When looking at boating as a whole and the history it boasts, there are some really interesting facts that you many have never heard of, but we thought we would share some of these:
- Whistling on a boat is expected to bring upon strong winds and is therefore considered bad luck. Bananas on a boat are also seen as bad luck especially on fishing boats. It is thought that fish do not bite on a hook if there are bananas close by. Finding a cat on a boat on the other hand is considered good luck, even if it is a black cat. Cats eat rats and keep the boat clean and safe.
- The youngest person to sail around the world is Laura Dekker. She is a 14-year old that went off to sail around the world in 2012 and finished her trip 518 days later when she was 16.
- A 2004 study has confirmed that joining a cruise ship after retirement is cheaper than retiring to a retirement home.
- The difference between a boat and a ship lies in its weight. If a vessel is over 500 tons then it is called a ship. A ship can also carry a boat.
- The first ship to reach America only had 40 people on board, including Christopher Columbus. It was the size of a bus and it did not exceed 70 feet.
- According to evidence found by several archaeologists, boats have been used over 900.000 years ago.
- Boats indeed have a life expectancy. After that, they are not deemed safe or stable anymore. Usually, cargo ships that cruise the oceans can have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Sailboats on the other hand have around for 30-40.
- Vasa is a Swedish warship that is known for sinking in 1628 and being recovered in 1961. After spending centuries at the bottom of the ocean, the vessel was still completely intact and in good shape. It is actually the only vessel left from the 17th century. She now lies in the Vasa Museum of Stockholm which was built as a tribute to this ship. It is now one of Sweden’s most popular attractions. It receives almost 30 million tourists.
- The Japanese Sea Bass is in fact a species of the catadromous marine ray-finned fish which is from the Asian Sea Bass family. In Japan this fish is proudly known as, believe it or not, SUZUKI!
