Any suggestions for sailing for the weekend with a large dog on board a 240 or 260??? Kenneling is not an option. How have you handled this delemma???
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What's the problem!
What's the problem, you just do what the dog wants you to do. Actually, these boats lend themselves to having a dog aboard. Easy entry and exit into a dingy. You may want to get a non-skid piece of carpet for the cockpit so auggie-doggie does not slip too much when the boat heals. Don't forget the water water and food bowls. Get the metal type with rubber on the bottom so the do not skid around either.
What's the problem, you just do what the dog wants you to do. Actually, these boats lend themselves to having a dog aboard. Easy entry and exit into a dingy. You may want to get a non-skid piece of carpet for the cockpit so auggie-doggie does not slip too much when the boat heals. Don't forget the water water and food bowls. Get the metal type with rubber on the bottom so the do not skid around either.
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Scott Broad
A slight problem with grip
My wife and I always take our golden retriever "Murphy" with us. We sail in a H-380 but I would assume the same problems will happen with the 240-260. We have lined the cockpit with rubber-backed outdoor carpet. Not only does it look great, but it gives our dog grip when the boat heels over. Every time we tack, the dog tends to get up and move to the low side. (If I could only teach him to hang over the high side it would be great!). We have also put a runner of the carpet at the bottom of the companionway stairs so he doesn't fall on the slippery wood floor. It also stops the claw marks. He has no problems up and down now.
My wife and I always take our golden retriever "Murphy" with us. We sail in a H-380 but I would assume the same problems will happen with the 240-260. We have lined the cockpit with rubber-backed outdoor carpet. Not only does it look great, but it gives our dog grip when the boat heels over. Every time we tack, the dog tends to get up and move to the low side. (If I could only teach him to hang over the high side it would be great!). We have also put a runner of the carpet at the bottom of the companionway stairs so he doesn't fall on the slippery wood floor. It also stops the claw marks. He has no problems up and down now.
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Chris
No problem till you get there.
We take our yellow lab with us on our 33.5. She is fine on the boat...sleeps alot. The problem starts when we get to where we're going. She limits our ability to go some places, e.g. beach, mopeding, biking, you know most of the fun stuff (our dog is pretty hiper). We have started to leave her on board for a couple of hours at a time and it seems to be working out. As a compromise, we have the kids in the neighborhood watch her every other weekend. Good luck and have fun. P.S. On the first weekend out, she ate through our antenna wire and we named our boat "Fiasco".
We take our yellow lab with us on our 33.5. She is fine on the boat...sleeps alot. The problem starts when we get to where we're going. She limits our ability to go some places, e.g. beach, mopeding, biking, you know most of the fun stuff (our dog is pretty hiper). We have started to leave her on board for a couple of hours at a time and it seems to be working out. As a compromise, we have the kids in the neighborhood watch her every other weekend. Good luck and have fun. P.S. On the first weekend out, she ate through our antenna wire and we named our boat "Fiasco".
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Ed Schenck
Our dog loves to sail.
She's not large but loves to stand up on the cabin roof and play captain. We have the cabin sole carpeted but she does fine on the non-skid. We have a PFD for her but seldom use it. We prefer a harness and a leash. If the weather is rough or the water is cold we keep the leash short, just in case. As someone pointed out, a dog does restrict your fun time in anchorages. Try to find a way to occasionally go without her/him. We found a kennel close to the marina where she can stay for $7. while we daysail.
She's not large but loves to stand up on the cabin roof and play captain. We have the cabin sole carpeted but she does fine on the non-skid. We have a PFD for her but seldom use it. We prefer a harness and a leash. If the weather is rough or the water is cold we keep the leash short, just in case. As someone pointed out, a dog does restrict your fun time in anchorages. Try to find a way to occasionally go without her/him. We found a kennel close to the marina where she can stay for $7. while we daysail.
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Paul Denning
Sailing with our dog
We love sailing with our dog. My wife is blind (and an excellent sailor) and takes her yellow lab guide dog with her everywhere. The dog swims with us and climbs the ladder by herself to get back in, she even swims to shore to do her "business". Sleeping on our Hunter 26 is easy, the dog curls up under the table and in the morning wakes us up in the quarterdeck. Out on deck, the dog always wears a PFD (they swim great but don't float well). When the boat is heeled up, she likes to lay on the up side of the floor with her paws against the center rail. If needed, the dog can also perform work on the boat. She can hold a dock line while we launch or help tail a winch when I'm raising sails. Her water rescue skills are minimal but she has towed tired swimmers back to the boat when needed. As a guide dog, she has full access to the marina and shore life so no kenneling is needed. We have sailed from the Gulf to the Great Lakes and have been welcomed at every facility. All in all, I can't imagine life aboard our boat without the dog and I know she loves it because she is the first one in the Suburban when we start loading up for a sail. - paul
We love sailing with our dog. My wife is blind (and an excellent sailor) and takes her yellow lab guide dog with her everywhere. The dog swims with us and climbs the ladder by herself to get back in, she even swims to shore to do her "business". Sleeping on our Hunter 26 is easy, the dog curls up under the table and in the morning wakes us up in the quarterdeck. Out on deck, the dog always wears a PFD (they swim great but don't float well). When the boat is heeled up, she likes to lay on the up side of the floor with her paws against the center rail. If needed, the dog can also perform work on the boat. She can hold a dock line while we launch or help tail a winch when I'm raising sails. Her water rescue skills are minimal but she has towed tired swimmers back to the boat when needed. As a guide dog, she has full access to the marina and shore life so no kenneling is needed. We have sailed from the Gulf to the Great Lakes and have been welcomed at every facility. All in all, I can't imagine life aboard our boat without the dog and I know she loves it because she is the first one in the Suburban when we start loading up for a sail. - paul
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Al Sandrik
Our dog goes with us all of the time.
Hell he's better liked in the marina than I am ;^) He's not thrilled when I dip the rail but otherwise he does fine. Remember to make sure he has enough water, and I give mine some ice about every half hour or so.
Hell he's better liked in the marina than I am ;^) He's not thrilled when I dip the rail but otherwise he does fine. Remember to make sure he has enough water, and I give mine some ice about every half hour or so.
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Jim A
Get a boat with a large cockpit
I sailed with my Rotti on a San Juan 21. With 7 feet of cockpit, there was plenty of room for the dog to walk around. I now have a Hunter 28 and the cockpit is much smaller. She is going to have to get used to it!
I sailed with my Rotti on a San Juan 21. With 7 feet of cockpit, there was plenty of room for the dog to walk around. I now have a Hunter 28 and the cockpit is much smaller. She is going to have to get used to it!
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