The Myth Behind Having Bananas On Your Molokai 2 Oahu Support Boat

No Bananas

It’s common knowledge that seafarers are a superstitious breed - but why?
My theory is that it’s because few professions contend with so many variables which are completely and utterly out of their control. The weather has a mind of its own, sometimes the fish bite and sometimes they don’t, and of course, there’s the ever present danger of sea monsters and falling off the edge of the world.

SEVEN SUPERSTITIONS OF THE SEA
NEVER SAIL ON A FRIDAY
These days this one is probably more strongly tied to festive Friday nights at the local than its original meaning, which actually dates back to the crucifixion of Christ - which occurred on a Friday.

NEVER CARRY BANANAS
There are several suggested origins of this well known superstition. It is true that Polynesian seafarers believed bananas harboured evil spirits as their supplies would rot prematurely in the presence of these yellow devils.
Another finds its source in documented cases of merchant sailor strikes in the 18th Century. The working mariners refused to carry bananas due to the detrimental effect this fruit had on the rest of the cargo during the month long voyage from the Americas to the auction houses in Europe. Poor quality produce on the auction floor resulted in a lower price under the hammer which in turn meant less money for the sailors, if they got paid at all.
Science has since produced the answer. Bananas release ethylene gas which is a primary catalyst in the ripening - and rotting - process of many foodstuffs.

NEVER HARM AN ALBATROSS
Good advice, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service certainly have a dim view of those who do. Sailors believe albatross carry the souls of dead seaman and heaven help the fool who injures one.

WHISTLING UP THE WIND
A superstition considered a curse in a breeze for fear of a full blown storm, yet conversely is employed by sailors becalmed in the doldrums to illicit the puff needed to clear those frustrating latitudes.

NEVER LIGHT A SMOKE WITH A CANDLE
This is one for the wives and girlfriends left ashore. It has many reputed origins, all based on the belief that such an action would result in the death of a seafarer. Before the advent of electricity, navigational beacons like lighthouses needed candles as a source of illumination. Any action that threatened the flame, such as a careless pipe smoking lighthouse keeper, could have disastrous consequences. Hollywood paid homage to this fallacy of yesteryear in the epic “The Perfect Storm”. The scene depicted the hero’s girlfriend lighting up while gazing wistfully out the window to sea as the tempest approached.

RED SKY IN THE MORNING, SAILORS WARNING
Having witnessed countless dramatic sunrises at sea I have learnt to pay reverence to this one. The burning skies are invariably followed by howling southerly busters, although occasionally the wind will back from the east and north east on the leading edge of an approaching subtropical storm.

A NAKED WOMEN ON DECK WILL CALM THE STORM
My personal favourite and fairly self explanatory. I would have thought, this is the reason for the scantily clad figurines adorning the bows of classic vessels.

Stay safe.
DW

My friends son wanted to bring a Banana on my boat and I made him eat it before he came on board, having said that any young scantily clad female is more than welcome to board my boat anytime they wish, ...............as long as they aren't eating a banana of course.

In 1991 I was coach of the Australian womens outrigger team for the Molokai to Ohau race and when the girls dropped a bag of bananas in the support boat the owner just lost it , he said he would never catch a fish again.

The bananas superstition evolved from the fact that Bananas ripen other fruit too fast. On a boat with limited storage space it was not a good idea to store the bananas with any other fruits for the voyage. Hence no bananas on boats.

How it became bad luck from there who knows.

Really, 10 years at sea and never heard the bananas thing ever. I seem to remember stocking up with like almost a tonne of bananas for a 3 week period at sea.

Just to throw another old maritime saying into the mix. A Fanny is actually a container used to keep salted meat in. Also the saying cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey has nothing to do with the loss of a monkeys man bits. The saying comes from the base that the cannon balls were stacked on (stacked in a pyramid shape). The bottom plate was brass which contracted in the cold. When it got really cold the plate contracted and the cannon balls spilt all over the deck.

Sorry just thought I would throw those in :)

We never let bananas on the boat. I once read a story about a Spanish fleet returning from South America in the 1600's went through a hurricane and the only ships lost were those carrying bananas. So they were banned on ships from then on.

Another boatey here that bans bananas on boats.

(What a tongue twister! )

Some fisho's can get pretty serious about this, I went on a trip up to the Kimberleys many years ago and one of our crew had a banana milkshake in Broome before we left, the charter guide taking us went of his brain, a bit overboard IMO , but we may go down in history as the only blokes to spend 2 weeks in the Kimberleys and not to land a Barra.

^^ yeah they do, my uncle won't even let banana boat sunscreen on board..

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Snapppa said..
but we may go down in history as the only blokes to spend 2 weeks in the Kimberleys and not to land a Barra.

Snappa thats heavy 2 weeks in the Kimberleys and no Barra did the captain know the area or how to drive a boat. I was in Mexico in September and the fishing was unreal catching so many yellow fin tuna only small one's 7 kilo's max and I was using s##t gear that made it even more fun we had no bananas on the boat but plenty of Coronas 'Yes Please Mr Wizard"

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maxeaus said..

My friends son wanted to bring a Banana on my boat and I made him eat it before he came on board, having said that any young scantily clad female is more than welcome to board my boat anytime they wish, ...............as long as they aren't eating a banana of course.

I too agree with many sea traditions, BUT i have seen a naked women on a boat, and surprisingly she had a Banana as well AT the time i thought it a good look really

Here's my story that dispels the myth, another fishing story, we where in a game fishing tournament off Perth about 10 years ago, a mate and myself fished onboard a boat we hadn't been on before, a couple of hrs in , my mate opened the esky to get a beer and I noticed he had a couple of bananas in the esky on board, I said to my mate if the skipper sees these he is going to throw them and us overboard, about the 5 mins later we had a blue marlin hooked up and about another 40 minutes later we had tagged around a 200 kg Blue Marlin, hi fives all round, and the skipper was non the wiser

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Snapppa said..

Here's my story that dispels the myth, another fishing story, we where in a game fishing tournament off Perth about 10 years ago, a mate and myself fished onboard a boat we hadn't been on before, a couple of hrs in , my mate opened the esky to get a beer and I noticed he had a couple of bananas in the esky on board, I said to my mate if the skipper sees these he is going to throw them and us overboard, about the 5 mins later we had a blue marlin hooked up and about another 40 minutes later we had tagged around a 200 kg Blue Marlin, hi fives all round, and the skipper was non the wiser

Thats GOLD "Stoked"

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jbshack said..

maxeaus said..

My friends son wanted to bring a Banana on my boat and I made him eat it before he came on board, having said that any young scantily clad female is more than welcome to board my boat anytime they wish, ...............as long as they aren't eating a banana of course.

I too agree with many sea traditions, BUT i have seen a naked women on a boat, and surprisingly she had a Banana as well AT the time i thought it a good look really

Naked women with bananas on boats.....
Damn, I cant stop thinking about that now!
Mmm, might try googling it.