Polar Kraft

Let’s face it…boaters are a superstitious bunch. You’ve got to believe that storied history goes all the way back to the days of the earliest ocean-going vessels, when everything from bad weather to scurvy were connected to various perceived transgressions by crewmembers and (more likely) unknowing passengers. String enough of those coincidences together, and the word spreads quickly that something as innocent as bringing a banana onboard can wreak havoc on a voyage that would otherwise be smooth sailing.

Whether you view boating superstitions as solemn, don’t-ever-mess-them laws, or if you get a chuckle out of the seemingly outrageous notions that have sprung up over the years, they are part of nautical folklore. And, being notoriously nostalgic, those of us with a love for boating and the water tend to embrace even the nuttier superstitions—even if it’s done with a sly wink of the eye.