Home   |   The Boat   |   First Mate   |   Admiral   |   Guestbook 

Date: 12 September 2013. First Mate.

© janice142
 

As you would expect, life aboard a coastal cruising boat insures spectacular views, calm and tranquil anchorages, peaceful nights and busy days. What it does not guarantee is a friend. The lack of social interaction can be one of the few down-sides for a soloist life afloat. Fortunately for me, I now have a terrific companion, one who adores me first thing in the morning even before I have ingested caffeine.
 


Her name is Skipper because she lives on a boat. Skipper is a Papillon* mix, most of which weigh between four and eight pounds, so not a large beast by any means. That translates to several bonuses by my way of thinking:
 

  • Smaller dogs eat less, so I'm not required to store large bags of dog food.
    Skipper, at 4 pounds 3 ounces, eats 1/4 cup of dry food per day.

  • Smaller quantities eaten, therefore I can afford the pricey better dog food.

  • Better dog food in the pup means less out after processing so to speak.

  • She fits in my purse or dock bag when going ashore.

  • Because Skipper is well-mannered, town folks want to interact with me to get to know her.
    Skipper is my social secretary.

* pronounced pap--ee--yon (butterfly in French, which her ears resemble)



Skipper loves riding at the bow of Algae.
 

Skipper just loves to go to land, though I confess we had a problem when she first moved on board. My girl was approximately 2.5 years old and housebroken/boat trained. However, every time she got in the dinghy she thought she was "outside" if you get my drift. We'd get in the rowboat and she's anoint it, which definitely wasn't pleasant from my perspective.
 

To solve that, I put her on the swim platform and would wait until there was a performance. Lots of praise and voila: I have a very smart girl. And no, we would not get into the dinghy until there was action! Have I mentioned Skipper loves going for boat rides? Motivation helps, eh?



 

A quick rinse of the swim platform and that is all cleaned up, though once and a while I have to use the scrub brush and soap. Still and all, to not have to go to shore is such a blessing. Now Skip does like to look at the water so sometimes she goes out and simply enjoys the view. Because I can too, we sit side by side... me dangling my feet in the water and she with her little tummy on the cool fiberglass.
 


Skipper is looking at the water. She does that a lot.
And yes, the platform needs a good scrubbing. Tomorrow.


My friend Mabel is an amazing fiberglass and gel-coat artist; she built my swim platform from scratch and it is perfect. As she was making it she asked me what sort of design I wanted in the non-skid. "Er, these things have designs?" I thought. Fortunately I could not come up with a thing and Mabe made it so the deck looks like the back of a turtle's shell. It is beyond nifty and suits Seaweed to a tee. Thanks again Mabe!

Skipper likes it too.
 


 

Like all boaters, my Skipper has had to learn a few
nautical tricks. All Deck Swabbies should know:
 

  1. "Man the Lifeboat" (get into the dinghy)

  2. "Abandon Ship" (get off the boat or out of the dink)

  3. "At Ease" (stop barking)
    and

  4. "There be Pirates in the cove" (bark!!!)



 

That last one "There be pirates in the cove" is used when boats are approaching my home. Skipper is my early warning system for visitors, be it person or fowl or even a friendly dolphin or manatee. Her ears are better than mine and having a head's up is always helpful. Besides, I like to wave at boats going by....
 

Do you have a dog? or cat? or something else entirely?!
And how did you chose the name of your pet?
 

Regarding the Comments Section, found at the end of every article:

  • Before you type in each block be sure to hit the backspace key. Coding inserts a space in every box. Your email address will come back as malformed unless you remove that space. (You don't have to include your email address.)

  • The capcha is case sensitive.


COMMENTS:
 

© 2013, 2019, 2021, 2023

Categories: Boat Talk, Characters, Entertainment, Pets, Security

Autumn Preparations ~ Previous Post ...    ... Next Post ~ Trolling Motor Woes


First Mate's Gallery now open ~ Crew photos welcome via Email.

Archive

The Archive holds a running list with synopsis of published articles, and links to same.

A favorite aphorism:  I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

Contributions to my Cruising Kitty via
 
are always appreciated.

Every gift helps.

The Cruising Kitty is what boaters refer to as spending money. There's never enough aboard Seaweed!


I am also an Amazon Affiliate.


My Buddy, and his girlfriend...

Copyright © Janice Marois  |  Home  |  Archive  |  Topics  |  Boat List  |  Site Map  |  Email Me  |