Anyone else in the same boat?

L

Lanlocked

New member
I am tired of looking at my cd22 in the driveway. I want to go where the weather is warm and fish and cruise.
My wife has passed away but I have a 13 yr old dog and a cat that I rescued from the shelter to keep Teddy company while I was at work.
I quit my job after 34 yrs, am almost 62 yrs old and I don't want to wait around looking at my boat in the driveway till my pets pass way which may be 5 or ten yrs.
I have no reason not to head south but the animals.
I took Teddy out for 4 days and I don't know if it was a terror trip or not for her.
3 times a day I had to find a place to get her out of the boat and do her doo doos.
I am free to do anything I want except for the animals.

Anybody else in my position?
 
No,
We have boated with dogs for over 35 years; including crossing the Atlantic Ocean on our sailboat--dogs aboard for continuously for 6 months due to red tic infestation and Wiels' disease in Central America....no restriction for the dogs on boats!

Go Do it!

We usually go "stern to" the shore in the C Dory--will be doing a piece on anchoring this way shortly. This way, you don't even have to get your feet wet with a "Pet step", or some rocks etc.

We take the dog ashore first thing in the AM, sometime in the middle of the day and late at night.

When in AK, where we anchor out, and have to take a dinghy in cold weather it is a little more difficult, but we have boated with 3 dogs on a 22: (Border collie, Chow/shepard mix, and Papillion mix all at the same time)--no problems...

Go do it!
 
Thanks for the support.
I have a little 2 acre lot with a trailer in Crystal River FL that I haven't bee to in 4 yrs. It is only 15 or 20 minutes from the Fort Island boat ramp.

I was debating whether to trailer the CD22 down or just wait around for 5 yrs for the animals or me to die.

I need a mission. I live for missions and I appreciate your information on the pets.
Thanks,
Rich
 
Kind of. It is my job that keeps me from boating more. We boat with a German Shepherd and a Border Collie. For us the pets companionship on the water is comforting. It is not a big deal to get them a shore break. I use a rubber coated 16#river anchor, stern to shore and toss the anchor off the stern for a quick stop. Easier than fooling with the bow anchor for short stops. The swim step with a carpet runner over the splash well is easy for wet paws to grip. We use a step stool inside the splash-well to help them and us down in the cockpit. The carpet runner covers the whole walkway and step stool and stays in place when the boat is in the water and underway.

We just spent several days camping and canoe/kayaking just below Crystal River. Snorkeled in lots of springs. Beautiful area and can't wait to go back for more. Lots of shallow water cruising for the CD. Get down to the trailer and have fun.

From the movie Shaw-shank Redemption: Ol RED says "Time to get busy living or get busy dieing".
 
I feel your pain, but not been in that position. However in spring 2010 my 17 year old dog passed and my 55 year old wife of 30 years also passed. All within a ten day period. They were my family. It was a challenging time. After the estate details I traded my c dory 19 for a new 22. I also took the hint and pulled the plug on my job. I am 54 I then hit the road. First thing I know from previous sailing voyages is that life for me happens when I am moving, staying at home is just work. New places and experiences and people do not happen at home! I recommend scooting by this weekend! Saturday 10 am Load up everything you need. Pets too and pick a place, why not go up to the Cumberland river for the fall colors? ICW and Dismal swamp would be awesome right now The pets will very likely adjust to the new life. My dogs always loved boating. I never saw so many cats on boats as I did last year at the Friday Harbour gathering. There had to be 5 or 6 with cats. My buddy Jon on Gypsy River boards his cat while on trips it travels in the rv with him and then he boards for the water part. One solution. My friends Jim and Joan on Wild Blue have a cat full time and wrote a book about their Izzy. I am about to embark for 5 plus months on the road and water with Kerri On (reminder to me to Carry On) and a new partner. Life goes on. You too Check out my trip last year Kerri On's walkabout. This year will be something like "travel along with Kerri On". My buddy Casey on Katmai lost his wife last year and amazing things are going on for Casey! It ain't over till it's over. Get underway . Getting critters ashore involves some work but they may perk up and be a joy to you as you travel. Your mission....should you choose to accept it. ...... Is to depart by 1000 Saturday October 13th for Nashville Tn and get the boat wet. Meet you out there somewhere :smiled George and Carolyn
 
Hi Rich,

George's idea sounds pretty good. The Cumberland offers some great cruising, especially in the Fall. Pack up the animals and take off. The forecast for Nashville on Saturday is 79 and partly sunny...perfect boating weather. We plan to be out on the water as well.

Enjoy the animals while you have them...it will be a sad day when they pass away. We had two female dogs from the same litter for almost 13 years before losing one in April. I dread the day when we lose the other one.

Best wishes,

Rob
 
No pets, but lots of grand kids keep us home too much. And I agree with the comment that being at home, even retired is too much like work. I don't think you need to be working on months away at a time. But you are certainly free to take weeks at a time and I suspect that your furry friends will enjoy the adventure as well. I've seen the doggie boarding things and they work well for the dogs to have some freedom. Don't forget the doggie life preservers. I'm pretty sure when I'm on my death bed that I'll NOT be telling my loved ones that I wished I'd worked longer, been more up tight, laughed less, and boated less. I'm pretty sure I'll be telling them that I enjoyed my life of laughter, travel, boating exciting places, AND hugging my kids and grand kids.

This is heresy to pet owners, but you may be able to find some nice part time or permanent care takers for the furry ones, or at least for all but one.
 
Pack up for the aplachicola(Wefings) gathering 10/19-10/21 bring the dog get a cat sitter . we have 2 cats we have friends or relatives come every day for food and cleanup they are pretty self reliant . We will see you there Jim and Loree
 
Sorry for your loss. I have several dogs and they need care when im gone. I find someone responsible to feed and water,my nephew,or take them to a kennel,or if you check on internet there are services that will come to your house and feed,walk or whatever you need done with your pets.My dogs are coyote hunting dogs,so they are not suited to take with me. If I had a house dog I would bring him along until he got used to it.
 
I've been cruising BC and SE Alaska single-handed but for Scrappy, our 17lb Border Terrier, for the last eight summers. Single handed half the time, with guests for the other half. It's fine! (Was fine until she passed away at 14, after a fine and adventurous life, a week or so ago).

Scrappy peed on board, on a faux-grass door mat cut to fit and zip-tied into an upside-down Rubbermaid tub lid. Easy to dump and rinse overboard. Reluctantly, she learned to poop on the cockpit deck. The poop goes into the head, or overboard if we're in open water. Easy to clean up any remnants.

I'd leave the cat with a sitter - litter box could be a hassle. Years ago we would leave our cat at home in the fenced back yard, with someone to come feed and check on and play with him.
 
This is not meant to be harsh... sometimes the toughest part of making a move is that first step. You have quit your job; as far as I can see, the only thing holding you back is the cat and dog. They simply want to be where you are. Load 'em up, and go find some warmth. They will adapt. Plan for their needs (food, potty, exercise) as you pack. Bring something that is theirs, so there is some familiarity. Then, experience the new view through the windshield.

A change of place may lead to a change of pace... you and the animals are going to die one day; we all are. Don't lose that time, waiting.

Good luck, Lanlocked.
 
We don't do a lot of critter boating but do head for our place in Maine for two months or more every year. Our 4 cats and dog ride fine in the car, the cats can go for 10 hours + without a potty break, the dog needs more time but is easier to walk. It's a two day trip, could make it in one but I'm not up for a 16-18 hour ride up the East Coast. Hardest thing was to find a motel that would take them all where we could back up to the room.

You could make the Florida trip easy, overnight in the boat at a campground, put the kitty in a carrier in the car during the day and let her/him out at night in the boat with a disposable litter box. Just be careful he/she doesn't get out or that may be the last you see of the cat. The dog will be fine, hopefully he isn't too heavy to boost up into the boat for the overnight. They will do fine in the trailer.

Go for it, time is a'wasting!

Good Luck

Charlie
 
Medical advice--free. It is most important in a situation as you find yourself in to get off our duff and get moving. The pets are not a reason to be cruising. You have to have plans, dreams and motivations! Never give those up. We have several friends who have not keep plans, dreams and motivations, and we find that their memory tends to degrade.

Even large dogs are not a reason to avoid cruising in a C Dory 22 --don't know about the Coyote hunting dogs, but we have cruised in a 23 footer with a 120 lb lab and two kids (probably worse than a Coyote hunting dog...when we were younger....

We have said thru our lives--do it while you can--you never know what is around the corner!
 
Thanks Bob. Well put for us all None of us can see ahead. Like Larry Pardey always said " go small, go simple, go Now!". George
 
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