According to naval tradition, a "Plank Owner" is a member of the first crew to take a newly commissioned ship to sea. In the early days of wooden vessels, there were members of the initial crew that actually helped build the ship. While lending a hand in the shipyard, they would often be handling planks or boards and thus became known as "Plank Holders". Eventually, this evolved into "Plank Owners". A plaque with all of the names of the plank owners would be mounted on the ship's bulkhead and the last plank owner to leave the ship would take it with him.

Below is the plank owner plaque for Mutineer Theatre Company. Every person on it has contributed $500 or more prior to our first production. We proudly recognize these individuals in perpetuity for their outstanding generosity and investment in our creative mission.