Nautical tattoo ideas

139 photos and flash · 40% Traditional, 21% Fine line · Forearm most common

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Black ink anchor tattoo on a forearm, with rope forming a heart around the shank and dotwork shading on the crown and lower chevron.
Anchor wrapped in a rope heart on a forearm
Two black and grey tattoos on the backs of a pair of hands, a compass rose on the left and an anchor with a ship's wheel on the right, in a traditional style.
Compass and anchor tattoos on the hands
Traditional-style tattoo of a red and white lifebuoy ringed by a dark chain outline, on the outer ankle of a foot resting in a pink flip-flop.
Red lifebuoy tattoo on an ankle
Black line drawing of a vintage compass, an anchor and a compass rose with hatched shading, shown as a tattoo design without a body placement.
Compass, anchor and compass rose design
Small black and grey anchor and ship's wheel tattoo on the side of a person's ribs, beside a black bikini strap.
Anchor and ship's wheel on the ribs
Black and grey realism tattoo of a ship's wheel with radiating light rays behind it, on the calf.
Ship's wheel with light rays on a calf
Close-up of a small grey traditional-style anchor tattoo on the neck behind the ear, with a white earphone cord visible.
Small anchor tattoo behind the ear
Black and grey pencil drawing of an anchor wrapped in rope with a ship's wheel on the shank, shaded with fine hatching and stippling, shown as a tattoo design with no body placement visible.
Anchor with rope and ship's wheel
Black and grey anchor tattoo with a rope coiled around it on a person's ribs, shaded in a traditional style.
Anchor and rope tattoo on the ribs
Realistic tattoo across a shoulder and upper back showing torn skin that reveals an old sepia map, a blue ship's wheel compass rose and a blue fleur-de-lis.
Torn skin revealing a compass and old map
Black and grey compass rose tattoo with ornate N, E, S and W points on the inner wrist of a hand.
Compass rose on an inner wrist
Black ink brush-stroke anchor design with dripping edges on a plain white background, shown as a tattoo design with no body placement visible.
Brush-stroke anchor design
Black and grey realism tattoo of a compass rose, ship's wheel and pocket watch with chain on the upper arm and shoulder.
Compass, ship's wheel and pocket watch on upper arm
Flash design of a ship's wheel and an anchor wrapped in rope, with script lettering reading Be the one to guide me but never hold me down, in black ink on a pale background.
Ship's wheel and anchor with quote lettering
Black and grey compass rose tattoo with swirling ornamental details on a woman's shoulder, shown beside her neck and chin.
Compass rose on the shoulder
Black ink compass rose sketch with a star centre and fine ring detail on white paper, beside two black pens, shown as a possible tattoo design.
Compass rose sketch design
Two matching black compass rose tattoos on the inner wrists, one on each arm, drawn in fine line detail.
Matching compass roses on two wrists
Four views of a black and grey nautical full sleeve tattoo on an arm, showing an octopus, a skull, a ship's wheel and a compass star, placed from the forearm up to the upper arm.
Black and grey nautical full sleeve
Colour tattoo of a pink rose wrapped in rope with a grey anchor on the upper arm, in a neo-traditional style with soft shading.
Pink rose and anchor on upper arm
Black anchor tattoo with a compass rose, and a red ship's wheel, on the inner forearm.
Anchor, compass and ship's wheel on a forearm
Black and grey ink drawing of a ship's anchor wrapped in rope, with two crossed hatchet axes behind it, on a pale parchment-style background.
Anchor with crossed axes and rope
Black ink flash sketches on tracing paper showing an anchor, a lighthouse, an octopus in a sailor cap, a stag skull with a ship between its antlers, and a paper boat.
Nautical flash sheet with anchor, lighthouse and octopus
Black and grey realism tattoo of a pocket compass and compass rose over an old map background, running along the forearm.
Compass and map on a forearm
Small black fine line anchor tattoo with a loop around the shank, on the inner forearm of a person with pale skin.
Small anchor tattoo on a forearm
Two matching black compass rose tattoos in fine line style sit on the inner wrists of two people, one on the left forearm and one on the right.
Matching compass tattoos on two wrists
Two small black fine line anchor tattoos, one on the top of a foot near the ankle and one on the inner wrist.
Matching small anchor tattoos on foot and wrist
Black and grey fine line anchor tattoos sit on the fingers of two clasped hands, photographed in close up.
Small anchors on two clasped fingers
Two small black fine line tattoos, a ship's wheel on the left foot and an anchor on the right, both placed on the inner heel near the ankle.
Ship wheel and anchor on two feet
Black and grey tattoo of a compass with leaves and a shaded rose across the shoulder and upper back.
Compass and rose on a shoulder
Black and grey anchor with chain and a compass rose with a red star centre, tattooed on a limb in a traditional style.
Anchor and compass rose on a leg
Sheet of fourteen black ink anchor designs on a beige paper background, several with rope, rings or a ship's wheel, in a traditional hand-drawn style.
Anchor designs on a flash sheet
Black ink nautical tattoo of a scallop shell, anchor, ship's wheel and compass rose in a row on the ribs, covered with clear plastic wrap while healing.
Nautical row of shell, anchor, wheel and compass on ribs
Black ink compass rose with an anchor below it, Traditional style, on the upper arm of a person wearing a denim jacket.
Compass rose and anchor on upper arm
Traditional-style nautical design of two swallows, a rope-edged anchor and roses, burned into a pale wooden board, with no body placement shown.
Swallows, anchor and roses design on wood
Black silhouette anchors and ship wheels of varying sizes scattered across a white flash sheet, with no body placement shown.
Anchors and ship wheels design sheet
Black and grey pencil-style drawing of a compass rose with spiked points, a central hub, looping scrollwork and scattered ink dots, shown as a tattoo design on a white background.
Compass rose with swirls and ink dots
Black and grey realism sleeve tattoo of a sailing ship and compass rose on a man's upper arm and forearm.
Sailing ship and compass sleeve
Black and grey compass rose tattoo with ornate swirling details at the nape of a woman's neck, photographed from behind.
Compass rose tattoo at the nape of the neck
Black and grey realism tattoo of a compass, rolled map and candle with a small red wax seal on a forearm.
Compass and old map on a forearm
Realism black and grey full sleeve tattoo on an upper arm and forearm, showing a compass, pocket watch, handwritten map script and an old banknote.
Compass, pocket watch and map sleeve
Black compass rose tattoo with N, E, S and W letters on the upper back of a person with dark hair, shown against a yellow wall.
Compass rose on upper back
Flash sheet of twenty-four black and white anchor designs, many with crosses, shields, rope and an octopus, in traditional and line-art styles.
Anchor and cross flash sheet
Black and grey traditional style tattoo on an upper arm showing a classic cartoon mouse at a ship's wheel, framed by rope, a lamp and an anchor.
Cartoon mouse at ship's wheel with anchor and rope