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mrchristian · 14-01-2015, 09:14

Would like to hear what people think on this.I once had a boat called Wrenbury Bridge One which I changed to Pequod, then not only had very bad luck but that bad luck started when the boat came in contact with another boat called Moby Dick!

Group9 · 14-01-2015, 09:18

I changed the name of my boat from my daughter's English name to her actual Korean name (she's adopted) so I didn't think that constituted a real change, luck wise.

wgewaldii · 14-01-2015, 11:04

Pequod (Pequot) tribe was exterminated in 1638. Unlucky name to begin with.

denverd0n · 14-01-2015, 12:29

Well, you did ask what people think, so...

I think it's pretty funny that, in this day and age, there are actually still people who believe in this kind of superstitious nonsense.

**Jim Cate** · 14-01-2015, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Well, you did ask what people think, so...

I think it's pretty funny that, in this day and age, there are actually still people who believe in this kind of superstitious nonsense.

"Superstitious nonsense"??? My gawd, man, you are jousting with destiny there! It is a well known FACT that if you change the name of a boat the keel will fall off (especially if it is a Benehuntalina), the mast will fall down, the anchor will drag and all the guns on board will misfire.

How do I know this is true? I saw it on CF!

Jim

wgewaldii · 14-01-2015, 15:08

Sailor's superstitions have a long tradition.

Very Superstitious: 13 Sailor Superstitions

See #11 for this thread.

You can add to the list a knife in the mast to bring wind, and a coin under the mast for good luck.

**Dockhead** · 14-01-2015, 16:04

I'm not superstitious in the least! Not at all!

However, purely coincidentally, the worst day I ever had on my boat, the closest I've ever come to calling the Coast Guard for help, was the very same day I changed the name of my boat . . .

Pure coincidence . . . .

Tayana42 · 14-01-2015, 16:08

I'm not superstitious and I'm an agnostic. I would say I'm an atheist but I'm afraid God would hear.

S/V B'Shert

MarkJ · 14-01-2015, 17:19

I am not superstisious. But 27 of my friends on 18 boats have been killed after changing their boat name and all within 5 minutes of the relaunching!!

The last one was particularly terrible sailors death, his last words were "I buried the gold just near.....".

.

Brob2 · 14-01-2015, 17:31

First keel boat was a 1980 model called '10' (as were a lot of boats from 1980, I'm sure) which I renamed. Engine failed on our first coastal voyage and had to sail through the Reversing Falls of the St John River in New Brunswick. Almost foundered off of Seal Island in N.S. a few weeks later. I'm not superstitious so I don't believe it was because of the name change. I'm pretty sure it was because I negelected to put a dime under the mast step and allowed women aboard.

leftbrainstuff · 14-01-2015, 17:34

Neptune has strict rules. I'd consider it a name change and offer Neptune the suitable respect.

Seriously though a renaming is great fun and a seminal moment in boat ownership.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

PDA1 · 14-01-2015, 17:47

I'm not superstitious one bit....not one bit EXCEPT about renaming a boat.

The only boats that I know that have been renamed were either struck by lightning or sunk. That's a total of 2 boats.

However, I do believe that The Great Commodore of the Universe doesn't tolerate boats that have stupid names. We sail upon His seas so we should do so humbly, as much as possible, lest He send a gale to teach us a lesson.

But Pequod? Oh man....you're asking for it!

Call me Ishmael....

**Jim Cate** · 14-01-2015, 17:59

Well, to be honest about it, we changed the name of our first "Insatiable" when we bought her (previous names were Target, Fantasia and finally No Problems). We had a little party when we did it, and while we didn't actually pour rum into the sea for Neptune, it's likely that some was spilled on deck. No proper re-naming ceremony at all. And sure enough, we were dismasted in that boat.

Oh... it was 12 years and around 60,000 miles later when that event came about.

Bad luck for sure...

Jim

gamayun · 15-01-2015, 00:23

My poor neglected boat was called Touch of Grey. Just listen to the lyrics from this Grateful Dead song and tell me they ain't morose. The PO had even left a soured, Dead Red (non alcoholic) apple wine on board when I took possession. The vinegar went down the sink when I renamed her Kynntana, which means star in Malagasy and was my mother's stage name as a circus performer. Even during times that would seem bad for some (rainy, cold, out alone, things broke), I am always having a blast. So, despite the fact that making decisions based on superstitions are silly, how in the world could changing a name or translating it make a person unlucky, especially if one lives honestly and takes good care of their boat? You'd have to go back to believing the world is flat and you're going to sail off the edge (and that women and red heads are bad luck on a boat, too)....