What is the deal with fiberglassing a silver dollar under each engine? Dockside chat (with a mechanic) said "Oh yeah, a lot of boats have imbedded coins - right from the factory" I never found one on any of my boats and I spend A LOT of time crawling around bilges.
Googled "boat coin" & "engine coin" and got nothing.
Is this some boat mechanic tradition or was my leg just being pulled?
(Note to mods - if my leg was being pulled, I'd appreciate you deleting this thread to avoid further embarrassment)
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Thread: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
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10-13-2008 08:41 PM #1Senior Member
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Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
I know the cruise ships have a coin placed in the keel when being built. I think it's a greek tradition for luck. goes back many moons...
Mario
1972 58' Hatteras Yachtfisherman
Siboney
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
I think you need to buy a boat
Sky Cheney
1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI
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10-13-2008 09:43 PM #4Senior Member
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10-13-2008 09:47 PM #5
Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
It was customary for shipwrights to put a gold coin somewhere in the keel and a silver coin was put somewhere below the mast. The gold coin was for good luck and the silver coin protected the ship and the crew from storms.
Scott
41C117 "Hattatude"
Port Canaveral Florida.
Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
This appears to be a sailboat thing. Is that what you mean by a real boat?
Here is what I found:
Sailors believe it is good luck to place a coin under the mast step. We found a 2007 dollar coin, and oriented Lady Liberty forward so she can light our way.
Sky Cheney
1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI
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10-13-2008 09:58 PM #7Senior Member
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
Sailboats???
Well no wonder I didn't know anything about it.
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10-13-2008 10:37 PM #8
Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
Everytime we step a mast in spring, we always put a silver coin under it. I win lots of races because of that thing. You will find that even a penny, (cheapscate), in the bilge under each engine and the genny, will make those engines run smoother and more reliably. That also extends the time between overhauls. Too bad that some of you guys never raced sailboats. We have lots of performance enhancing stuff like that. Just don't ever bring bannanas aboard a boat or all other good luck charms are null and void. Last place will surely be yours to behold. Your old Detroits will smoke like a Mexican chimney.
Maynard
UNITY '86 36C
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10-13-2008 10:49 PM #9Senior Member
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
In that case, we need to have this thread moved to the Hatteras Tech Talk section.
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10-14-2008 08:53 AM #10Senior Member
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Re: Good Luck Coins Under Engine?
I think I see the problem and confusion, Jim. For good luck on your new boat, you need to firmly embed the coins into the hand of a broker, first.
I hope this clarifies things.
K