From mermaids to sea monsters, the ocean is laden with folklore and myths that are equally fascinating and terrifying. Of course, these myths aren’t just limited to oceans and seas; they also apply to rivers and lakes, especially the myths linked to boating!
While a lot of these myths may sound ridiculous today, they weren’t so hard to believe in ancient times when sailors had to go on long journeys and expeditions with little knowledge and minimal means of communication. Naturally, they put their faith in omens, charms, and superstitions to make it to safety.
Today, the nautical superstitions can be shared as fun stories with friends and family when you rent a boat—check these out!
Myth No. 1: Whistling Up A Storm
Have you ever been told to stop whistling on a boat? Well, centuries ago, it was highly frowned upon. Apparently, by whistling, you could challenge the wind, and as a result, you could get a whole storm. Singing was also not a good idea for the same reason, nor was clapping.
Of course, this myth puts quite a damper on boat parties—imagine birthday parties where you can’t clap or sing “Happy Birthday”—what a bummer. But since it’s 2022, we have science and weather forecasts that tell us that Poseidon is definitely not naïve enough to be tempted by some humans, whistling—you’ve got to give the Greek god a little more credit than that!
Myth No. 2: No Redheads On Board
Historically, redheads have been considered unlucky on shore, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they were also considered unlucky offshore. Naturally, since the risks are greater onboard, it made sense to ban redheads completely from ships.
Also, if a sailor came across a redhead, they had to speak to them before the redhead spoke to mitigate any bad luck right before sailing away. Imagine how nerve-wracking sailing must have be for Irish sailors, with redheads right, left, and center!
Myth No. 3: Renaming A Boat Equals Disaster
Have you ever named something but weren’t quite feeling it, so had to change the name? Yeah, well, you can’t do that with boats. According to ancient legends, once you name a boat, the name is entered into the Leger of The Deep. And changing the name is like tricking the god of the sea, which is obviously like asking for more adventure than you can possibly handle on a typical Sunday afternoon.
Of course, there is also a more boring but practical explanation for this myth. Back in the day, trading ships often had certain reputations and were known at the ports by their names. Changing a name could cause confusion and even problems for the sailor and crew.
Of course, if you’d like to stick with the other explanation and avoid Poseidon’s wrath, you can choose one of our boats—we assure you, none of these have been renamed!
At Wake Riderz, we offer luxury boat rental in Austin, and we have some gorgeous pontoon boats that you can rent to share these amazing myths with friends and family—oh, and we’re okay with whistling, music, and redheads!
Call us for bookings and other details.
