Kat on Board? and Lazyjacks

[David S]

Zee Hag, I just looked at your profile and love your Tabby Kat. I had one when I was 7 years old, she lived many years, had many litters. I now have a tom kat named "Ruffy". He is black with white feet and lives up to his name. I placed a plank from the steps to the gunale and got him coming aboard while I was working on new lazy jacks. He explored every nock and cranny in the cabin and laid down on the cockpit seat. My O'day is presently on the trailer at my house. Do you think I dare take him sailing? Zee Hag did you raise your tabby kat from a kitten on board, and how do you care for "Kat" while sailing or at anchor?
Lazy jacks, how far up the mast is a good location to attach the line? At the spreader arms or further up as one old sea salt suggested half way above the spreaders? I am thinking to have a continous line on pulleys each side of the mast with a shackle to attach the lazy jacks.

David S

 

[zeehag]

bubba daboatkat is a good sailorkat---he cannot keep watch but is always on watch--lets me know what is not right by biting my elbow hard.... he came to me when he was 5 1/2 or so weeks of age and loves being with me--doesnt matter what kind of boat or where we go. he doesnt get seasick or weird about sailing--he keeps an eye on the sails so they dont become a huge bird to eat him.
when at anchor he is able to wander the boat and keep birdeez off --he claimed one seagull and 2 finches as his and they are in burdee heaven now.
is in marinas where the problem exists--he guards boat. other gatos come to visit in the night trying to claim it as their territory---he isnt cooperative with them. is bubbas boat. air conditioning in summer here in hotville is a must, so he is happy and stays inside when it is in use.
he doesnt like strangers until he is introduced properly to them.
from time i received him to now he has worn a figure 8 harness with leash--attachment pint is under kat-- at chest. works well and he actually walks on leash. he is part maine coon, so is very smart...lets me know when there is a problem with leash-- funny gato.
advantage multi is the best stuff--there are fleas in the walkways in mexico---is difficult at best to keep the problem down---need spray and advantage multi. revolution will do, but advantage is best.
is difficult to find many catfoods out and about from usa---greeen cans of fancy feast do not exist in mexico..oops...so bubba had a dietary change. also impossible to find is iams dry food. difficult to find is science diet---i found in mexico but have yet to find in la cruz to puerto vallarta area. if that is what kittywants-- bring lots of it and make sure gato will eat friskies or whiskas...
.for dry--purina is here so is whiskas. nothing great....but it is gonna work until back into green cans of fancy feast and bags of science diet and iams.....fish from sea works well when under way...he loves fresh fish..raw and cooked
cat treats---ouch--there are no greeenies here. whiskas temptations only. bubba doesnt like those--had to have greenies salmon flavor sent to us from my momma--good thing she loves critters....
we were pooped by a quartering sea in gulf of mexico when on a friend's boat---bubba will not sit in cockpit when there are seas of any size from astern anymore, including wakes from other boats-- they do learn fast.
as for litter-- that is a concern--there is agglutinating litter in mexico--isnt as good as tidy kat or whatever is used in usa--but it gets the job done. isnt litter in mexico--is arena por gatos. many places do not carry this as cats are not loved here--and goggies run loose, and rat poison is everywhere--be safe with cat--keep on leash and make sure is always on boat......

i wish i had lazy jax--my boom is about 18 ft in length....mine will be from spreaders and will occupy much of my boom when they are finally installed....mine will be permanently in position for ease in use solo sailing....