King of the Kastle? Boat shopping with a big dog in mind

18-IMG_0776Sure, it might sound crazy to consider your dog’s needs when shopping for a boat. But, I see your crazy and raise you a “lazy”, as in lazy like a fox!

I knew Kemah’d want to go from the salon to the cockpit and down into the water and back again mutiple.times.a.day AND I knew I didn’t want to be responsible for carrying him up and down a steep companion way or hoisting him from a swim-scoop or the dinghy six feet up to the topsides of a beautiful sloop.

So, take that you crazy-callers!

I’m so crazy I thought ahead to all of the work I did not want to be doing in a boat that didn’t suit our – all of our – needs.

Plus, I had reasonable concerns about K’s safety: if he ever fell overboard, could he get back in by himself?

And, finally, if you think this is all about the dog, think again: K was just another great excuse for me to get a catamaran with beautiful swim-steps carved into the hulls and a salon and cockpit that are basically on the same level. No steep stairs for us, no sir!

Which leads us to the next big topic for consideration with a dog aboard . . . Where to? Adventures in Officialdom with your four-legged traveling friend. Click here to make the jump.

Or, click here to jump back to the Kemah’s Korner homepage.