Superstitious or just tradition

[lesweeks]

I'm still in the destructive phase of restoring my old yawl. Whilst removing some shelving I came across a 1920, silver, George V sixpence. At the time I thought it a pity that it wasn't eight years older and minted the year of the boat being launched. And then today I was reading online about the tradition of putting a silver coin under the mast when it is stepped which, naturally, led to an ebay search for a suitable 1912 silver coin. Just seems like a nice idea. Anyone else got one or any other tradition/superstition?

 

[Poignard]

Somebody once told me that when a boat had her mast lifted out for the first time, the yard foreman would nip below and pocket the coin.

 

[Spuddy]

I was doing some jewllery during the off season a couple of years ago and started on a silver whale. Didn't quite work out so popped it under when stepping the mast. Cookson Gold would sell you a bit of sheet and a piercing saw isn't too dear. Trouble is silver has shot up in price.

 

[cliffordpope]

I put a silver shilling under the mast step when I restored my boat. It wasn't of any particular date, just found in interesting but not boat-related circumstances. (Actually I broke into an abandoned safe I found on a dump, and it was the only thing inside)
I'd use the one you found - it's associated with the boat after all.

When renovating my cottage I found a cat skeleton buried in the wall. I put that back too - you can't be too careful.

 

[Roach1948]

Cuchillo on here kindly donated Roach's 1948 coin. Nice as it has a Brigantine under sail on the tail side. Still under the mast; and mast still up.

 

[joliette]

I did some work last year to reinforce Joliette's mast step. I found a 1950 silver shilling under the Proctor mast step, which was fitted in the mid 1980's when the original wooden mast was replaced. I was very careful not to loose the shilling down the bilge whilst completing the work. The coin never left the boat and it is now back where I found it. I guess I am superstitious!

 

[monkey_trousers]

I found a 1937 penny, wedged in a limber hole, down in the engine room of pansy. 1937 being the year she was built.

have to admit I had a bit of a moment. certain 1937 pennies being worth more than my house, and then thinking, superstition and all that, what if it was a valuable one, should I flog it or stick it back

one suggestion was that if it were a valuable one, to sell it, and then sell the boat thus ridding myself of any bad JuJu brought about by removing the coin

 

[ADLS]

Get the coin valued then make the decision on to sell or knot. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif