or pirate custom tattoo
- Send tattoos with specific motifs
- Tattoo related to sea voyages
- Merchant ship traditional tattoo
- Ship with anchor tattoos
Featured image from Pinterest