missingtheboat

I got one last year that is very similar to this one: https://amzn.eu/d/eaKJHC5 Lasts for many hours between charges and a bargain too. I'm sure you can get ones with colour options too.

Couldn't agree more - just like any other cherished member of the family. 😊

that makes a lot of sense, great solution. Thank you.

that's good to know - thank you. I don't think I'd consider it at all if our dog was excitable.

that's interesting. how do you do this? I did wonder whether some sort of elasticated lead could be useful for that. thank goodness for your quick thinking! - sounds like a lucky escape. Having had several dogs, I tend to think that they are much less likely to have accidents than we are. They seem a lot more tuned in to what's going on around them and instinctively cautious.

think I'd probably disagree with you here. Makes me think I shouldn't cross any roads from now on. Joking aside, I do appreciate your perspective and would love to be able to eliminate the risk of any misfortune befalling my beloved mutt - but we have to be realistic in that respect I think. Fortunately, Reggie tends to avoid the stuff - he'll dip his front toes in to get a drink if he is desperate but otherwise he'll tend to avoid the stuff. I agree with that - he's on a lead when he;'s anywhere near cars or other people's sandwiches, but otherwise we don't use a lead that much. what a lovely dog - yes, I'm thinking Reggie would be much the same.

Crikey - I think you just need to change your agent. We've only ever paid 10% and our agent manages absolutely everything and has done for the past 7 year or so. Repair costs are reasonable too. It's more the responsibility than the cost that gets to me over time, I'd like to be free of it all.

we also considered this. All the hassle of home ownership with none of the benefits. We rent out another property and I speak from experience.

Good to know, I expect we'll be doing much the same. He'll wander around and sort himself out on the whole I'm sure.

This is a really great idea. He has a K9 harness already with a handle but he'd probably slip out of that one. It's good to know there are harnesses like this available - look perfect. Thank you very much for the tip!!

I've seen this on a few boats - how do you manage the gas? Keep another bottle somewhere else?

this is our plan too, although we plan to do at least one winter cruising. I suspect as we get a bit older, the winter sun will get ever more appealing.

...another good point, I don't imagine him needing a lead really - we only need one when he's near a road. I can imagine he would be very happy on the well deck given how content he seems just staring out of the window at passers by when at home.

...and it doesn't cause you any problems? I've seen a few trad sterns that look like they would easily accommodate a dog bed of some sort under the tiller. I'm sure it depends on the temperament of the dog. ah yes, a very good point. I don't think he would tolerate being lifted up onto the roof. He's a lurcher and generally content to laze around most of the time - when he's not haring around a field of course.

Yes, I can see that there are a few different things to consider, and I'm not even sure that the dog would want to spend a lot of time outside anyhow - I'm just interested in how other people have got on in case there are things I haven't thought about to think about!

Wondering whether there are people on the forum that have experience of having a dog aboard a boat with a traditional stern? I know there is not a lot of space out back but is there enough room for a dog to mooch around?

We're on the same road as you so good luck and I'll be really interested to see how you get on. I think the advice that people usually give in this situation is certainly worth considering, but (I suspect) like you - we're of the view that life is short and should be enjoyed. One thing we have almost definitely decided on is to get an older boat first - partly so that we can work out if it's something we want to do long term, partly so we can see what we really want in a boat and partly so that we can keep losses due to depreciation to a minimum. We'll then either improve the boat we have or try to trade up for something better after a while. Our plans are due to kick in in a few years but we have already started clearing out possessions, it's surprisingly liberating once you get started - there's actually very little that we feel we 'need' to keep.