I got my mast back up just before the storm came in last Sunday, after having it on sawhorses for a month to do some rewiring and rehab of the mast step. Then, last night I woke at 0300 with the thought: "Oh MiGod, I forgot the coin! Now I've got to get over to the crane to pull the mast again to put a coin under the step." Gotta find an appropriate coin, too. The last one was an English pence engraved with a square rigged ship on it (can't remember the denomination). Probably won't find another so appropriate. Made me wonder, how many of you in fact know whether or not you have a coin under your mast step for good luck, like you're supposed to. If you do, what kind of coin? Wonder if dealers or boatyards who commission boats do this?
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With my deck stepped mast
I didn't place a coin under. Now had the mast been wood and keel stepped it most certainly would have a coin underneath. Probably a 1968 era coin like a half dollar. That's the year of the boat.
I didn't place a coin under. Now had the mast been wood and keel stepped it most certainly would have a coin underneath. Probably a 1968 era coin like a half dollar. That's the year of the boat.
Old Ironsides did!
A bit of Trivia. Back a few years ago Old Ironsides (in Boston), the USS Constitutuion, went into the shipyard for refurbishment. When they pulled the masts, there was several colonial-era coins beneath the mast when it was stepped.
A bit of Trivia. Back a few years ago Old Ironsides (in Boston), the USS Constitutuion, went into the shipyard for refurbishment. When they pulled the masts, there was several colonial-era coins beneath the mast when it was stepped.
Loonie
Presuming a hollow extruded aluminum mast, the coin could be epoxied into the mast step’s centre point - so that no contact can occur twixt coin & mast. Might also keep it from rattling around under there. A Canadian “Loonie” works for me.
Presuming a hollow extruded aluminum mast, the coin could be epoxied into the mast step’s centre point - so that no contact can occur twixt coin & mast. Might also keep it from rattling around under there. A Canadian “Loonie” works for me.
Loonies, great idea.
My wife just loves the loonies. We both wish the U.S. would start using a loonie equivalent. It often makes so much more sense, then carrying a bunch of quarters. Previous attemps just didn't take off.
My wife just loves the loonies. We both wish the U.S. would start using a loonie equivalent. It often makes so much more sense, then carrying a bunch of quarters. Previous attemps just didn't take off.
Humm this sounds serious!
I think i would coat a dime with epoxy and slip it in to the mast via any way you can so it can fall to the base of the mast and provide an almost perfect solution to your age old dilema. if you pre coat the dime let it dry before instalation it wont corrode. and the fresh coat of epoxy will keep it in place. Damn this does sould serious!
I think i would coat a dime with epoxy and slip it in to the mast via any way you can so it can fall to the base of the mast and provide an almost perfect solution to your age old dilema. if you pre coat the dime let it dry before instalation it wont corrode. and the fresh coat of epoxy will keep it in place. Damn this does sould serious!
We took the easy way out
On our Legend 43, the diameter of the compression post is smaller than that of the deck-stepped mast foot. Moreover, there is a little plywood panel centered around the top of the compression post that provides access to mast wiring, etc. So, we just taped our coin next to the top of the compression post, against the bottom of the mast step (where it is accessible from inside the main cabin by removing the little plywood panel). Since this is a position directly below the mast and underneath the mast step I believe it satisfies Poseidon's prime directive. We used a Portuguese escudo coin (now replaced by the new Euro coinage) that shows a compass rose with all 16 major points. If I remember well, the other side shows the head of one of the famous Portuguese explorers, but I forgot which one. Fair winds, Flying Dutchman
On our Legend 43, the diameter of the compression post is smaller than that of the deck-stepped mast foot. Moreover, there is a little plywood panel centered around the top of the compression post that provides access to mast wiring, etc. So, we just taped our coin next to the top of the compression post, against the bottom of the mast step (where it is accessible from inside the main cabin by removing the little plywood panel). Since this is a position directly below the mast and underneath the mast step I believe it satisfies Poseidon's prime directive
. We used a Portuguese escudo coin (now replaced by the new Euro coinage) that shows a compass rose with all 16 major points. If I remember well, the other side shows the head of one of the famous Portuguese explorers, but I forgot which one. Fair winds, Flying DutchmanPenny
Our boat has a penny (same year of boat) epoxied on mast step! Guess the boat will always be worth that! Brian
Our boat has a penny (same year of boat) epoxied on mast step! Guess the boat will always be worth that! Brian
Superstition, yes, but in most cases
it cost little to accomodate the superstition. How many of us just change the anme without doing some type of ceremony for Poseidon? And why not follow a fine old seagoing tradition? If nothing else, it shows you know a little bit more about our sport, and its archane history than the other guy. I like the idea by Henk. And it's true, the superstition/tradition was back in the days when all were keel stepped masts. Isn't a compression post just an extension of the mast?Maybe if I epoxied a coin to the bottom of the compression post...
it cost little to accomodate the superstition. How many of us just change the anme without doing some type of ceremony for Poseidon? And why not follow a fine old seagoing tradition? If nothing else, it shows you know a little bit more about our sport, and its archane history than the other guy. I like the idea by Henk. And it's true, the superstition/tradition was back in the days when all were keel stepped masts. Isn't a compression post just an extension of the mast?Maybe if I epoxied a coin to the bottom of the compression post...
Proof of ownership
I have heard that a coin with your date of birth was placed under the mast in case of any ownership disputes?
I have heard that a coin with your date of birth was placed under the mast in case of any ownership disputes?
My version ...
They way I heard it is that the it should be a silver coin. If the owner was too cheap to use a silver coin and used copper or no coin, the gods would be insulted and the rig was doomed. If the owner used a gold coin, the gods would assume that it was an attempt to bribe them. Anyone that could afford a gold coin under the mast had probably skimped somewhere else and was trying to buy the gods' blessing and the rig was doomed. My mast? A silver coin minted in the year of my birth.
They way I heard it is that the it should be a silver coin. If the owner was too cheap to use a silver coin and used copper or no coin, the gods would be insulted and the rig was doomed. If the owner used a gold coin, the gods would assume that it was an attempt to bribe them. Anyone that could afford a gold coin under the mast had probably skimped somewhere else and was trying to buy the gods' blessing and the rig was doomed. My mast? A silver coin minted in the year of my birth.
Do I feel lucky?
It would cost me a few hundred dollars to lift the mast with a crane so I can place a coin under it....not to mention that laughter I am going to get at the boatyard. I think I will do what Henk Meazelaar did.
It would cost me a few hundred dollars to lift the mast with a crane so I can place a coin under it....not to mention that laughter I am going to get at the boatyard. I think I will do what Henk Meazelaar did.
superstition
There is a lot of skoffing at the ideas of following a superstition. I would leave it up to the individual to play along or not (knock on wood)
There is a lot of skoffing at the ideas of following a superstition. I would leave it up to the individual to play along or not (knock on wood)
Loonie, too!
Gord and JC, We've got one, had our mast stepped a few years ago when doing new standing rigging. My wife's Canadian, so it was a natural. All has been well aboard since.
Gord and JC, We've got one, had our mast stepped a few years ago when doing new standing rigging. My wife's Canadian, so it was a natural. All has been well aboard since.
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