Bananas - De Trut

[SamFamAustin]

There are so many myths and stories about bananas being bad luck on a boat they can't be covered here, although some origins may be available from our friend Mr. Google and some old salts who dared to even venture on the subject.

We're not talking about bananas on a fishing boat in a tournament - we're talking any boat anytime, anywhere in the world. Even "Banana Boat" sunscreen can be hurled overboard in a fit of angst. Why?

I don't know, the son-of-a-guns are crazy! Most stories are from the Carribe and Hawaii, where in the old days the bananas would (1) rot in about 12 hours, rotting anything else it touched, and (2) in the old days, allowed all kinds of nasty bugs on the boat, such as roaches and spiders. A story from Hawaii is that (3) by the time they paddled and sailed to where the Ahi Tuna were, the bananas would be rotten and thrown overboard, producing instant good luck.

Of course, (4), a banana peel on a boat deck is extremely bad luck because somebody could slip and fall, although this explanation seems a bit contrived, since we're always slipping and falling without the need for bananas. Some people (5) do associate bananas with monkeys, which are quite gross at times are absolutely a nightmare on any boat anytime.

I have come to the conclusion that (6) most sailors and boaters simply don't like bananas on their boats because they are weird that way. They are quite superstitious and do "Neptune" parties when crossing the Equator. Beware, Fruit of the Loom underwear can produce an instant wedgie and the offending label will be excised!

Yes, we have no bananas.

/Sammie

[Floridacargocat]

Bananas. One of my first job in 1969 was on a banana boat (German slang Bananenjaeger) in the refrigeration department, traveling from Antwerp via St. John/NF to La Ceiba/Honduras and back to Antwerp (M/V Ondine). After having loaded green bananas ( in aperiod of less than 16 hours), our job was to keep the bananas at exactly 12-13 dC, or otherwise they would spoil or ripen. All loses would be on the account of the captain, and he kept a very close watch. We arrived safely in Antwerp after a close to 2-week voyage, all bananas were safe.
Today, when I look at bananas, I still think about this trip. Nowadays, bananas are loaded prerefirgerated and containerized onto contaqinerships in less than half the time, that it took us. At that time, we loaded boxes (not containers), and all was done manually. so much for bananas.
They are unique, and each variety has its unique taste and flavour. I prefer the Philippine Lacatans, delicious.

[SamFamAustin]

Wow what a story, FCC, I appreciate that. I looked for the old Ondine on my version of Lloyd's Registry of Ships and could not find it. Was she an old steamer? Funny you should mention it, like tomatoes from Florida, that fruit is picked as green and hard as they could get it!
/sammie

[HALF-A-HAMIAN]

Sam, not all those tomatoes in Florida are Florida tomatoes! In the mid 70's I drove truck OTR and would sit in San Isidro, Ca. waiting for the trucks to come from the fields in Mexico, and loaded into boxes marked California vine-ripened tomatoes. They'd load me up and off I'd go for Pompano, Fla. where the boxes would be dumped on a conveyor, re-boxed in ones that read Florida vine-ripened tomatoes which were then put back on my truck and I would bring them to market in Kansas City! They'd be starting to pink-up by the time I got back here. God bless the American free-enterprise system, but gosh 'maters are high!

[Megalops]

I don't allow bananas on my guide boat under any circumstances. My most telling reason is this:

I set up a trip for four customers, I guided two in my boat and two were fishing with David, a guide buddy of mine. Since they were all friends we fished close together. On the first morning of their trip we asked them if they had any bananas with them. One of them did, and I made him leave it on the dock. He was a little peeved.

Despite the fact that it was early in the season we had a good day. We jumped 3 tarpon on each boat. The second day was exactly the same weather and tides, and should have had similar fish numbers. By noon we hadn't seen a single fish.

When my customer started digging in the cooler for his lunch he found a banana hidden in there, which resulted in howls of laughter from the guys on the other boat who had, of course, put it there.

We saw only one tarpon all day.

I then had back luck for two whole weeks, and David, who knows of these things, said I should perform an exorcisim. He said the only way to get rid of the bad luck from a banana is to have your boat kissed by a naked woman.

It took me a few days to convince my wife to try it, but tips were suffering, so one night she gave in.

The next day we jumped 6.

I have plenty of other incidents as well.

No bananas. None. Ever.

No Banana Boat sunscreen either, not worth the risk.

[SamFamAustin]

ROFLMAO, I had heard some of you rascals were so bad, you'd check underwear to see if they were wearing "Fruit of the Loom." The tag HAD to be cut off.

And Megalops, one of our better tarpon fly-fishers jumped 29 one day, and tagged & released 5 from the beach. Try S. Texas sometime, bro. /sammie

[Megalops]

I've heard rumors there are some fish there. It's good to hear it vailidated. There is a huge difference between what a top flight caster/fisherman can do and someone who does once every few years. But still, 29 is a huge number.