Common Boating Superstitions
Ever since the dawn of civilization, humans have needed a means of transport over bodies of water. Boats have existed for thousands of years, from rudimentary rafts and dugout canoes to today’s elaborate yachts and streamlined fishing boats that are packed with great features.
Because of the risks that boating presented throughout history, a number of strange and alluring superstitions have arisen amongst mariners in every culture.
Some of these peculiar superstitions have passed down to us today, but they may seem confusing at first glance. Curious about the provenance of some of the most common boating superstitions? L&M Marine LLC is your Alabama boat dealer, located in Stapleton. We’ve gathered up some explanations for the most intriguing pieces of boat lore below for your reading pleasure!
Don’t Set Sail on Thursdays
Many cultures have specific dates that they find more auspicious for setting sail. Conversely, there are days that are considered extremely unlucky. Tradition holds that it’s bad luck to set sail on a Thursday, because this day is named for the Norse god of thunder, Thor. To avoid incurring Thor’s wrath, which might result in an encounter with squalls and storms, sailors refused to leave shore on this day.
Another bad day for leaving the harbor was Friday, particularly in Christian nations, as this was the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified. As a result, Sundays are considered a fortuitous day to set sail, since Sundays are set aside for the Lord.
Keep Your Boat’s Original Name
Let’s say you buy a used boat and it’s already got a name painted on the hull, but it’s not a name you really like. Ancient mariners would tell you, “Tough luck!” and insist that you keep that name, unless you undergo a thorough rechristening ceremony for the boat. Casually changing the name of a vessel was considered to be bad luck, as the boat has already developed its own identity under its current name. As a result, boats could only be renamed if an elaborate ceremony was undertaken, and most people considered that to be a waste of time and not worth the effort (or the risk of incurring bad luck if it failed).
Ban The Banana
You might think that a banana would be a convenient and portable seafaring snack, but many sailors would blanch at the thought of this yellow fruit being taken aboard their ships. Bananas have been bad luck to sailors for centuries, but no one’s sure why.
One explanation is that trade ships would often carry bananas as cargo between the Caribbean and mainland Europe during the 1700s, and the Atlantic was known for hurricanes and other storms that would rend ships to pieces, killing entire crews and scattering cargo across the waves. Other ships that came across these wrecks would see very little evidence outside of buoyant bunches of bananas that failed to sink. This led them to think that the bananas themselves were the cause of the wrecks.
Another possible explanation is that bananas often caused other organic cargo to ripen and rot in the hull of a ship, which made traders think that the fruit was cursed. Today, we know that bananas release ethylene gas as they mature, which can hasten the ripening of other fruits and vegetables, but back then, it was a total mystery as to why other fruits would rot around bananas.
Steer Clear of Green Paint
Boats can be painted any number of colors depending on what a boat’s owner prefers. However, one color that is to be avoided is green. Because green is the color of grass, trees and moss, superstitious mariners believed that a green boat would run aground, trying to reach the greenery on land. So other colors were selected instead.
These old mariners’ tales may have put off our ancestors, but they aren’t likely to put off the modern boater. If you’re in the market for a great boat, visit our Stapleton dealership to check out our available selection of new and used boats for sale. L&M Marine, LLC, proudly serves the greater Mobile, Alabama, metro area as well as our neighbors to the south in Pensacola, Florida.