Why Are Bananas Bad Luck on a Boat Madeira Beach FL
Perhaps the grimmest theory as to why bananas are bad luck on fishing boats is due to their connection with shipwrecks. Before the days of coast guards and radio communication, an SOS signal was a bit more difficult. As such, many ships sank without the knowledge of anyone other than the captain and crew. As a ship drifted into the oceanic abyss, certain items would begin to float to the surface, including bananas. Floating bananas, therefore, served as an indicator to passing boats that there was likely a shipwreck nearby. It didn’t take long for people to start making the connection between bananas and shipwrecks.
When trade ships sailing from the Caribbean & Spain started to disappear, legend has it that only the curved yellow fruits would be found floating amongst the wreckages. Fishermen can be a bit superstitious, and the myth surrounding bananas is all the evidence needed. The origin of this superstition regarding banana and fishing boats can be traced back to the 1700s. One of the more sensible theories regarding the infamous banana superstition is the connection between bananas and spiders.
It is believed that after eating the fruit, the banana oil that stays on your hand spooks the fish, causing them to run away. For this reason, fishermen are strongly against having bananas on their boats. Spiders can be really harmful, particularly when they are venomous spiders. Sadly, they are known to be the major stowaways that hide in bananas. Clothing items manufactured by the Banana Republic are also banned on some boats.
Why Are Banana's Bad Luck on a Fishing Boat? http://t.co/Nwej7jsXFi
— Merchant Leeds (@MerchantLeeds) May 15, 2013
Offshore captains in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys have been known to even include Banana Boat sunscreen and Banana Republic clothing in the list of things not welcome aboard. We can’t say how far back the superstition goes, but at least among sport fishermen there exists a belief that bananas on a boat are unlucky. Bananas are suspected by many to be fish repellant due to their stickiness and scent. This problem is also linked to the ethylene gas that banana produces.
Spiders, snakes, and other poisonous vermin living among bananas carried in the hold would, on long haul trips, expand their horizons by infesting other parts of the ship. Lots of bananas, but no fishing poles.Also, back when ships were more rickety and overcrowded, they tended to sink easier. And what do you think would be floating at the top of the wreckage?
As a fisherman or boater, there is a high chance that you have been advised to avoid taking bananas on your boat. The reason given for this advice is usually that bananas are bad luck. Bananas were a source of bad luck for ships carrying other types of fruits as well. Bananas give off ethylene gas, which can cause other fruits to ripen and, thus, spoil more quickly than they would otherwise. This unintended result might be a source of concern for ships looking to turn a profit on fresh fruits.
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