Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by TNelson on 08/12/07 - 8:20 PM

Hello, It is the end of a nother weekend, and I am now making significant headway on the restoration of my '88 Montauk.

I have a question for anyone who has restored one of these. I found a penny. Just not any penny. A 1988 penny. imbedded in the floor under the gas tank under the factory installed mat. There is no way this has seen the light of day since it was built.

A. Has anyone else had a similar experience??

2. I think, for carma's sake, I should place it back in the boat somewhere.

Any thoughts.

P.S. Maybe the fiberglass fumes are getting to me.....

Posted by DelawareDan on 08/13/07 - 2:00 AM

Interesting. It's a common sailor's practice to put a coin under the mast when "stepping" a mast (setting it up). Remember that 16 year old that sailed around the world (Robin ____). His story was in National Geographic back in the 70s I think. He regreted forgetting to do that, and wondered if that's why he ran into problems later in his voyage.

Posted by CapnJs on 08/13/07 - 4:15 AM

TNelson,

I'd put the penny back.

Dan,

The kids name was Robin Lee Graham; In his book "Dove" I seem to recall that he blamed some problems that he had on forgetting the coin. But I think that most of his problems were caused by youth and an infatuation with a girl that he met along the way. The girl eventually became his wife though so it couldn't have been all bad luck. By the way, he wrote another book later called "Home is the Sailor."

I'd still put the penny back.

Capn Js

Posted by DelawareDan on 08/13/07 - 7:37 AM

CapnJs, yeah, that's the one. I read Dove, too... haven't read the other one. I agree with your plausible reasons for his troubles. Amazing journey nevertheless. Have you read "My Old Man and the Sea" and Slocum's classic?

Edited by DelawareDan on 08/13/07 - 7:38 AM

Posted by CapnJs on 08/13/07 - 6:30 PM

Dan.

I don't think I have read My Old Man and the Sea but have read Slocum's round the world journey. Captain Slocum was quite a storyteller. Amazon has some pretty good reviews for My Old Man... so I guess I had better find it.

By the way, I will probably have my Mother-in-Law do a Greek coin toss tradition on our new boat. The first time I saw it was at a wedding and then she did it to each new car and boat my wife and I bought.

She tosses coins (preferably quarters or larger) at the bride and groom or into the cars and boats for luck. Even if it doesn't work I can use the quarters to help outfit the boat. But from experience, I think we can use all the luck we can get when we are on the water.

It would be interesting to find out where coins came to mean good luck?

Capn Js (Jack)