General Info: Renaming a boat and the ritual

[JamesPNW]

Hi all,

I was reading a viking historical novel and it described that when a boat changes name, to avoid bad luck the owner would have a virgin pees in the bilge. Have anyone heard of this ritual? Does the virgin has to be a girl or boy will do? For Cat, both bilged have to be peed in, right? I thought giving a toast and gift to Neptune is sufficient.

Just curious.

[boatman61]

Good luck with that one..

[Annie in WA]

We renamed our boat 20 years ago and she has been a fine lucky boat so far. Crossed the equator twice and lived aboard for years. As far as I know no one regardless of experience ever whizzed in the bilge. We did a denaming ceremony that included thanking the old name and removing everything with the old name from the boat. No white out we cut out any reference to the old name and took it off the boat! Then we had a traditional naming ceremony.

[fxykty]

It’s up to you whether you have a ceremony or not - there really isn’t anything out there that cares.

That said, if you have a YT channel then you definitely have to have a renaming ceremony.

And getting an old name (or stripes, or whatever) to stop ghosting on fibreglass is a big job.

[DanielI]

I don’t mean to hijack your thread, but I’m curious about the fact that all the rituals I’ve seen described are essentially pagan. Many people may not be bothered by this, but for sailors of certain religions (I don’t suppose there are so many other religious Jews out there, but certainly many Christians and Muslims would have the same issue) would consider making an offering to Neptune to be problematic.

[ChrisJHC]

I was once on a boat where three of the five of us were Anglican priests.
I asked them their thoughts and no-one had any concerns.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

I was once on a boat where three of the five of us were Anglican priests.
I asked them their thoughts and no-one had any concerns.

There’s got to be a (new) joke thread post to that event

[Fore and Aft]

JamesPNW as soon as I read the thread title I wondered who would bring up the virgin peeing in the bilge. I have been to a fishing boat renaming ceremony where the skippers young daughter peed in the bilge while we drank large amounts of free booze. It's still a bit hazy but I am sure some words were said and then some more booze was drunk.
I am sure all this started just because some viking wanted an excuse to have a party without the Mrs getting upset and the tradition has just carried on.
The same with boat launching's, usually there is a fair bit of drinking and back slapping going on.
Cheers

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by JamesPNW

Hi all,

I was reading a viking historical novel and it described that when a boat changes name, to avoid bad luck the owner would have a virgin pees in the bilge. Have anyone heard of this ritual? Does the virgin has to be a girl or boy will do? For Cat, both bilged have to be peed in, right? I thought giving a toast and gift to Neptune is sufficient.

Just curious.

Not in the bilge, on the stemhead.



The champagne used to christen ships is a polite simulacrum of virgin pee.


Some people toast Neptune and the four winds -- seems like it couldn't hurt.



But I skipped the virgin pee when I renamed my boat, and as a result, was almost shipwrecked on the very first voyage which took place on the very same day. I wouldn't risk it, if I were you!


As to whether all this paganism should be a problem for Christians -- why, you celebrate Christmas, don't you? Paganism is all around you.

[Fore and Aft]

Dockhead I never thought of Champagne being a substitute for virgins pee. I imagine the sort of sheila you would find to pee on the stem in front of a crowd is not going to be a virgin!
Cheers

[faragaki]

Heck, if gender is no problem my daughter has twin 3-year-old boys that will pee on anything you have, boats, cars, house, leg. For a hundred bucks, travel expenses for the family, and a bottle of Aqua-Fina, you could re-name your boat six times in an hour. Twins to boot, that solves your catamaran problem.

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

I was once on a boat where three of the five of us were Anglican priests.
I asked them their thoughts and no-one had any concerns.

My Fiji crew were fundamental Christians.
Sacrifices to the shark god were practiced.

They viewed the first commandment to mean Yahweh is Prime in the pantheon.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

Dockhead I never thought of Champagne being a substitute for virgins pee. I imagine the sort of sheila you would find to pee on the stem in front of a crowd is not going to be a virgin!
Cheers

My thoughts exactly Nobodies going to be peeing in my bilge, virgin or otherwise

[JamesPNW]

Originally Posted by faragaki

Heck, if gender is no problem my daughter has twin 3-year-old boys that will pee on anything you have, boats, cars, house, leg. For a hundred bucks, travel expenses for the family, and a bottle of Aqua-Fina, you could re-name your boat six times in an hour. Twins to boot, that solves your catamaran problem.

I wasn’t sure if boys would be the right requirement. But getting a boy to do the job would be easier. On down side, I was just clean the 2 bilges with bleach and now this ritual will stink the bilge again. Champagne replacement is good, but let’s see how many agree to that.

[tarian]

Are you a viking and if not why worry about it ?,
Do you look at a black cat from the left and get scared ? why worry about it
Do you believe n little green men ? why worry about it
I suppose we need to worry about something