Taking your four legged or feathered family members cruising with you?
Part I
(Part II – Long Distance Sailing with Salty Dogs, Cats & Feathered Friends, will be our next blog.)
Consider safety and comfort for all. Make no mistake. People- and pets fall overboard. One slippery deck, one unplanned jibe, or a rogue wave can knock the best of breeds into the drink.
Safety messages are always woven into our blogs. The same plans need to be in place for your pets. There is a certain helplessness factor with pets. We have yet to hear Fido yell "Man overboard!" Your first clue that your pet has fallen into the drink will be The Splash. Like babies, our animal companions also have a difficult time telling us what ails them when they are sick.
Bill Pinkney, the second African American to sail solo around the world, and the first to set a 27,000 mile course that took him around five capes, said about taking along pets. "I didn't take any pets on my voyage, because they couldn't make a choice, whether to be there, or not."
Does you pet want to be on the water, or not? Our first dog, Arthur, was a true salty dog. The minute we picked up our canvas bags, Arthur was raring to go. Our second dog, Abby, was not seafaring at all. She didn't like loud noises (the engine) and she didn't like the wind (on our 34' sailboat).
On Abby's maiden voyage, she became hyper to the point that one of us had to hold onto her by the collar, while the other sailed the boat. Upon our arrival in the harbor there was wailing, tears and gnashing of teeth. Not all produced by Abby! Our cute little 40lb. pup made it clear to us that she would rather be home, lying on the couch with the air-conditioning turned on high.
A life jacket for pets is a must for two reasons. One. It will keep them afloat in the water. Two. Most have a big handle across the back so that it can be grabbed and lifted back on deck by hand, or a boat hook.
Is your pet comfortable in its safety equipment? Try out every piece of equipment on dry land. We took our dog, Arthur, to the local marine store to get the perfect sized life jacket. Once on, the jacket fit well,but the dog wouldn't move. We couldn't get him to walk in the store, unless we removed it. Some time later, other sailing friends sent us a different dog life jacket, and it did the trick.
Have your dog or cat get used to the surroundings before you start the engine. Pets may seek enclosed shelter, such as a wardrobe locker, once the engine starts up. When underway and having to do difficult maneuvering such as navigating locks or narrow channels, pets should be securely below.
Think about where your pet is going to ride on your boat. Don't let any pet (or human) ride on the transom. The fumes from your engine can be deadly!
Your deck is slick, including your cabin tops. Our friends' had their Irish Setter sleeping on the cabin top of their 30' sailboat. The boat heeled, and the dog slipped right into the drink. Second concern. Our swim ladders were never meant to be climbed by four-legged critters with paws. Image trying to get a 60 lb Irish Setter up the ladder or over the transom? Have a plan in place.
Cats need a litter box on board. Once docked they may choose a different plan on shore, and may bring other critters back with them in the form of a mouse, bird, or gopher. For cats that go overboard, fenders and rope ladders are a way out of the water. Like dogs, cats should wear pet lifejackets.
Cruising with dogs, and their needs is a little easier. They are able to wait a little longer than cats before nature calls. There is always an exception.
If you have to row your pet to shore to take care of business, or you are moored at a mooring can or star dock, get the pet used to riding in the dinghy. Knowing we would be in the North Channel in Canada at anchor, Bob blew up our Zodiac at home in our living room, to get our dog used to getting in and out of the dinghy.
As in regular dog or cat owner life, have the required tags on your dog for identification, vaccinations, and a number where you can be reached. A collar and leash that light up in the dark is also a must.
Some cruisers take their birds for boat rides. Most are long range cruisers. Safety strategies for bird owners and boats will be covered in Part II of this blog.
Carry a collapsible kennel with you in the event that your dog or cat is injured, or rough weather, and you need all hands on deck. Best for transporting your pet if you need to go ashore in rough seas. Cat baskets, with a soft blanket inside, are recommended for cats onboard.
Do some investigative exploring on your boat from your pet's point of view. Decide which deck surfaces are the most safe. Deck and railing netting are a deterrent for pets going overboard.
Take the time and spend the money to make your voyages safe for all your passengers, especially your loving pets.
To obtain more information about the products and services mentioned in this article, please contact CLR Marine https://www.clrmarine.com/.
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Award-winning author Cheryl Kuba has been at the helm for more than 30 years sailing the Great Lakes, with side trips to the British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. She has served as past- Commodore of Great Lakes Fleet 21 -Chicago region. 3happycampers.com
©Copyright Cheryl Kuba, 3happycampers.com
