From the Boathouse: Behind the superstitions
Ahoy!
Halloween brings out superstitions in boaters. The ghosts and goblins will be walking the streets this Halloween weekend, and my wife will be riding her broomstick once again.
Everyone knows that most boaters and sea captains are superstitious, and those superstitions can be centuries old. Even modern seamen have their rituals, especially fishermen who have all types of questionable techniques. Just ask any sport-fishing charter boat galley chef for a banana while onboard and watch his response.
Sailors constantly confront danger on the high seas, and their superstitions typically lean toward safety and getting back to port. Fishermen have rituals for a good catch, and these superstitions are not to be taken lightly by any novice guests onboard.
I find it interesting that these seafaring sailors try to influence things that are out of their control such as where the fish are, weather conditions and the ocean’s swells. As strange as some of the superstitions are, people always seem to seek some sort of mystical connection to the environment and objects around them.
Have you heard that a woman onboard a boat is bad luck? I find this strange as every boat sales advertisement shows women on the boats. Tradition states that women were not as emotionally or physically capable on a boat. I think the real reason is that the men would slack on their duties while distracted.
However, the tradition does state further that if a woman is onboard, then she must be naked to calm the seas. This is why the ship figurehead on the bow was a woman who was bare-breasted.
If there is a naked woman on your boat, you cannot whistle at her, because whistling might bring a storm. Ever heard the expression “whistling up a storm” from someone?
Earlier, I mentioned bananas can bring bad luck, and sailors will throw all bananas overboard if found on the boat. For centuries, sailors have believed bananas are an omen of disaster, and fishermen believe that the fruit will ruin any chance of catching fish. Bad banana, bad.
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Tip of the week:
It is time again to start winterizing your boat whether it is floating in a slip or sitting on a trailer. The cooler air and increasing separation in the daytime and nighttime air temperatures will affect the climate inside your boat. These conditions are perfect for mold to grow with the high level of condensation inside boat.
In our area, boating is a year-round activity, but in the off-season, many boats will sit idle until the holiday boat parades or until next Memorial Day.
You want to be proactive and prevent mold from attacking your boat by removing towels, extra clothes and bedding if you are not going to use the items. Open the interior cabinet doors and compartment doors to increase air circulation. Especially, you will want to keep the bilges dry and make sure that you check the boat after every rain shower for leaks into the interior.
Boat dehumidifiers work well but some dehumidifiers require attention, so read about the product carefully. Some boaters will have a lamp on a timer to turn on during the night to help heat the air but this does not work anymore with the new CLF or LED light bulbs as they do not give off the heat like the incandescent bulbs.
One of the best practices is to visit your boat and open her up to let the afternoon breeze blow through the boat while you sit in the cockpit relaxing and enjoying the view.
As always, just keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Please be boat smart and boat safe. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.
The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See the details at boathousetv.com, facebook.com/boathouseradio and twitter.com/boathouseradio.
MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to boathousetv.com.