Coin In Mast Step???????????

[Claudia]

Yesterday we found a 1964 Kennnedy half dollar in Black Spirit's mast step. Is there a reason it was placed there?

[Norman Bernstein]

Yesterday we found a 1964 Kennnedy half dollar in Black Spirit's mast step. Is there a reason it was placed there?

Of COURSE! You tempt the wrath of Odin without a coin in the mast step... I'd NEVER step a mast without one!

(it's an old sailing tradition, Claudia)

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

What year is Black Spirit ? It is appropriate to have a coin of the same vintage under the mast step.

Reasons vary but one of the most common is to pay the ferryman's fair on the river Styx.

Other less macabre reasons are so you will always have some currency in time of need. Or simply good luck.

[Claudia]

Thank you Norman. This project is one big learning experience for me so I may ask questions that seem a bit silly to others.

[Claudia]

Joe...1964.

[Phillip Allen]

nothing silly about it...consider that many lurkers read this stuff and will learn from the answers

[Popeye]

copper (and silver(?)) are lucky fungicides

[Phillip Allen]

why would I want my fun gicided?

[davidagage]

Have I mentioned lately just how much I love my wife.;)
(she just bought me 2 more boat books:D)

[Popeye]

why would I want my fun gicided?

in classic swmbo wiseness ..

' if there is a fungus amongus
there will be no penis betweenus '

[Peter Kalshoven]

I first learned about the coin under the mast in Robin Lee Graham's book "Dove". While attempting to reach Pago Pago, Dove was demasted. Under jury-rig Graham was able to reach Western Samoa. When he stepped the mast, he forgot to put in a coin. Later, when he was hours out of Cocos Islands Dove was demasted for the second time of the voyage during a brief storm. Graham sailed under jury rig 2,300 miles to reach Port Louis Harbor, Mauritius. This time, he was very sure to put a coin under the mast.

Stupid, Superstitious? Maybe. But let's not be tempting Neptune too much. The coin should go back in. :-)

[Tylerdurden]

If you use a silver or gold coin you could qualify your boat as an investment these days.

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

I heard that it should be a silver coin, and that it was an offering to protect the mast. My boat's previous owner told me that when I unstep my mast, I'll find one there.

[Bob Cleek]

A 1964 Kennedy four bit piece was the last US coin minted that contained 90 percent silver. Later versions went to 40 percent and then down to cupronickel. Worth about $12 today. Put it back where it was. It'll be worth more the next time you pull the stick!

[Popeye]

you can actually see a slight band of copper on the edge of a 'silver' dime

[S/V Laura Ellen]

I've got two 1937 Canadian dimes ready for rigging Laura Ellen. Seemed appropriate since 1937 was the year Laura Ellen was launched and the first year that the Bluenose appeared on the dime.

[Popeye]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/NLFD_2_dollar_front.jpg

[Lew Barrett]

How it all got started, and why you still need one there
Sailors have long believed a coin under the mast brings luck. This ritual is believed to have started with the Romans, whose custom it was to place a coin in the mouth of a dead person to pay Charon, the boatman who ferried the souls of the dead across the River Styx to Hades. Hades in those days was simply the home of the dead, not the specific domain of Satan in the modern colloquial sense.Of course, there may be some of you who are convinced that you are headed for hell anyway, no matter what happens. So you might want to forgo the coin-placing ritual and spend the money instead on wild women, liquor, poker, new gear for the boat, and other sinful pleasures. What’s to lose?More cautious boaters will realize that placing a coin under the mast is another way to earn points for the black box in which your boat’s luck is stored. It’s a cheap price to pay.Skeptics should note that even the U.S. Navy takes this ritual seriously. Officers of the USS New Orleans, launched in 1933, placed 33 coins—pennies, nickels, and dimes—under her foremast and mainmast. All were carefully placed heads up. And the destroyer USS Higgins, commissioned in April 1999, had 11 coins specially selected for her mast stepping, some of them very rare and going back to Roman times.But you don’t need to use rare or expensive coins. In fact, in the days of wooden ships, when even skilled artisans earned comparatively little, it was regarded as imprudent to use gold. Besides, there wasn’t much point in paying Charon more than he could find change for. Rather, select a coin that means something to you, one that was minted in the year the boat was launched perhaps, or one from the year you were born.

[Canoeyawl]

The devil comes aboard in a black box...

[Bobcat]

I remember reading that when sailing ships were broken up at the end of their lives, the worker were hover around when the masts were pulled to snatch the coins. One ship, Scots built, was being broken up. When the main mast was pulled, the worker found a note. "IOU Sandy McPherson" and no coin

[Russ Manheimer]

Claudia,

Fail to retep the mast without a suitable coin at you peril. There have been times when I've had to grub a coin or two when stepping Sjogin's mast but she always has at least one. Old tradition and good karma.

Can't wait to see you re-step BS's mast.

Russ

[Phillip Allen]

BS???

[davidagage]

I think it is amazing that after like 10 years with the mast removed, the coin remained in the step. We will give a bright polish before it goes back in and the mast is restepped. Even when we do a test rigging in the back yard, the coin will be placed. :)

[Phillip Allen]

may I suggest you stop refering to your boat yard as a back yard?

[P.L.Lenihan]

The devil comes aboard in a black box...

No, she comes aboard in a SBD,stilettos,a bottle and she is looking for moi! :-)

[John of Phoenix]

I think it is amazing that after like 10 years with the mast removed, the coin remained in the step. We will give a bright polish before it goes back in and the mast is restepped. Even when we do a test rigging in the back yard, the coin will be placed. :)
You might want to add a 2007 coin to go along with the original.
Sort of a booster shot. ;)

[Tornado]

My wife gave me silver and gold replicas from the Atocha for our main and mizzen. I also found many old coins from around the world with sea art or ships. Most are readily available by internet at reasonable prices (not EBAY). A series of the British half penny has a very nice tall ship and can be found for about a dollar. Even at 200% face value its OK. Others are Greek 50 Drocma and a few other coins, Portugal - several coins, Thai 1 baht, British caribbean territories - Eastern group, Bahamas 25 cent. My favorite is the Norway 20 Kroner 1999 and 2008 with the Sea Stallion Viking long boat. Canada was also supposed to mint a commemorative 5 dollar coin with the boat but that apparently never happened. A few links below on the topic.

http://www.vikingtoday.com/ships/denmark/seastallion-from-glendalough.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yhwXyjVsVM&feature=related

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Longship

http://www.answers.com/topic/coin-under-mast (http://www.answers.com/topic/coin-under-mast)

[James McMullen]

If you do not put a coin under the mast when you step it the boat will sink and you will die. It's common knowledge, really.

This message brought to you by the National Coin Production and Circulation Council.

[botebum]

If I've got my timeline right, this was back before the strawberries were ripening. Continued congrats you two:) Hope things are bestus ever!

Doug

[Michael Beckman]

No wonder I had such interesting adventures on my previous boats. No coins!

Or maybe it had more to do with the fact that hobie cats and bathtubs arent really suited to these waters. And that I had those boats before I got any real sailing experience.

[Yeadon]

I step my mast every single time I take my peapod sailing. I'd pretty much have to epoxy a coin to the base of the step to keep from losing it.

But if that's what I've got to do ...

[Michael Beckman]

That will drive some later owner insane. About as cruel as glueing a quarter to the sidewalk.

As such, I highly recommend doing so.

[Spin_Drift]

I would not shine or polish the coin up. Just keep it the way it was when placed there, and add another one or two....

.

[SchoonerRat]

In my youth I worked for a number of sailboat dealers rigging and commisioning new boats. Most of the time, when the masts were stepped the owners were not present. I was always certain to slip a shiny quarter of the current year on the step at the proper time. On one occasion, I had just finished tightening the rigging on a new Columbia 50 and was waiting for the owner so we could take the boat out for a little sail to fine tune the rigging. As he stepped on deck he reached in his pocket and pulled out a gold coin that was minted on the year of HIS birth and told me that we had to pull the stick and put a coin under it for luck and we couldn't leave the dock without it.

I explained that his gold coin was the wrong vintage for this purpose and suggested that he put it back in the vault because there was already a proper coin where it belonged. I drove home that evening with a pocket full of Andy Jacksons and a great new sailing buddy and employer.

[Keith Wilson]

I'd pretty much have to epoxy a coin to the base of the step to keep from losing it. The last little sailboat I built, I did exactly that. There's a 2002 Sacagawea dollar encapsulated in epoxy at the bottom of the hole where the mast goes. The mast comes in and out (with one hand) every time one I go sailing, so it needed something to keep it in place.

[Rum_Pirate]

When I built my house I put a few coins into the concrete foundations.

[Raka025]

I'm still looking for mine? Anyone have a 1951 silver dollar they want to part with?

Rob

http://concordia9-amphora.blogspot.com/

[paladin]

I used a Thai Gold coin on Tana Mari.....gotta lotta funny looks from some of the yard crew until it was explained why. I had a complete set of the Kings Birthday commemmorative set from that time....gave the rest of the set to the grandcritters for their college kitty.....with a replacement coin.

[Mrleft8]

I'm still looking for mine? Anyone have a 1951 silver dollar they want to part with?

Rob

http://concordia9-amphora.blogspot.com/ I'll look in my sack of coins I have in my father's safe next time I get in there....

[Keith Wilson]

There aren't any US 1951 silver dollars, just Franklin half-dollars. There are Canadian silver dollars from that year. Look here. (http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=1951+silver+dollar)

[Pernicious Atavist]

When I built Atavistic I nailed a very old silver Liberty half-dollar to the fordeck by the mast so I could kiss it each time I went out. Used a half-buck 'cause it was only 16'.


Oh--SH*T! i forgot to tell the new owner that! That's why the planks took up! He hasn't been kissing the coin!

[BarnacleGrim]

What do you do if you have a deck-stepped mast?

[John of Phoenix]

What do you do if you have a deck-stepped mast?
On the deck under the mast.

[Pugwash]

In the Lu Ban Jing it tells you how to bless (and curse) the house you are building.

One way to bless it, is to place coins where the roof meets the walls.

I'd go along with the fungicide thing, but I don't want to upset the gods. So I'll say if the idea is that old and crosses so many cultures, It must be good luck.

:)

[htom]

There are 1951 silver Canadian dimes, too, with Bluenose on the back (the Canadian 1951 silver dollar has a canoe.)

[boylesboats]

There are 1951 silver Canadian dimes, too, with Bluenose on the back (the Canadian 1951 silver dollar has a canoe.)

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p182/boylesboats/canada-dimeanddollar.jpg

Bluenose on a dime, while a canoe is silver dollar.. doesn't makes sense.. :confused: Bluenose is more famous..

Why Ben Franklin on $100, while George Washington is on a dollar? :confused:

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I always made sure the coin was heads up. That keeps the mast pointed in the right direction.

[Tornado]

Here are the coins I plan to use.
The main step is just below the cabin floor. The mizzen steps on deck. Lower right was minted in 1914 to commemorate the first ship through the canal. My uncle ran the place until just a few years before we turned it over. I like the Mexican compass rose bottom row & 2nd from the left.
430

[The Bigfella]

Hmmm - the old man collected coins. I might have to raid the safety deposit box for the Yellowtail launching. Pre-BC Roman perhaps?

[botebum]

Should a coin be put somewhere on a stinkpot? If so, where?

Doug

[Pugwash]

Pre-BC Roman


Now that one might be worth something.

Sell it on Ebay (Hint: get Dave to bid;))

:)

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Should a coin be put somewhere on a stinkpot? If so, where?

Doug

Better hold on to the coin, you'll need it to pay for the gas.:D

[J. Dillon]

Skeptics should note that even the U.S. Navy takes this ritual seriously. Officers of the USS New Orleans, launched in 1933, placed 33 coins—pennies, nickels, and dimes—under her foremast and mainmast. All were carefully placed heads up.

I always thought placing coins heads down helped enabling the ship see the rocks coming up, thus preventing disaster.;)

JD

[paladin]

The Spanish always put a coin under the cornerstone of their houses when they were being built. Intramuros in Manila was built during the Spanish times. After the war parts of it were torn down. In the 60's they decided to tear down that part that had turned into squatters corners....the people would come in and steal all the wood from the framing, taking it apart during the night and carrying it away, and all that would be left was the foundation. I and a friend wated until folks would leave an area,then we would walk around, tilt out the cornerstone and recover the coins. We managed to collect quite a large load of mid 1800 stuff...and some was better than others...I ended up with 11 U.S. one dollar gold pieces, minted 1851, 1852 and 1853 among several spanish 8 real pieces....as always, someone finally figured out what we were doing and then beat us to most of the rest. and we picked up a lot from the local pawn shops for a pittance.

[Clyderigged]

http://www.thesquarerigger.com/images/23.jpg


http://www.thesquarerigger.com/images/24.jpg
Tahiti Ketch ~ TOREA
Under mast step Tahitian coin and black sand
I collected the black sand from Matavai Bay,
Tahiti and the 100 CFP franc (franc des Colonies françaises du Pacifique) while sailing on the HMAV BOUNTY.

[paladin]

That's dawggone neat, Jamie.....I gave most all of the strange coins I collected in my travels to the grandcritters.