coin under the mast - Q for greybeards :-)

[CharlesM]

Hello all

Since I am planning to pull the sticks when stowing my boat over hurricane season should I, by tradition, place a coin under the mast when putting the masts back up?

Or will I be tempting Posidon because one should only place a coin under a new mast/boats mast ??

If I do place a coin, since it is a Ketch should I place one under each mast?

What coin should be placed?

I don't think electrolosys is an issue as boat is ferro-cement, and masts are wood.

Cheers
Charles

 

[VicS]

Of course you should, one under each mast. I am not superstitious but there's no point in taking chances with these things. A copper coin will help to protect the heel of the mast from rot. A gold sovereign might be more acceptable to the spirits you might want to appease.

Ps the beard is only going grey so my opinions are only worth ½ a point.

 

[snowleopard]

i think a silver coin is appropriate. i laminated a 10p into the mast foot when building mine so no risk of electrolysis. if you bed yours in epoxy you'll be safe. you wouldn't want copper or cupronickel coming into permanent damp contact with an aluminium mast. remember that a copper coin dropped in the bilge of an aluminium boat can literally eat its way through the skin in a few weeks!

 

[Graham_Wright]

Recommend heads up!

 

[brianrunyard]

Laminating not required, in the question it stated, Ferro hull, wooden mast.

 

[snowleopard]

as i always told the kids before their exams at school - RTBQ!

copper will help prevent rot (perhaps that's why they did it.

 

[DRW]

Perhaps you will find coins already there when you 'up sticks'?

 

[VicS]

Re: Reading the question

Slighty better, it always raised a titter, was the version of that regularly recited by one of the deputy heads at the school where I worked for a while.

"RTQ......read the question....and RTFQ...............read the FULL question"

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Take care! Modern "copper" coins aren't. Judging by the way they are attracted to magnets and upset compasses I suspect they're plated steel. Be a skinflint and use an old penny.

 

[jamesjermain]

In ships the tradition was a gold sovereign under main mast heel.

These days a silver or copper coin under the main is acceptable. Mizzen? Up to you - probably no harm it in.

 

[VicS]

Re: modern copper coins

They do have a steel core but the copper alloy bit is a bit more substantial than just plating.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Re: modern copper coins

I was keeping it simple.