Renaming Boats...Bad Mojo?

Steve Steffy

Well-known member
I know it's bad luck to rename a fishing vessel, or any boat for that matter. But I really do hate the name of my fishing boat. There's already a charter boat captain in our waters that has two boats with the same name on them. I almost didn't buy my boat because of that fact. I'm seriously thinking of renaming and going through the whole "ceremony" this spring. Has anybody else here done this or do have you guys just scraped off or painted over the old name and added the new on top of it.

I'm just leary about doing this...the next thing you know my wife will start bringing bananas on board.

Steve
 
I'm just leary about doing this...the next thing you know my wife will start bringing bananas on board.

Steve,
Just go ahead and paint over with the new name "Banana Boat" and never worry about a thing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, what's the worse that can happen?
 
Good morning, Steve~

Many years ago, I changed the name of my Dad's gaff sloop - without incident over 20 or so years of sailing.

Of course the gods may have made an exception. I named it WILLET - instead of my Dad's SNOOTY....I know my whole family supported the change - except, of course, my Dad.....

All the best,

SJS
 
The Renaming procedure involved much champagne, the reading of the legend, a toast to the gods. I had friends and family involved, so it was an enjoyable night. Go through with it and you'll have an experience to remember.
 
I heard it requires a certain type of dance, videotaped naturally and then shared with all on this site. Otherwise nothing good comes from changing the name.

Mark W
 
I heard it requires a certain type of dance, videotaped naturally and then shared with all on this site. Otherwise nothing good comes from changing the name.

Mark W

During the videotaped dance, all clothing worn by the future skipper must be sacrificed and burned on an altar to honor Poseidon.

And don't leave any hats on beds.
 
Lots of seers out there performing the renaming ceremony and dance to fend off bad juju. Around here they normally roll themselves a cocktail an hour or two beforehand to ensure good mojo.

Forgot to mention...mojo good, juju bad. Mojo never bad. ;-)
 
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It is terribly bad luck. However, in some circumstances when the name is so bad, I believe Poseidon is happy to take the crappy name off the roster and replace it with a new one.

I've been willing to suffer the consequences twice. I would never embark on a renaming unless absolutely necessary.

With this said, I'd rather re-name a boat than have a banana on board.
 
Consult I AIN'T SUPERSTITIOUS by Willie Dixon, good recordings by Howlin Wolf and Jeff Beck. Also, GOT MY MOJO WORKING by Preston Foster, recorded by Muddy Waters 1957. Juju goes both ways, good and bad...
 
Well, considering I never bothered naming my duckboat, much less changing the name on it, and it tried to dump me in the drink the first year I had it...I'm wondering how much it really matters?

I'm not entirely superstitious, but when it comes to boats I do err on the side of caution. And the yahoos at our boat dock will welcome yet another reason to drink a beer or twelve. I think ceremony is in order this spring...that stupid name has to go.

Dave...Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm afraid the guys in our marina will misconstrue that for banana hammock and start sporting them. No thanks!

Steve...That's good to know, I'd be quite happy with 20 years of minimal incidents. Thanks for that confidence booster.

Kevin H....Our boat is in the marina right behind the Sloppy Duck Saloon...you can bet it will be an enjoyable night by everybody around.

Kevin B...I won't have the females in the house fighting over whose name gets to be put on the boat. That won't likely be an option.

Mark...I dance like a white boy, that's probably not a very good idea. especially if beverage is involved. It would certainly be entertaining though.

Jeff...I do have one of those fancy skipper hats ya know. That could make it all the more entertaining.

SJ...Mojo good...Juju bad - Got it. If the dance occuurs it will be dubbed the Mojo Dance.

Nelson...No bananas on board, ever - period. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Vince...I should probably go get those and play them over and over on the boat while we're out fishing.

Thanks for the replies everybody,
Steve
 
Take a picture of the boat with the current name and keep it on the boat. Charter captain told me this years ago and I have never strayed from it.
 
I suppose that would cover all the bases just in case. But If I'm not mistaken if the "ceremony" is conducted properly ALL traces of the old name should be gone. That includes in log books, pictures, name in marina records, mechanical records and anything else with that recorded name. I'd hate to try to pull a fast one on Poseidon.

Steve
 
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