Is there a superstition about bananas on fishing boats?

Answer 1

There are many stories, some saying that ships hauling cargo (among them bananas) would sink and that the predominate feature on the surface was yellow bananas. I read that in Florida, charter boat captains have banned all things banana. No lotion with the word banana on it. No muffins with the offending fruit and esp. not the banana its self. Here is another story of the tale.

Around the 17th and 18th century trans-ocean crossings were very dangerous endeavors for Captains, crews and passengers aboard wooden sailing ships. There were a very high percentage of vessels that sank in these times. Ships often sailed routes that would take them near tropical islands, where they could replenish with food and water.

Passengers, explorers and crew would purchase crates of bananas from local islanders. Banana crates were have said to contain more than just this good fruit. They sometimes had Spiders, snakes and other creepy crawlers taking up residence inside. These critters would then find there way into all the nooks and crannies, the bilge & bunk rooms and multiply. Causing moderate to serious problems aboard a ship at sea.

It order to combat this, Captains began telling people that bananas are very bad luck and the vessel will be successful by not having bananas aboard. If you know sailors they are a superstitious lot.