In the spirit of Halloween and the Monday Mail featured forum, we're asking our readers what’s the spookiest thing you’ve experienced aboard a boat? Strange noises? Tools or parts turning up someplace unexpected? Maybe a wraith or two? Tell us about your haunted boat stories.
Is your boat haunted?
- Thread starter Tiffany
- Start date
Late at night, when the marina lay quiet, one can hear a strange sound like a witches claws clicking and scratching at the bottom of the boats. Some say it is the lost souls of those who have met their end on the lake, but there really haven't been that many, so, nah. Others say that it's the Goddess of the Lake mocking the boat owners, as every little click-scratch represents another thousand dollars spent by each hapless one. This I find more credible. Me, I think it's the turtles.
It wasn't me but I met a sailor who swore his boat was haunted by a nice ghost. I don't recall all the details but the story he tells deals with traveling to another marina several days away. (Texas coast has long blank spots for gunkholing but few marinas.) Anyway, they hit their first overnight anchorage and had a pleasant night. The next morning, before they headed out, he was looking for an item and couldn't find it. He says he nearly trashed the entire boat looking for it. Well, he couldn't find it so they returned to their home marina and tied up. As soon as they were settled, he looked again and the item was right where it was supposed to be all along.
Here's the kicker: That night a tornado ripped through the marina they were going to be at if they had continued on their trip.
Here's the kicker: That night a tornado ripped through the marina they were going to be at if they had continued on their trip.
Yes - Every time I drop a tool or fastener it heads straight for the water! (.... and it's a catamaran - doesn't matter how far I am from the edge of the deck.)
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,214
No, not my boat. We are besties.
Now, on the Catamaran we chartered in Belize, I had an out-of-body experience. We had anchored in an inlet between the mangroves and the beach to an abandoned island resort. The buildings were there. The iguanas had taken up residence. When the ladies went ashore, they met two groundskeepers who said they only visit the property during the day.
We enjoyed a pleasant evening, feeling secure in our anchorage. Around midnight, the wind began to blow. A check of the anchor alarm showed we were holding in the same spot. I went back to sleep. Suddenly, a scraggly old sailor appeared in an oil-stained, torn white tee shirt leaning over me. I awoke, getting up in my bunk, ready to fight off this stranger. Nothing but darkness in the cabin and the sound of the mangroves scraping the side of the boat. Then, the anchor alarm started to blare. I jumped up and headed up to the salon. Les came up from the other side of the salon. "I think we are dragging!" On deck, the wind, waves, lightning, and rain are crashing about us. Les heads to the helm to start the engine. I find my way to the foredeck, trying to understand how the mangroves are on the wrong side of the boat.
Slowly, it makes sense. We have been spun around on the anchor. The rode is on the stern. "DON'T START THE PROP. THE PROP IS FOULED!"
We push off the mangroves and drag the rode back to the bow. Once we have the rode untangled, Les moves us back into the center of the bay, and we reset the anchor. Once back inside, we dry off and sip a shot of scotch. The anchor is holding, and all seems to be settled.
The eerie feeling that the old sailor is still there sticks with me. Was he on the boat? Was he lost in the island waters or once a resort resident? Whatever it is, he woke me when we needed his help. I am conflicted. I am thankful for his appearance, yet I wonder if he is still about.
Now, on the Catamaran we chartered in Belize, I had an out-of-body experience. We had anchored in an inlet between the mangroves and the beach to an abandoned island resort. The buildings were there. The iguanas had taken up residence. When the ladies went ashore, they met two groundskeepers who said they only visit the property during the day.
We enjoyed a pleasant evening, feeling secure in our anchorage. Around midnight, the wind began to blow. A check of the anchor alarm showed we were holding in the same spot. I went back to sleep. Suddenly, a scraggly old sailor appeared in an oil-stained, torn white tee shirt leaning over me. I awoke, getting up in my bunk, ready to fight off this stranger. Nothing but darkness in the cabin and the sound of the mangroves scraping the side of the boat. Then, the anchor alarm started to blare. I jumped up and headed up to the salon. Les came up from the other side of the salon. "I think we are dragging!" On deck, the wind, waves, lightning, and rain are crashing about us. Les heads to the helm to start the engine. I find my way to the foredeck, trying to understand how the mangroves are on the wrong side of the boat.
Slowly, it makes sense. We have been spun around on the anchor. The rode is on the stern. "DON'T START THE PROP. THE PROP IS FOULED!"
We push off the mangroves and drag the rode back to the bow. Once we have the rode untangled, Les moves us back into the center of the bay, and we reset the anchor. Once back inside, we dry off and sip a shot of scotch. The anchor is holding, and all seems to be settled.
The eerie feeling that the old sailor is still there sticks with me. Was he on the boat? Was he lost in the island waters or once a resort resident? Whatever it is, he woke me when we needed his help. I am conflicted. I am thankful for his appearance, yet I wonder if he is still about.
@jssailem - Are you sure you weren't sipping the scotch earlier?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,214
I have spoken to two sailors who solo sailed from the Pacific Coast to Hawaii. Both recounted stories (excused as hallucinations) about individuals who were on the boat. One case, the apparition was doing mischievous things like letting lines go loose. In the other case, it was pinching or shaking the person. In the shaking incident, the sailor woke up to the AIS advising that a collision would happen if the boat course was not changed.
And they say sailors have no reason to be superstitious.
And they say sailors have no reason to be superstitious.
Yup !
About five years ago left the boat on a Sunday night, and as I always do gave the entire boat a once over cleaning before I left for the weekend. The next Friday went to the boat and open the hatch. Found the entire cabin was in shambles. Cushions on the floor, things that are stored securely on shelves like bottles and glasses, paper towels, lamps that are normally on the counter, place mats on the table were all scattered all over the floor. Looked like I had been out sailing in horrific weather.
My first thought was that someone had broken into the boat and was searching for something. That was ruled out because both locks were secured and my alarm system was still on. I keep my boat in a marina at the end of a lagoon that is completely sheltered from waves of any kind. So could be caused by that. I then asked my boat neighbor that lives locally if there was any freaky weather or storms that week that I was not aware of. He said nothing at all and commented on how strangely the weather was all week. No wind or rain at all. I have to admit that this incident really freaked me out. So much that I actually got of the boat and took a walk around the marina for about thirty minutes before getting back on the boat and cleaning up everything. To this day I I still have no idea what happened !
My father had passed a few years earlier and he was always looking for things that he miss placed in the boat. Maybe it was his spirit. I’m not superstitious but I can’t explain it. Still haunts me to this day every time I open the hatch.
About five years ago left the boat on a Sunday night, and as I always do gave the entire boat a once over cleaning before I left for the weekend. The next Friday went to the boat and open the hatch. Found the entire cabin was in shambles. Cushions on the floor, things that are stored securely on shelves like bottles and glasses, paper towels, lamps that are normally on the counter, place mats on the table were all scattered all over the floor. Looked like I had been out sailing in horrific weather.
My first thought was that someone had broken into the boat and was searching for something. That was ruled out because both locks were secured and my alarm system was still on. I keep my boat in a marina at the end of a lagoon that is completely sheltered from waves of any kind. So could be caused by that. I then asked my boat neighbor that lives locally if there was any freaky weather or storms that week that I was not aware of. He said nothing at all and commented on how strangely the weather was all week. No wind or rain at all. I have to admit that this incident really freaked me out. So much that I actually got of the boat and took a walk around the marina for about thirty minutes before getting back on the boat and cleaning up everything. To this day I I still have no idea what happened !
My father had passed a few years earlier and he was always looking for things that he miss placed in the boat. Maybe it was his spirit. I’m not superstitious but I can’t explain it. Still haunts me to this day every time I open the hatch.
Either a ghost or a thief. I left my boat @ Christies dock in Newport., a once happening bar with late nights & live music. Some evil force, while I away for weekend, boarded the boat, emptied a bottle of Johnny blue, removed cigars from humidor, taking only the wrappers and throwing most tobacco in trash, left the expensive electronics alone, no mess, just empty bottles. I filled the empty whiskey bottle (with cheaper stuff) because it was a gift from my father in law. Haven’t figured it out…. The hatch was locked.
I had a boat that was on the hard and up for sale. There was an inquiry and we arranged to look at the boat. As soon as I boarded and peeled the cover back I noted the companionway was open. With customer in tow we saw about 3 inches of water on the cabin sole and mold everywhere. Sale over!
I never figured out how that much water got under the cockpit cover and into the cabin with a companionway I would never leave open. Eventually I came to the conclusion that some local “Utes” were using the boat for a party place.
It was some chore to cleanup the mess. Eventually the boat sold but it was at a fire sale price because I moved and couldn’t care for it at all.
I never figured out how that much water got under the cockpit cover and into the cabin with a companionway I would never leave open. Eventually I came to the conclusion that some local “Utes” were using the boat for a party place.
It was some chore to cleanup the mess. Eventually the boat sold but it was at a fire sale price because I moved and couldn’t care for it at all.
Not haunted, but Neptune's wrath struck my prior boat. (Actually his friend Zeus.) I bought it and we did not like the name, so changed it. A friend jokingly asked if I did the official boat denaming/renaming ceremony. I'm not superstitious, and laughed it off. 2 weeks after first launch it was struck by lighting. 11 years later it was struck again on her mooring.
I did the ceremony when we renamed my present boat.
So far we're doing OK. (Fingers crossed.)
I did the ceremony when we renamed my present boat.
So far we're doing OK. (Fingers crossed.)
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,214