Boat Naming Superstitions
Why is it bad luck to rename a boat? Because so much about taking a boat or ship out on the water relies on things beyond our control — the weather, the state of the ocean, the mechanics of the vessel — sailors have a lot to worry about. Most psychologists believe that superstitions evolve from feeling a lack of control.
This superstition has its roots in maritime culture, originating from ancient civilizations where boats were named after gods believed to protect them. The ancient Egyptians, for example, named their boats after gods to seek their protection. This practice became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Renaming Your Boat: A Guided Approach
What are the rules for renaming a boat?
If you must change the name of a boat, a purging and renaming ceremony must be completed before the name is revealed or anything with the new name enters the boat. The name should be easy to read, pronounce, and remember, as it will be essential to your boat’s identity.
Remember that a boat’s name should be kept very brief—usually to a single word or two, and on rare occasions three words. It should be short enough to fit on a transom, and easily understood during a VHF radio broadcast.
After the purging ceremony, you can hold the christening ceremony as described above to make the new name official. Per information from the USCG, your boat’s name should contain no more than 33 characters.
Renaming Rituals
Just as you would hold a boat christening ceremony for new vessels, renaming a boat has ceremonial rules to follow to ensure a lifetime of good luck on the water. In fact, renaming a boat is about as taboo as it gets when it comes to maritime superstitions.
The decision to keep or change your boat’s name is ultimately yours. If you decide to rename your boat, the ceremony can be a meaningful way to honor the boat’s past and welcome its new identity. A boat’s name holds significance and plays a role in its reputation and the luck it brings to its owner.
Changing A Boat’s Name: The Boat Renaming Ceremony
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.
If you are brave enough to anger the gods by changing a boat name, then there are boat renaming ceremonies that have to be performed, rules that have to be followed, and alcohol that has to be drunk (ok, so it’s not all bad) before any changes can take place.