[C320-list] Crew Overboard!

[Annie Bennett]

  I wonder what percentage of us take our dogs or other animals  
sailing with us  My miniature schnauzer, Fitz, always accompanies me  
on Topcat but as soon as we get on the boat she whoofs to be taken  
below deck out of the sun  She keeps a beady eye on what is happening  
on deck from the couch and is quick to jump to the low side after a  
tack but she can't manage the companionway stairs and finds the  
cockpit very slippery so only comes on deck when she is sitting being  
held on someone's lap.  In winter she makes a good hot waterbottle.

We tried lifejackets and little red leather booties for better grip  
but as she only wants to be on deck when we are moored and with the  
sun awning up decided not to get either - although with a more active  
dog I think a life jacket would be essential.

Annie Bennett
1073

On 15/09/2010, at 3:48 AM, Alan Goodman <goodmanalanlee at hotmail.com>  
wrote:

>
>
> I single hand on Lake Michigan with Molly, my 50# chow/husky mix.  I  
> will not take her out when small craft or worse warnings are in  
> effect.  As a result, when she does come with me, I do not need to  
> tether myself to the padeye mounted on the outside bulkhead under  
> the companionway.  Molly wears the same 'sled dog type' harness on  
> the boat that she wears when ashore.  When underway I use a tether  
> just long enough to allow her up on the benches and short enough to  
> keep her from interfering with the helm.  At anchor, she just uses a  
> life jacket.  Like my human crew, my focus is keeping her on the  
> boat.  It will take a real SNAFU to have her go DIA (dog in water).   
> Alan Hull 67 Holland MI
>
>