Changing a Boats name

The reason that re-naming a boat was considered unlucky was that traditionally the registration authority insisted that the official number and tonnage was permanently marked on the vessel. This was usually done by burning (with a hot poker or similar) this information into the wooden main beam, as this was reckoned to be the strongest part of the ship and as such would probably last the longest.

When a change of name was requested, the old name was struck from the register and the new name was issued along with a new official number.

This meant that the old official number had to be removed. This was usually done by chipping out all the wood in the beam to obliterate it and then burning the new number in over it. This process was considered by some to weaken the main beam and as such render the vessel less sea worthy than before.

Sailing on a ship with a known weakness was supposed to be unlucky.