He, she, it

[divan]

Now that ships are officially neuter, can anyone tell me when or why they were 'shes' in the first place?

[andy hughes]

The theory is that sailors, away from wives and loved ones would create a surrogate relationship with their nearest means of home, comfort and safety - the ship, and lavish emotional affection in 'her' instead.

[incitatus]

Same reason that cars are she, or the sea. They are beautiful, headstrong, willfull, occasionally biddable and you cant cope without them. Remind you af any gender in particular?