Ever wonder why some old-timers still won’t let you bring a banana on their fishing boat? Or why certain captains insist you step aboard with your right foot first? Welcome to the fascinating world of nautical superstitions—beliefs that have shaped seafaring culture for centuries and, surprisingly, still influence many sailors today.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the most intriguing myths that linger on in popular imagination.
The Banana Ban: Fruit of Misfortune
Perhaps no superstition is more widespread among modern boaters than the infamous banana ban. Walk onto any charter fishing boat, and there’s a good chance the captain will ask you to leave any yellow fruit on the dock.
This belief traces back to the 1700s, when Spanish trading ships carrying the fruit between the Caribbean and Europe kept suffering what they believed to be banana-wrought bad luck. Other fresh cargo would spoil inexplicably, sailors would die, and fishing boats would return home with meager catches. It makes sense that sailors began associating bananas with disaster, and the superstition stuck.
Today, these happenings have practical explanations. For one, bananas release ethylene gas, which causes other fruits to ripen and spoil rapidly. Additionally, banana crates sometimes harbored dangerous stowaways like poisonous spiders and snakes that could fatally bite crew members. And for fishing boats specifically, if they carried bananas, they had little time for fishing. Instead, they resorted to trolling on the go, which wasn’t very effective.
Whistling Up Trouble
Maritime tradition holds that whistling on deck challenges the wind itself, potentially summoning dangerous storms. Sailors believed that casual whistling showed disrespect to the wind gods, who might respond by unleashing their fury.
However, there was one exception: a ship’s cooks were encouraged to whistle while working. The reasoning was that a whistling cook couldn’t simultaneously eat the crew’s food—therefore proving they weren’t stealing provisions.
Feline Guardians and Weather Predictors
Ship’s cats held special status aboard vessels, serving both practical and supernatural purposes. Beyond controlling rat populations, cats were believed to possess weather-predicting abilities and protective powers.
Sailors developed detailed interpretations of cat behavior, such as these:
- A friendly cat approaching meant good luck.
- A cat that approached and then walked away signaled trouble.
- Sneezing cats predicted rain.
- Frisky behavior meant windy weather ahead.
- Cats licking their fur backward warned of hailstorms.
Modern science explains some of these observations. Cats’ sensitive inner ears can detect barometric pressure changes that precede storms, causing behavioral changes that sailors interpreted as supernatural weather prediction. And even today, who doesn’t feel lucky when approached by a trusting, purring feline?
The Right Foot Ritual
The phrase “getting off on the right foot” doesn’t have maritime origins, but it may as well have. Sailors traditionally boarded ships with their right foot first, believing that starting with the left foot would doom the voyage.
This superstition reflects broader cultural beliefs about left-handedness being unlucky or evil. In many societies, the right side symbolized good fortune, strength, and righteousness, while the left represented weakness and bad luck.
Women at Sea
One of the most controversial maritime superstitions involved women aboard ships. Traditional belief held that having a woman—specifically a clothed woman—on board would bring disaster. They thought she might distract the crew, cause jealousy among sailors, or anger the sea gods themselves.
What’s even stranger is that naked women were considered lucky. This contradiction explains why so many ships featured bare-breasted female figureheads. These wooden women were believed to calm stormy seas and guide vessels safely home with their watchful eyes.
Renaming Rituals: What’s in a Name?
Changing a ship’s name ranks among the most serious maritime taboos. Sailors believed that each vessel’s name was recorded in the god Neptune’s “Ledger of the Deep,” and renaming a ship without proper ceremony would bring about the sea god’s wrath.
Once a ship was christened with its name, it couldn’t be changed without a thorough de-naming ritual and re-christening. Better yet, however, was to never revise the original appellation.
Sacred Birds and Spiritual Messengers
Seabirds, particularly albatrosses, held sacred status in maritime culture. These majestic creatures were believed to carry the souls of drowned sailors, making them powerful spiritual guardians. That’s why killing an albatross was considered one of the worst possible omens.
Seagulls received similar reverence as messengers between the living and the dead. Many sailors refused to harm any seabird, believing such actions would bring swift retribution from the sea itself.
Friday and Other Unlucky Days
Certain calendar dates were considered particularly dangerous for beginning voyages. Friday earned its reputation as an unlucky sailing day partly due to religious associations—it was the day of Christ’s crucifixion. Adding the number 13 made the superstition even stronger.
Other biblically-connected unlucky dates included these:
- The first Monday in April (when Cain killed Abel)
- The second Monday in August (destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah)
- December 31 (Judas Iscariot’s suicide)
- Any Thursday (Thor’s day, associated with storms)
Conservative sailors planned their departures around these dates, preferring to begin voyages on Sundays, which were considered blessed.
Coins, Tattoos, and Protective Talismans
Maritime culture developed numerous protective rituals and symbols. For example, placing coins under a ship’s mast during construction was believed to ensure safe voyages.
Sailors also adorned their bodies with protective tattoos, each design carrying a specific meaning:
- Anchors symbolized stability and hope.
- Swallows indicated safe return (these birds always come back to land).
- Nautical stars provided guidance.
- Roosters and pigs on feet prevented drowning.
These tattoos were meant to be spiritual armor against the ocean’s dangers.
Final Thoughts: Navigating Between Tradition and Progress
The world of nautical superstitions is vast. We’ve reviewed only a few of the most famous myths; hundreds, if not thousands, more exist. In the end, all reveal the fascinating intersection between human psychology, cultural tradition, and practical seamanship. While modern navigation technology has eliminated many genuine uncertainties that spawned these beliefs, the underlying human need for meaning, control, and community connection remains constant.
Whether you’re a weekend sailor or a commercial fisherman, understanding these traditions enriches your connection to maritime heritage. You don’t have to believe in any superstition, but respecting their cultural significance shows appreciation for the generations of mariners who faced the sea’s challenges with courage, wisdom, and hope.
A Note From Smooth Moves
You don’t need to believe in myths to be comfortable on your vessel. Instead of attributing your sore back after a day of sailing to a cat shunning you, attribute it to the real cause: a lack of supportive seating. At Smooth Moves, we sell the world’s best hydraulic boat seat pedestal—a nifty device that prevents your boat’s vibrations and jolts from transferring into and harming your spine. It’s easy to install and the best investment you can make in your physical health while at sea. Experience science-backed relief today!
