Why are Bananas Bad Luck on a Boat? The Curse of the Boating Bananas

Boating, the sea, and tall tales go hand in hand. While you've probably swapped a holy mackerel of a story with your crew about things that have happened to you while out on your boat, how many of them are rooted in superstitions? 

Sailors have a long history of superstitions at sea. One of them involves an everyday item you might have carried onboard with you for a mid-morning snack after launch: a banana. 

Did you know bananas are bad luck on a boat? If you're thinking of bringing one on board with you next time you launch, you might want to keep reading to learn why you should leave that bunch of bananas at home to stay safe on the water. 

"Bananas Are Bad Luck"

Today, we share a story of a boater's experience with Captain Mike (also known as Striper Mike), one of Lake Murray's most experienced fishing guides. 

The boater tells it like this:

"Bananas on a boat are bad luck," Captain Mike announced as he chucked my Chiquitas overboard.

My expression must have gone off the WTH meter because Captain Mike quickly added, "It's true; you can look it up on the internet." 

Since I had met this veteran striper fishing guide only a few hours before, I wasn't sure whether his quick smile conveyed suppressed amusement or an intention to placate me – but it didn't matter. I wasn't taking the bait.

While the weather during our striper fishing trip on South Carolina's Lake Murray had been nasty – a double whammy of cold and windy – I couldn't complain about the fishing. Everyone on the boat had boated a striper or two already. We were optimistic there would be more striped bass for our cooler.

Why Are Bananas Bad Luck on a Boat?

As my bananas bobbled away in our wake, I jumped on my smartphone to research the outrageous claim that bananas on a boat are bad luck. In 0.21 seconds, I was looking at page 1 of 4,910,000 results.

It appeared this bananas-being-bad-luck thing had legs. 

There were numerous forum posts and blogs dedicated to the superstition. What I found in most of these sources wasn't the scathing denial I had hoped for but a rundown of the superstition's origins and various theories about the truth behind them.

Here's what I learned:

• In general, recreational anglers deem bananas unlucky.
• The bananas don't have to be in their raw fruit form to invite bad luck. Banana muffins, daiquiris, clothes, and sunscreen bearing the name banana (we see you, Banana Boat) are also bad juju.
• The superstition has existed for a long time, maybe centuries. In days of yore, spiders, snakes, and other icky critters living amongst the bananas in a ship's hold would infest other parts of the ship. That would certainly qualify as bad luck, in my opinion.
• Bananas also got a bad rap in the old days when they were the only items left floating after an overloaded ship capsized. Talk about jumping to conclusions.
• When bananas were in the cargo hold of ancient ships, other fruits spoiled more quickly. This likely had more to do with the ethylene gas that bananas emit than bad Karma.
• Crew members reportedly either got sick from eating bananas or slipped on their peels.
• Anglers didn't catch fish, and the suspected culprit was banana oil on the hands.

As you can see, there are many reasons why a boat captain might not want me to bring a bunch of bananas on board. However, I wasn't entirely convinced. 

Is There Any Truth to a Bad Luck Banana? 

The insights I found online seemed like a lot of hooey and resulted in more questions than answers. 

For example:

• If bananas are found on a boat and thrown out, will bad luck be replaced by good luck?
• If you break a mirror with a banana while on a boat, does the bad luck cancel itself out, thus paving the way for a cooler full of fish?
• If an angler has a banana tattoo on their body, is the captain obligated to throw that person overboard (with their life jacket on, of course)?
• Did the Titanic have bananas on board?
• If you sing "Yes! We Have No Bananas," or any song about bananas for that matter, while on a boat, can it make other boaters uncomfortable around you?

While pondering the answers to these questions, I suddenly realized that the striper bite had come to a screeching halt since Captain Mike had tossed my bananas. 

Coincidence? Or had the discovery of bananas angered the piscatorial gods? I'll never know. However, to be safe, I'll bring an apple next time I go striper fishing.

Play It Safe! Take a Boater Safety Course (and Leave the Bananas Behind)

We can't attest to the truth behind the superstition about bananas being bad luck on a boat. If you're in doubt, leave the bananas at home. 

However, we can tell you with absolute certainty that you're safer on board a boat with a boater safety certification! While our online state-approved courses don't cover bananas or other types of fruit, we do cover essential safety knowledge every boater needs to know before launching. You'll learn about proper navigation and boat etiquette with other watercraft on the water, essential safety equipment to carry on board, and what to do if something goes wrong (even if bananas aren't behind your bad luck). 

Find the course for your state and start learning before your next day on the water! 

Originally published May 21, 2013. Content Updated May 25, 2023.