Phantom_II
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- May 24, 2008
- Messages
- 157
OK, so I recently purchased a new (to me) used boat. The previous owner had never bestowed a name upon her, and while she was otherwise well cared for, I think she may have felt somewhat unloved due to this thoughtless omission. Now as she had not been previously named, I'm not overly concerned with the de-nameing rituals, and at any rate, this has been discussed to some extent in other threads. However, I am rather curious about christening rituals.
Once upon a time, vessels were officially launched in a ceremony culminating with the breaking of a champagne bottle over the prow. This is all probably well, and good in a commercial shipyard and a vessel with a thick steel hull but it seems to me this method would be horribly impractical with light watercraft. Aside from the fact that a thick champagne bottle would more than likely do more damage to the boat, than to the bottle, I would expect that if by some quirk, the champagne bottle DID actually shatter, some fairly strenuous objections from fellow boaters, rangers and other aquatic denizens over the resultant shards of broken glass and their interactions with bare feet would rapidly ensue, Neptune/Poseidon/Law Enforcement Officials/Other Deities would not be pleased and would subsequently shower misfortune and woe upon the hapless mariner.
Thus my question...
What are your favorite small watercraft christening rituals.
Personal anecdotes and old sea lore are most welcome.
Once upon a time, vessels were officially launched in a ceremony culminating with the breaking of a champagne bottle over the prow. This is all probably well, and good in a commercial shipyard and a vessel with a thick steel hull but it seems to me this method would be horribly impractical with light watercraft. Aside from the fact that a thick champagne bottle would more than likely do more damage to the boat, than to the bottle, I would expect that if by some quirk, the champagne bottle DID actually shatter, some fairly strenuous objections from fellow boaters, rangers and other aquatic denizens over the resultant shards of broken glass and their interactions with bare feet would rapidly ensue, Neptune/Poseidon/Law Enforcement Officials/Other Deities would not be pleased and would subsequently shower misfortune and woe upon the hapless mariner.
Thus my question...
What are your favorite small watercraft christening rituals.
Personal anecdotes and old sea lore are most welcome.
