Author Topic: Is it bad luck to change the name of a boat?  (Read 6974 times)

killer bee

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Is it bad luck to change the name of a boat?
« on: January 23, 2013, 06:53:29 pm »
I'm rebuilding a stinger 260 and wanted to change the name of the boat, Heard it was bad luck to do so,any opinions?

stinger390x

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Re: Is it bad luck to change the name of a boat?
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2013, 04:24:04 pm »
From the experts, the "nay-sayers" and the obsessive compulsive, it is actually bad luck to change the name without a cerimonial ritual.
I found this somewhere on the interweb years ago...
Here it is

Ceremony for Renaming Your Boat

Everyone knows that renaming your boat will bring nothing but bad luck and make your boating experience something that you will want to forget. But what happens when, after months of searching, you find your dreamboat with a name that you just cannot live with. For example, my first love was a 28-foot Alden with the most beautiful lines I’d ever seen. She was named Perfidious. How could anything this graceful be named betrayer of trust? Well, I never bought her, but I often thought that if I had, I would have renamed her Magic, after my wife.
Renaming a boat is, of course, not something to be done lightly. Since the beginning of time, sailors have sworn that there are unlucky ships and the unluckiest ships of all are those who have defied the gods and changed their names. So, is there a way to change a name and not incur the wrath of those deities that rule the elements? Yes, Virginia, there is.
 
According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. It is logical therefore, if we wish to change the name of our boat, the first thing we must do is to purge its name from the Ledger of the Deep and from Poseidon’s memory.
This is an involved process beginning with the removal or obliteration of every trace of the boat’s current identity. This is essential and must be done thoroughly. I once went through the ceremony after the owner had assured me that every reference to his boat’s old name had been purged from her. A couple of weeks later, he discovered he had missed a faded name on her floating key chain. I advised him to start over, perhaps with a little extra libation for the ruler of the sea. Unfortunately, he declined. Since then, his boat has been struck by lightning, had its engine ruined by the ingress of the sea, been damaged by collision and finally sunk! It pays to be thorough.
In purging your boat, it is acceptable to use White-Out or some similar obliterating fluid to expunge the boat’s name from log books, engine and maintenance records etc., but it is much easier to simply remove the offending document from the boat and start afresh. Don’t forget the life rings and especially the transom and forward name boards. Do not under any circumstances carry aboard any item bearing your boat’s new name until the purging and renaming ceremonies have been completed! Once you are certain every reference to her old name has been removed from her, all that is left to do is to prepare a metal tag with the old name written on it in water-soluble ink. You will also need a bottle of reasonably good Champagne. Plain old sparkling wine won’t cut it.
Since this is an auspicious occasion, it is a good time to invite your friends to witness and to party.
Begin by invoking the name of the ruler of the deep as follows:
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name (here insert the old name of your vessel) which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.)
In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour at least half of the bottle of Champagne into the sea from East to West. The remainder may be passed among your guests.)
It is usual for the renaming ceremony to be conducted immediately following the purging ceremony, although it may be done at any time after the purging ceremony. For this portion of the proceedings, you will need more Champagne, Much more because you have a few more gods to appease.
Begin the renaming by again calling Poseidon as follows:
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to take unto your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and for all time known as (Here insert the new name you have chosen), guarding her with your mighty arm and trident and ensuring her of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm.
In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation and in honor of your greatness, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (At this point, one bottle of Champagne, less one glass for the master and one glass for the mate are poured into the sea from West to East.)
The next step in the renaming ceremony is to appease the gods of the winds. This will assure you of fair winds and smooth seas. Because the four winds are brothers, it is permissible to invoke them all at the same time, however, during the ceremony; you must address each by name.
Begin in this manner:
Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel (Insert your boat’s new name) the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.
(Facing north, pour a generous libation of Champagne into a Champagne flute and fling to the North as you intone:) Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid breath.
(Facing west, pour the same amount of Champagne and fling to the West while intoning:)  Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.
(Facing east, repeat and fling to the East.) Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath.
(Facing south, repeat, flinging to the South.) Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your scalding breath.
Of course, any champagne remaining will be the beginnings of a suitable celebration in honor of the occasion.
Once the ceremony has been completed, you may bring aboard any and all items bearing the new name of your vessel. If you must schedule the painting of the new name on the transom before the ceremony, be sure the name is not revealed before the ceremony is finished. It may be covered with bunting or some other suitable material.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2013, 04:27:21 pm by stinger390x »

312stinger.midcabin

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Re: Is it bad luck to change the name of a boat?
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2013, 03:04:01 pm »
I found it the worse luck to remove the old name and not replace it with the new one promptly...   Back in the early 80's I bought my first twin-screw boat - a Wellcraft Nova.  After a winter's worth of work - upholstery, Imron paint, stereo, gages... the works other than engines, it was launched in early May (when the lakes finally thaw in MN) but didn't have a name.  The original name (belive me or not) was “The Lonely Bull”.  Now that’s original - NOT.  That name belongs on the side of a semi-truck, not a boat.  Well back at the dock, 10 days after launching, some muskrat was looking for a nesting spot and thought the starboard drive shaft bellows looked inviting.  Overnight, while at the dock, it went under.  Fortunately it was moored on both sides thus the ropes kept it far enough out of the water that the gages were spared.  But everything else was wet.  Some interesting lessons were learned.  New starters, alternators, and batteries of course.  The engines were fine... drain everything, fill, run to temperature, drain and repeat.  But anything electrical that had 12 volts to it was shot.  I open the stereo case and even the circuit traces (stripes) on the circuit boards had eroded completely away due to electrolysis.  The terminals on the battery switches had grown to 4x their original size from the galvanic corrosion.  But 6 weeks later we were back on the water.  The difficult part was that it took 20 months to settle with the insurance company along with an appearance before a judge.  Insurance said that damage caused by rodents is excluded in the policy… and it turns out a muskrat is defined as a “North American Aquatic Rodent”.  The judge agreed with the insurance company BUT said they were liable to cover the cost of the sinking.  So in the end, I had to pay out of pocket to replace that drive shaft bellows the muskrat chewed though but not the rehab. 

Final lesson learned… tuck the drives all the way down while moored in muskrat territory!  And ya know... I never did name that boat. 
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 03:12:57 pm by 312stinger.midcabin »

stinger390x

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Re: Is it bad luck to change the name of a boat?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2013, 07:12:13 am »
Wow! Sad story...
I know a guy with a Nova and they are nice boats. Sorry to hear about your luck but I'm glad you got it fixed and back floating again.