Is it unlucky...

Lordy · 13 May 2008, 16:34

...to re-name your boat?

Was just about to do it and someone warned me that it's unlucky, but I can't have a boat called Anne-Marie II - it just reminds me of my son's mate's rather sexy blonde mother every time I get aboard...if you'll excuse the pun

So - anyone got any old sefarers tales to tell about what happened when they re-named their boat?

Or is there an old seafarers ritual I can go through to reverse the bad luck. Drink ten pints of cider from a decapitated buoy or something?

Thanks all.

jyasaki · 13 May 2008, 16:46

It's supposed to be bad luck, unless done properly.

Do a web search for "Boat Renaming Ceremony" and you'll find several procedures.

The big thing in most of them is to eradicate any on-board reference to the old name. That, and the offering to Neptune.

jky

Andy JC · 13 May 2008, 16:50

Was thinking the same thing myself...

mine was previously called 'Sea Rider' - not exactly original

rickuk3 · 13 May 2008, 16:55

Remove from the water.
Remove any reference to the old name onboard.
Must be out of the water for at least 24 hours.
Attach the new name.
Return to the water.

Bigmuz7 · 13 May 2008, 17:18

I personally don't like the thought of a change.. but I have considered that a full recommissioning would be alright, as long as some respect was paid to her previous incarnation. Read from that what you will

Pete7 · 13 May 2008, 17:21

May have some paperwork to do too, SSR registration to be cancelled, plus Coastguard Form 66, VHF Radio etc. Change insurance docs. Add gold sovereign under the main mast

toast new name on first launch with Magmum of Champs.

Carl · 13 May 2008, 17:51

i thought you more of a bottle of cava man myself pete

Pete7 · 13 May 2008, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

i thought you more of a bottle of cava man myself pete

Nah, that's for speed boats, this is a rib

Pete

Carl · 13 May 2008, 18:09

more a crate of bud i think

willk · 13 May 2008, 18:13

Yes - very unlucky. And here's how I know:

I did all that stuff (never did see the original name - the vendor had it removed) and had new name patches fitted on the tubes before launch.
.
.
.
She developed an air leak (AKA-"Hole") under the new name patch!

Anne-Marie II - not such a bad name, when you consider the alternatives...

steedthrust · 13 May 2008, 18:30

My understanding of it was the name of a ship/boat was carved into the foot of mast. Renaming the boat meant carving the old name out and putting a new name in. Thereby reducing the strength of the mast causing failure.

However this maybe an urban legend, so I stand to be corrected

codprawn · 13 May 2008, 19:31

Personally I would never do it!!!

There are numerous methods - many of which seem to involve toasting Neptune/Davy Jones with copious amounts of rum!!!

Richard B · 13 May 2008, 21:04

This was the subject of a very long-running (and award winning I think) thread on ybw.com a few years ago.

There seem to be many tales and legends about re-naming, mostly based around the myth of bad luck, and just as many on the subject of how to mitigate that bad luck. For every tale of eradicating the name from the vessel, there's one of retaining the name somewhere permanent. Heresay and speculation are rife.

One thing seems to be agreed however.... the renaming ceremony should be an auspicious event and merriment should be the order of the occasion; the champagne, cava, rum and any drink should flow freely! Under no circumstances should the boat disappear one day to re-appear quietly under a new identity, and woe betide the owner who sanctions such a move!

But of course there's even exceptions to this rule

Nick Hearne · 14 May 2008, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by steedthrust

My understanding of it was the name of a ship/boat was carved into the foot of mast. Renaming the boat meant carving the old name out and putting a new name in. Thereby reducing the strength of the mast causing failure.

I have heard the same!
I renamed my last boat with out a hitch & I do not believe in bad luck tosh!
It's like not walking under a ladder, that just makes sense because you do not want something dropping on your head!

jyasaki · 14 May 2008, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by steedthrust

My understanding of it was the name of a ship/boat was carved into the foot of mast.

Well, that would be great, but my rib came without a mast.

jky

jyasaki · 14 May 2008, 17:13

Here we go:

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm
http://www.48north.com/mr_offline/denaming.htm
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/renaming/
http://www.bitwrangler.com/wt/renaming.shtml

It actually sounds kind of fun (assuming the superstition doesn't rear up and bit you in the a$$.)

I think you need to have someone video your ceremony so you can post it here.

jky

Limey Linda · 14 May 2008, 18:01

Yes, it very unlucky if you are a whacko

m chappelow · 15 May 2008, 21:50

think the bad luck thing depends where you live i was told by some of our local fishermen to leave the original name hidden somewhere on the boat then to go around the boat with a flaming torch in all the voids and lockers ect to chase out the bad vibes and evil spirits then rename the boat with a splash of the local brew or champagne if your posh. might have been ok on a viking longship or sailing boat but walking about a rib full of fuel might not be a good thing these days.