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'Not yet, Roger!' Hilarious moment cat gets too excited and tries to leap from dinghy to sailboat and ends up in the water (but luckily he knows how to swim!)

• The video was captured by poster 'svphoenixstudio who posted to TikTok with the caption: 'The day I learned Roger is an excellent swimmer'
• Footage shows the curious cat jumping onto the edge of the dinghy. The owner's voice is heard telling her feline: 'Careful please ... really careful... not yet'
• Seconds later the kitty is seen making a big splash into the ocean but miraculously was rescued by its loving owner  

By Ruth Bashinsky For Dailymail.Com

Published: 21:06 EDT, 10 July 2023 | Updated: 01:52 EDT, 11 July 2023

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Video showed the hilarious moment a cat sitting on the edge of a dinghy tried to leap onto a nearby sailboat and ended up in the water - but miraculously survived the daring jump.

The video was captured by [poster 'svphoenixstudio,' the kitty's owner, who posted the entertaining clip to her TikTok with the caption: 'The day I learned Roger is an excellent swimmer.'

Footage showed the curious cat jumping onto the edge of the dinghy. The owner's voice was heard telling her feline friend. 'Careful please ... really careful... not yet.'

'Roger,' she called out as the cat was seen seconds later with its four legs sprawled out, making a big splash- belly first - into the ocean waters and only inches away from the sailboat he was trying to leap toward.

The sound of splashing water was heard in the background and the owner's flip-flop could be seen moving across the raft as she gave a reassuring tone. 'It's okay ... come back over here...Roger...Roger come here.

Footage shows the curious cat jumping onto the edge of the dinghy. The owner's voice was heard telling her feline: 'Careful please ... really careful... not yet'

'Roger,' she calls out as the cat is seen seconds later with its four legs sprawled out, making a big splash- belly first - into the ocean waters and only inches away from the sailboat he was trying to leap toward. 

Though the video does not capture the actual rescue mission, the owner was overheard saying: 'Oh my god... Oh my gosh... I am so glad you know how to swim.'

She continued:  'You are not going to do that again, OK?. You are not going to do that again.'

The soggy cat responded with a 'meow,' as the owner replied, 'I know that could have been very bad.'

Hannah is Roger's owner, and according to her blog, she describes herself as a 'sailor and an artist.'

'Everyone’s story is interesting and important. Everyone’s story is also multidimensional and unique. Here’s mine,' she penned.

Hannah  has a passion for sailing. She has earned her USCG 25 Ton Masters License (Captains License) and shares the trips she has taken.   

'I’ve sailed in Vermont, Maine, The Caribbean, and most recently down to the Chesapeake. I’ve worked as a charter captain, racing coach, and in a sail loft. I now own and live aboard my own sailboat. All of this began with a conversation. An idea that grew, and continues to grow,' she wrote. 

In her post, she spoke about her art and the Etsy shop she opened in November 2021, called 'sv Phoenix Studio.' She said she came up with the name since her art was started aboard the sailing vessel named 'Phoenix.'

Many people viewed the video and appeared elated by the stunt and relieved that Roger made it back to the boat unscathed.

'Awww, glad he is ok!' one person wrote in the comment section of the video's repost to YouTube.

Another said: 'Lol… so cute… I like his little sad meow at the end. I would buy you a GoPro to see all the antics of your swimming kitty if I could!'

Share or comment on this article: Hilarious moment cat tries to leap from dinghy to sailboat and ends up in the water

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Cats On Liveaboard Sailboats - A Complete Guide

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Cats are fun, safe, and friendly companions to countless liveaboard sailors. Caring for a cat on a sailboat can also be easy.

Cats can live safely and comfortably aboard sailboats with proper space, ventilation, climate control, and safety precautions. Most cities and marinas allow cats aboard, and they’re easy to care for if you take a few extra measures.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about living aboard a sailboat with a cat (or two). We’ll go over the best breeds for sailboats, essential cat safety measures, indoor and outdoor cats, toys and entertainment, and how to keep your cabin clean.

We sourced the information for this article primarily from the tips of liveaboard cat owners. We also researched cat breeds and behavior, along with which cats are best suited for long-term living aboard a sailboat.

Table of contents

Can You Keep a Cat on a Sailboat?

Yes! Cats are some of the best pets to have aboard sailboats. They generally require less attention in terms of exercise than dogs, and many cats can acclimate easily to living on a sailboat. Cats offer great company, and they’ve been kept on boats and ships for decades.

That said, there are several unique challenges that cat owners face while living aboard a sailboat. We’ll go over the best supplies and strategies soon, but first, we’ll cover the rules and legality of keeping cats in liveaboard sailboats.

Marina Rules and Pet Regulations

The most likely issue you’ll run into is the marina itself. Some marinas that allow liveaboards have strict pet policies. These are instituted primarily for sanitation reasons, and violating the rules can get you kicked out.

Liveaboard slips are hard to come by these days, so it’s best to abide by the marina’s policies. Be sure to contact your chosen marina and make sure you’ll be allowed to keep a cat on board. Some marinas have policies strictly for dogs or outdoor cats, so you may be off the hook.

Local Pet Ordinances

Local ordinances apply in just a few situations. First, some communities set limits on how many pets can occupy a residence. These limits are usually based on square footage, which is where liveaboards usually run into trouble.

For example, a city or county may specify that you can only keep one pet per 100 square feet of interior space. These rules may or may not apply to mobile dwellings (such as RVs and boats), so it’s best to check first. Regardless, most standard cruising sailboats can only comfortably (and hygienically) harbor one or two pets at a time.

How Many Cats Can You Keep on a Sailboat?

This question depends entirely on your cleaning capabilities and the size of your sailboat. A 30-foot sailboat cabin gets awfully cramped with two or three cats aboard, not to mention the litter box problem. Multiple cats using a litter box in a well-sealed fiberglass tube isn’t a good situation.

As a general rule, it’s best to start with one cat regardless of the size of your boat. That way, you can get acclimated to taking care of a cat on a boat before taking on additional pets. For vessels under 40 feet in length, two cats is a reasonable limit.

Benefits of Liveaboard Cats

There are numerous benefits to living aboard a sailboat with a cat! The first and most common benefit is the companionship of having your pet aboard. It can greatly enhance the atmosphere by adding comfort and a real sense of ‘home’ in the very utilitarian environment of a sailboat cabin.

Additionally, cats are a great way to keep pests from occupying your vessel. Many sailors leave the hatches open during the summer, and sailboats are a five-star destination for mice and other disease-riddled rodents. Cats are humanity’s oldest and most effective pest control system.

Cats also provide a great opportunity to bond with other liveaboards. From arranging playdates to sharing common experiences, keeping a cat or two aboard your sailboat is sure to add an extra layer of quality to your experience.

Indoor or Outdoor Cats: Which are Best for Sailboats?

The indoor/outdoor cat debate has raged between homeowners for decades, and the question is even more important to consider as a liveaboard.

The primary issue here is that cats are difficult to keep contained aboard a boat. Sailboats have lots of large openings for people to move in and out of. Hatches and portlights present ample opportunity for cats to ‘escape’ and run off up the dock. Having an outdoor cat somewhat negates the issue, as they’re free to come and go as they please.

Outdoor cats are the easiest to deal with if you like opening up your boat frequently, and it frees up deck space for your cat to relax and exercise in your presence. However, outdoor cats can bring in ticks and fleas, which can rapidly overrun a confined space like a sailboat cabin.

Indoor cats eliminate the tick and flea issue, but you’ll have to keep a much closer eye on them. Some cats naturally won’t stray off the boat, so there’s a possible solution. And yes, it’s entirely possible to keep a cat from escaping a sailboat if some precautions are taken.

Which Cat Breeds are Best for Liveaboard Sailboats?

Believe it or not, there are several cat breeds that are adapted for life on the water. It’s no guarantee that your cat will swim like a Golden Retriever, but many breeds are known for their affinity for water.

The best cat breeds for sailboats are the American Bobtail, the Maine Coon, the Manx, the Japanese Bobtail, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Turkish Angora, the American Shorthair, the Turkish Van, and most varieties of Bengal cats.

How to ‘Cat-Proof’ Your Sailboat

Cat-proofing your sailboat is essential if you’re planning to have one aboard. Cat-proofing refers to steps you should take to protect your cat from getting into areas where it shouldn’t be.

First, make sure to seal off any open access to the bilge. Sailboat bilges are often wet, unsanitary, and confined—which is just asking for trouble. Additionally, make sure your cat can’t get into the engine compartment or anywhere fuel and oil are stored.

Make sure to enclose access to electrical panels and wiring, as cats are known to chew up or destroy essential wiring and systems. Also, they can give themselves an unpleasant shock from rubbing against or biting into the wrong wires.

All other spaces on your sailboat should be safe for cats, as long as they’re accessible and open. Make sure to keep cupboards closed, and consider adding netting over deep cubbies to prevent your cat from getting stuck or trapped behind a panel or bulkhead.

Liveaboard Cat Safety

Keeping your cat safe aboard your sailboat can be easy. The main concerns are temperature, water, and the environment. Below, we’ll go over how to keep your pet safe and comfortable in the unique environment of a liveaboard sailboat.

Can Cats Swim?

Many cats can swim to some extent, but they usually don’t like it. Any cat owner who’s tried to give their cat a bath can attest to this fact. However, cats can be acclimated to the water with some patience and routine practice.

Lifejackets for Cats

It’s a good idea to spend time in the water with your cat, as you want to be sure it can swim if it falls overboard. Using a specialized cat life jacket is a great way to start. These lifejackets are also useful in an emergency.

Leashes and Harnesses

Having a leash and a good cat harness is a great way to safely let your cat enjoy the deck space of a sailboat. Many liveaboards attach a leash to the deck rail or a stay wire. A leash and harness essentially double the amount of space your cat has to hang out.

If it’s long enough, it’ll allow your cat to explore and hang out on the deck without running away. Just be sure to keep it untangled from lines and rigging. Don’t attach a leash to a collar, as it can be hazardous if your cat tries to jump off the boat or gets snagged in the rigging.

You can also incorporate a lifejacket into a leash system, which is especially helpful when making an offshore passage or getting underway. It’s a great and inexpensive upgrade for you and your cat.

Climate and Temperature

When it comes to temperature, the same rules that apply to cars also apply to sailboats. Never let your boat get too hot with your cat inside. Make sure the vessel is well ventilated, heated, and air-conditioned if possible. Sailboat cabins can get extremely hot quite fast. Remember, if you’re sweating, your cat could be overheating much worse.

Cats on Sailboats: Sanitation

Nobody likes to think about sanitation, but it’ll be the only thing on your mind if your boat isn’t cat-friendly. Small spaces can be soiled rapidly, especially with an animal onboard. However, you don’t have to resign yourself to a dirty space when you have a liveaboard cat.

Litter and Litter Boxes

Choosing the right litter and litter box is essential to maintaining a clean and disease-free sailboat cabin for you and your cat. Cat waste is noxious and must be contained effectively.

Don’t skimp on litter quality! Deodorants in cheap litter only mask the smell for a short time (if at all), so it’s best to find a product with odor-killing abilities. The best way to do that is to purchase high-quality anti-odor cat litter (the pricey stuff) and a partially-enclosed litter box.  

Food and Water

Food and water are pretty self-explanatory aboard a sailboat, but it requires spatial consideration. You can still feed your high-quality cat food as long as there’s enough room aboard to store sufficient supplies. Additionally, you’ll need an anti-spill water bowl to prevent your floating home from rolling and spilling water everywhere.

Hair Control

Most cats shed, and cat hair isn’t the best addition to your upholstery. Thankfully, cat hair and other allergens can be controlled effectively with proper ventilation and cleaning tools. A simple dustbuster is sufficient for cleaning furniture and scooping up stray chunks of litter.

Ventilation

Keep that air moving! Cats need fresh air, and so do humans who live in confined spaces with cats. It’s easy to ensure your sailboat has adequate ventilation. Simply install a few solar-powered deck vents and crack a porthole. Additional passive ventilation (like a wind scoop) can be a lifesaver on hot and stagnant days.

Waste Disposal

You’ll probably have to clean the litter box about twice as often when living aboard a sailboat. The most important thing to remember is to get the waste off the boat as soon as possible.

Avoid flushing it down the toilet, as litter can expand and ruin pipes and septic tanks. Instead, bag it and take it to the marina dumpster. If you perform this task once every day or two, you’ll be in great shape.

Cat Toys for Liveaboard Sailboats

Keeping your cat entertained is pretty simple on a sailboat. Most liveaboard cat owners have a wide array of typical small cat toys. You could let your cat scratch up the furniture freely, though it’s better to find a place to add (or build) a scratching post.

Some sailors turn the bottom of a wooden bulkhead into a scratching post by stapling a sheet of thick cat carpet around the base. Other possible scratching post locations include the base of the mast, the centerboard trunk (if you have one), and the base of a table.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Cat takes a flying leap out of a boat — makes a splash!

A cat was caught on video trying to jump from a dinghy to a sailboat. The cat named Roger attempted the leap a bit too early — and landed in the water. See this surprising video!

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Cats On A Boat: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to keep your cats on a boat then you’re not alone. We’ve met many a sailor with at least one furry friend on board.

Before we got Tiny Cat, our Greek rescue kitten, we decided we would never have a cat onboard. We thought cats needed outside space to explore, and that they would hate life on a sailboat.

Tiny Cat pounced into our lives and although we did try and rehome her (thus the name Tiny Cat – we were never meant to keep her!) we couldn’t stand to give her up. She had become family. So we started searching for ways to keep cats happy on a boat. It turns out they absolutely can have great lives at sea.

But there are a few things to consider assigning yourself a new first mate. We take a look at keeping cats on a boat in this helpful guide, after having Tiny Cat on board with us for four years now.

Tiny Cat even has a book written about her. You can check out her story and buy a copy of Tiny Cat Adventures here !

Our Own Cat On A Boat

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

We are big cat fans (who isn’t!?) but we weren’t at all sure about having cats on a boat. We thought they would miss having outside space to roam around in, that it would make travelling from country to country in our sailboat really hard and that they’d constantly be falling overboard and we’d be diving in after them!

When a two week old kitten showed up outside our boat at a Greek boat yard we did everything we could to encourage her to leave before we gave in and fed her. She was the size of the palm of my hand and looked as though she had never eaten. We decided to feed her up, make her strong and set her free. But the cat had different plans.

After many failed attempts to get her used to boatyard life and many long discussions about how impractical it would be to have a cat on a boat, our hearts won over and we threw caution to the wind, deciding to keep her.

We’d called her Tiny Cat, not wanting to give her a real name as we weren’t meant to be keeping her. And no matter how hard we tried to call her something else, Tiny Cat had just stuck. And so it was that Tiny Cat became our newest, cutest crew member and we became proud owners of a cat on a boat.

Cats On A Boat

Here are our experiences (positive and negative) about living with cats on a boat for anyone like us, who is doubtful about whether or not it can work. We’ve received so much useful advice from others, and even if we haven’t followed it for Tiny Cat we’ve shared it here in case it works for your cat.

We’ve also added the ultimate boat cat shopping list at the end so that you don’t have to trail around random foreign shops for hours trying to find the right equipment. Just order it all at once while you’re in a marina, at home, or near a post office and you can tick one of the main problems we had off your list!

Like people, cats all so different, so it might take a little trial and error at first to work out what suits your cat on a boat best! One thing we’re sure of though – you won’t regret it! Good luck – we can’t wait to hear how it all goes!

Jump To: Cats On A Boat

Keeping boat cats safe at anchor

Keeping boat cats safe underway

Your boat cat in a marina

Boat cat food

Cat litter on a boat

Boat cat claws

Toys for cats on boats

Taking your boat cat to the vet

Cats on boats and sea sickness

Checking in to new countries

Flying home with a cat

Boat cat community

Shopping list

Keeping Your Cats On A Boat Safe At Anchor

It seems that if a cat’s going to go for a swim, it will most likely happen at anchor. While the boat’s underway, Tiny Cat tends to be a little cautious and stays in the cockpit or down below.

At anchor, however, the boat is her playground and she becomes a bit of a demon! She hasbeen for a swim (accidentally) twice now, both times when she jumped into the tender to catch a fish that had jumped in there.

There are a few steps you can put in place to try and keep them safe while at anchor. Try and learn how your cat behaves on board before you decide on the right methods for you!

Teach Your Boat Cat To Swim

Most cats can swim naturally, they sort of paddle their legs and stay afloat! But not all cats like to swim.

We had grand ideas of getting Tiny Cat in the water at a young age and teaching her to swim, but one dip in the water showed us swimming was not for her. She now has a healthy fear of the water, and will peer in at a distance but is aware that the sea is not where she wants to be!

On the flip side, if you know your cat can swim then you can be more confident they’ll be able to get themselves to safety. We’ve met people whose cats regularly go for a dip and pull themselves out again.

Show Your Boat Cat How To Climb A Ladder

While at anchor, make sure you always trail something in the water for them to climb up. You can use a DIY rope ladder or something already designed for purpose. But make sure it’s weighted slightly at the bottom so it doesn’t fly away from them as they try to get a grip.

You should then test it to make sure they know it’s there and can use it. On a calm day take your cat for a swim and show them the ladder. You might want to ask a friend to take them in so they don’t hate you too much afterwards!

We did this when Tiny Cat was really small and when she did fall in the water she immediately climbed up out of the water using the ladder.

One of the times she fell in the ladder was actually in a different place (We’d temporarily moved it and it just happened to be the time she fell in!) She just swam around the boat till she found it and climbed back in. It was quite amazing to watch!

Keep an Eye On Your Sailboat Cat

We don’t let Tiny Cat onto the deck unless we’re around. That way, if she falls in then we’ll know about it and be able to help her out if she’s in trouble. If you get them a collar with a bell it’s much easier to keep track of them, but the ringing in the night drove us crazy so we abandoned that idea.

Keeping Your Boat Cat Safe When Sailing

When Tiny Cat was very small she didn’t leave our side, and certainly didn’t want to explore anything other than the safety of the cockpit. Now she’s older and more confident she loves to roam a little, and we’re starting to have to put strategies in place to keep her safe at sea.

Train Your Cats On A Boat To Wear A Harness

If you can, get your cat used to wearing a harness . While we’re sailing we can let Tiny Cat roam the cockpit on a lead so there’s no danger of an emergency COB situation!

Use A Basket To Keep Them Out Of The Way

We also keep her cat basket in a corner of the cockpit. It’s sheltered from the nip of the wind but still amongst all the action, so she often chooses this as a place to rest while we’re on passage.

If the weather starts getting at all rough, or we’re in any sort of ’emergency’ situation, we just throw her in the basket and zip it up to keep her safe and out of the way.

Lines Aren’t A Game!

The other thing you need to watch out for is cats in ropes! Tiny Cat thinks chasing the furling line is an awesome game, but we are terrified of her getting a claw stuck as it runs loose. If she’s getting too boisterous underway, into the basket she goes!

Opt For A Tiny Life Vest

It’s also possible to get life vests for cats (or small dogs), but we haven’t found one that fits Tiny Cat. If they’re tied in with a harness then hopefully they don’t need a life vest anyway!

Cats In A Marina Or Town Quay

Cats love to explore. But usually their house stays in one place. We didn’t think Tiny Cat would get off the boat without us, but once she’d worked out we were going to a neighbouring boat for drinks she somehow got out a top hatch and appeared in their cockpit!

We realised then that we would have to put a bit of work into training her if we wanted her to be safe while we were next to land.

Note: Always make sure cats are welcome at a marina before you book it. Some marinas don’t allow cats and it’s important to know beforehand so you don’t lose your deposit!

Teach Them To Come When Called

This one’s easy because cats love food. Train her to know that when you call her name and she comes, she gets something yummy. This didn’t take long to work for Tiny Cat, and it’s been a big help for finding her when she decides to play hide and seek on board as well!

Teach Cats To Only Leave The Boat With A Harness

We haven’t managed this, but a great piece of advice we got was to teach your boat cat to only leave the boat when they’re in their harness. That way you have complete control over their comings and goings!

Get Them A Collar

Because Tiny Cat is almost always on our boat we didn’t even think of getting her a collar. Then we saw a story about a sailor who found a kitty hiding in their boat, and he knew it must have an owner because of the collar, and we realised people would think Tiny Cat was a stray if they found her and wouldn’t think to search for an owner!

We bought her a fishy collar which she wears all the time now.

Talk To Your Neighbours

Adam and I are incredibly guilty of feeding random cats bits of our dinner – I think a lot of cat lovers are! But if your cat learns to go begging on other people’s boats then who knows which cubby hole they’ll choose to fall asleep in and where they’ll wake up!

If you’re staying somewhere with boat neighbors then it might be a good idea to ask that they discourage your cat from climbing aboard their boat. Not feeding them will take away any incentive. Some boat owners spray roaming cats to keep them away, but a loud shout will usually do the job!

Cat Food On A Boat

This is one of the biggest problems we’ve found with having Tiny Cat on board. She’s incredibly fussy and although we’ve tried so hard to get her eating anything she just refuses to.

Basically, food is a bit of a pain when having cats on a boat, but here are a few pieces of wisdom we’ve learnt along the way.

Cats can be incredibly fussy. We find it hard to find the food she likes best while sailing, as every supermarket sells a different brand. If your cat is as demanding as ours then stock up on their favourite food whenever you can so you always have some on board just in case.

Sensible Storage

Buy a large air-tight container like this to store any dry food. In the humidity of the boat, it goes off so quickly, and also tends to attract unwelcome visitors!

Clear Up Immediately After Cats On A Boat

Wet food is all Tiny Cat will eat, and she will not eat it all, no matter how small a portion we give her. So unless we stand over her and clear up immediately there is always a little wet food left out attracting flies and other bugs.

Use A Slip Proof Mat

Place your food and water bowls on a slip-proof mat while underway. That way, if the boat goes flying, their food hopefully won’t!

Cat Litter On A Boat

Alongside food, cat litter on a boat is a nightmare. I won’t sugarcoat it for you! Not only is it a heavy, bulky item to lug back to the boat and store but cat litter is also super absorbent and will soak up any moisture from anywhere.

As with dry cat food, you’ll want an air-tight container for your cat litter as it will attract bugs.

A litter tray is also not a small item to be lying on the floor of your already tiny sailboat. And I won’t mention the smell.

We have put a lot more time than we’d like to admit into researching the best litter trays and we’ve invested in a Breeze litter tray . It’s incredible, and worth every penny.

The Breeze system has a special grate in the bottom and a litter pad in a drawer under it.  You use non-clumping litter so that the urine passes through and into the tray. Then you change the pads roughly once a week for one cat, and scoop the poop as with a normal litter tray.

The real benefits are…

• Breeze takes far less litter than a normal litter tray, so you can basically store a whole seasons worth of litter and not have to buy more as you go.
• Because the litter is solid it doesn’t absorb moisture in the same way.
• There is a lot less mess and a lot less smell! It’s also much lower maintenance than a normal litter tray.

The problems are….

• The actual Breeze brands of refills for the pads and litter aren’t the cheapest, but we have found a few hacks along the way which we’ve shared below!
• It can take cats a little time to get used to the different texture of the litter. People suggest mixing your old litter with the new for a bit until your cat gets used to it.

Instead of the Breeze pads you can use puppy pads , or even nappies (though we have to admit that the Breeze ones did hide the smell for a lot longer). Instead of the non-clumping litter you can use any non-clumping cat litter, or we even read that one lady uses dried beans! We’ll give it a go and let you know if it works!

Update: We’ve been using dried beans for years now and it works an absolute treat!

Boat Cat Claws

Unless you live in a marina, your boat cat probably isn’t getting outside as much as other cats. Without trees to climb and scratch their claws get very sharp, and unless you want tiny holes in all your clothes you’ll want to get a couple of things to help them out!

Firstly, get a scratch post for them. Something like this is perfect for cats on boats because it doesn’t take up any space at all and sticks to a range of surfaces.

Next get a pair of cat nail scissors and trim the sharp ends of their claws every now and again. This step really saved us when Tiny Cat decided that climbing us was her favourite new game to play!

Toys For Cats On A Boat

This sounds like a bit of a silly thing to consider, but if your cat is young then getting a few well chosen toys will make a big difference. When we first got Tiny Cat we were no where near a vet, so I tried making her a few toys. They weren’t very entertaining for her, so then we bought some little balls for her to chase. These were a big hit for her, but terrible for us. In such a small space it’s very hard to keep any cat toys under control!

We would recommend getting a couple of small toys that can be used in a tiny space and won’t get in the way if accidently left out. This laser pen is brilliant , and we also loved these toys on sticks as they’re easy to use in a tight companionway.

Getting Vet Care For Your Cat While Sailing

There are a surprising amount of vets in the world and it actually isn’t as hard as we expected to find them. They’re usually pretty cheap as well! That being said, on passages we do sometimes worry what we would do if something happened to Tiny Cat. We have some basics on board from the vet, but ultimately it is a little bit of a risk and one you might not want to take if your boat cat is older and more fragile.

Cats On A Boat And Seasickness

We didn’t realise that cat seasickness was a thing until we had a cat on a boat! We think Tiny Cat got quite sea sick the first few times we took her out for a sail – she went a little listless and took herself off on her own.

Cats are quite good at working out what they need so see where your cat decides to sit it out and let them get on with it. Try to make your first few sails with your liveaboard cat short ones in calm weather to get them used to the motion of the boat at sea.

Tiny Cat got used to it very quickly, but other cats don’t and for some, sea life just isn’t for them. We’ve heard you can ask your vet about medication for seasickness but we have no first hand experience of how effective this is!

Checking Your Cat Into New Countries

Cats are actually easier to check into new countries than dogs a lot of the time, because it’s much easier to quarantine cats on a boat. Every country has different laws about bringing pets into their country, so it’s important to check what these rules are before turning up.

From what people say, Australia and New Zealand are the hardest places to bring boat cats and the most expensive. There are high charges in other countries too, so make sure you check that out before sailing there.

You’ll need to make sure your boat cat has a pet passport before taking it to any new country. This can be quite expensive and take a little while so make sure you start the process asap.

Flying Your Cat Home

Again, how easy it is to fly your cat home with you depends on the country you’re flying into.

Flying within the EU is actually pretty easy. You can take your boat cat with you onto the plane and they then tuck under the seat as you fly. We have some cat calming tablets – I’m not sure if they make a difference or not but she loves them so that’s something! You can also get cat calming collars which we haven’t tried yet but get great reviews.

To get to the UK is a different process altogether! Your cat is only allowed to fly into Heathrow in the hold, and they will only accept a certain number of new animals a day. You have to book your flight, contact the airline provider and pay them around £700, they then contact Heathrow to find out if they have space for your cat that day. If they don’t you have to book a flight for another day and start the process all over again until you just happen to find a day that works.

It’s the craziest thing we’ve ever heard! I’ve done a lot of research into getting a cat into the UK and will share my findings in a different post for anyone that’s desperate!

Cats On A Boat Community

There are many, many people out there who are sailing with cats on their boat. It’s far more common that Adam and I realised. Because of this there is a wealth of advice about how best to care for a cat on a boat. The other great thing is that the boat cat community is pretty darn passionate about their cats, and everyone else’s, so they’re super helpful and will answer any questions you have quickly and in detail.

We’ve learnt the most from Facebook group communities – just search ‘cats on boats’ and you’ll find several large groups you can join.

FAQs About Keeping Cats On A Boat

How many cats can you keep on a sailboat.

I guess this is kind of up to you and how big your sailboat is, but I would try and remember that they’ll all need to use the toilet! And I can tell you now that one cat using the litter tray on board is quite enough for Adam and I! We met a couple with four cats onboard their 40ft catamaran, and the cats were perfectly happy.

The more cats you have on your boat, the more moving creatures there are to keep an eye on, so our advice is always to start with one if you don’t have any yet. That way you can get used to what it’s like with a cat to look after on your sailboat and make an informed decision about whether or not to get another. If you’re planning on bringing your cats with your from home then just make sure the boat is set up well for the number of cats you’re bringing.

What Are The Benefits Having A Boat Cat?

The main and most obvious reason to have a cat on a sailboat is companionship. If you’re an animal lover it can be hard to move onto your new home and not have your ‘creature comfort!’ with you to make it feel like a real home. Cats are an extra crew member. They make you laugh, they give you a cuddle (if you’re lucky), and they’re entertaining. Plus it’s been proven that being around animals improves your mood!

If you want a more practical reason to keep a cat on a boat, then they’re great at pest control! Cats will make sure you don’t suffer the same fate we’ve seen many cruisers have to deal with – rats and mice on board. If you’re trying to persuade a hesitant partner then try this excuse!

Should I Choose An Indoor Or Outdoor Cat For My Sailboat?

If you’re bringing an indoor cat with your from home onto your sailboat then you’re probably wondering how you’ll keep it inside the boat. Honestly, this will completely depend on so many different factors.

If you anchor out year round then it won’t be a problem. Your cat will basically be an indoor cat, especially if your cat is used to having a balcony to laze around on.

The main issue will be keeping your cat onboard if you go into marinas and on town quays regularly. If you sail in a cold climate where you’ll want to keep the windows and hatches closed year round then this won’t be too much of a problem, but if you will be sailing in warm climates then you’ll need to think it through a bit more carefully. You’ll want to keep hatches and windows open to ventilate the boat. One solution is to use mosquito hatches and window covers, but Adam and I find they still significantly stifle the breeze.

For that reason we’ve chosen to let Tiny Cat roam when we’re in marinas. The negatives to this are the fact that she can pick up ticks and fleas, and that she probably isn’t as safe. We have to pick winter marinas a little more carefully – for example we make sure they aren’t near any main roads. We also make sure we leave a ladder in the water for her in case she falls in, but there’s always a risk she’ll fall when roaming and won’t be able to get out.

For us the risks are worth the reward of seeing her so happy with her freedom during the winter months. But it’s a decision you’ll have to make based on the needs of you and your cat.

How Do I ‘Cat-Proof’ My Sailboat?

Most boats are already pretty cat proof, but there a few things you’ll want to check. Make sure they can’t get into the bilges or engine compartment. You should also check there are no open wires anywhere that they can chew through. Careful with access to cupboards that contain any dangerous chemicals and make sure everything is stowed away properly when you’re underway so nothing falls on them. Cats love to explore sailboat cupboards, so make sure they’re not trapped inside before you leave the boat!

Cats On A Boat Shopping List

Aside from plentiful supplies of your cats favourite foods there are a few things that it’s worth investing in to make your boat cats life (and yours) a little easier! I’ve put it together in this handy shopping list so you can get it all at once while you’re close to a post office or tucked up in a marina.

Purina Tidy Cats Litter Tray

Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System Refills

Cat Harness

Food Storage

Slip Proof Mat

Scratch Pad

Calming Tablets

Cat Carrier

Nail Clippers

Cat Laser Toy

Calming Collar

Hopefully you’ve found some of this information about cats on boats useful, and you feel a little more confident about having your cat on board! We would love to hear your boat cat stories in the comments section below so let us know how they’re finding life aboard!

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Thank you for sharing your experience with a boat cat!! Very helpful. We will be living aboard our 45foot Carver starting this Spring 2023. Charley our 2.5 year old cat will live with us. Charley has never used a litter box. He is a inside/outside kinda of cat. He lets us know when he needs to go out, plus he loves to hunt! People tell me “oh, he will use the box” well he has been inside for 8/9 hours and we have the box out, but nope. So this issue will be a challenge. Any suggestions?

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What’s in a Rig? Cat Rig

By: Pat Reynolds Sailboat Rigs , Sailboats

What’s in a Rig Series # 7 – The Cat Rig

Typically speaking, a cat rig is a single mast situated well forward, near the bow, which carries a large single sail and has no standing rigging, sometimes referred to as “unstayed.” An Optimist, Laser or Sabot are common (smaller) examples of a cat rig, but many bigger boats utilize the set-up.

As we’ve established in other What’s in a Rig articles, rig choice is always subjective. Most folks go for the popular Marconi (or Bermuda) sloop rig, but others like to be a bit different and work with less standard arrangements. The thinking behind choosing a cat rig as apposed to a yawl for instance, is probably rooted in more practicality than romance. Take it east yawl sailors, we know we know, they are more stable, and have advantages for long range cruising. Maybe, but we also know you like the way they look! Cat rigs, on the other hand, are truly simple to sail and manage. With one large sail and no rigging, a cat rig is up and running in moments and they can be single-handed quite easily. There is also considerable savings not having to maintain, tune or replace expensive rigs. And yet another benefit of the cat rig design on bigger boats is the amount of salon space they deliver. With a mast placed so far forward, the cabins are often very roomy.

So what’s the downside? Well, you’ve heard this tune before: upwind performance. There’s a reason why the common sloop rig is so incredibly popular. Some may say it’s because racing has such a powerful influence on the market, but the truth probably more accurately revolves around the fact that sloops are simple to sail and just go upwind so very well. There are modern cat rig designs like Wylie boats that have innovations (the wishbone boom) that address the upwind limitation, but most classic cat rigs suffer in the upwind department. However they do not suffer if fast efficient tacking and comfortable downwind running is your bag. Tacking a cat boat is basically one quick turn through the wind and it all pretty much happens for you.

Cat rigs are simple, maneuverable, efficient and economical. They’re especially suited for short-handed sailing and downwind passages. And a catboat sailor is probably someone who doesn’t mind traveling on a less trodden path. If you plan on a long downwind journey alone or with one other, take a look at some catboats – might just fit the bill.

What's in a Rig Series:

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Cat on a Boat - Training, Gear and Tips to Sailing with a Cat

Cats are perhaps the last animal you'd imagine bringing on a boat. Because it's generally accepted that cats hate being near water.

Well, cats not only make great companions aboard a boat, but they also have been doing this for centuries!

In this article, I'll discuss the feasibility of keeping cats on boats, hygiene, dealing with the litterbox, the possibility of seasickness, safety, and some of the steps you can take to make your boat more suitable for cat companionship.

Can You Take a Cat on a Boat?

Many sailors keep pets on board because they are entertaining, efficient, caring, and loving. Of those, many of them are cats because they can be happy in smaller spaces, they have great balance and they are smaller (so you also need less space for food storage).

Keeping a cat healthy and happy on a boat can be quite simple if you remember a few basic steps. Also, not all boats will keep your cat equally happy, so we are also going to cover that later in this article.

You should be able to take your cat with you if the vessel is equipped with the necessary facilities for their comfort and protection, including enough living space, enough ventilation, a constant temperature, a secure enclosure, and a place to do their needs, aka a clean litter box.

Cats on Boats History

With the age of sailing ships, where rodents constantly threatened food stocks, cats became an indispensable part of the crew and thus spread around the globe with European travelers.

Sailors would bring cats of all fur colors along on ships to prevent mice from getting into food stores. This led to a group not particularly known for being warm and fuzzy, pirates, to develop lore about cats bringing good luck.

A cat deciding to wander onto a ship was seen as a sign that fortune was smiling upon you and the cat leaving was seen as a bad omen. Many pirate wives would keep cats around as they believed that owning a cat would ensure their husbands would return home safely.

While contemporary sailors still appreciate a fine mouser bringing them luck, they also appreciate the feline companionship of their cat commodores.

Sailing Around the World with a Cat

Spending the day sailing the water on a boat in the sunlight can be one of life's greatest pleasures. I consider my cat a family member, and in the same way, I take her with me when I travel by plane , it is only natural for me to also take her with me on sailing trips, particularly when talking about a multi-day trip as the alternative would be to leave my cat behind , with someone.

However, a few things to remember before deciding to bring cats along for the ride. You want your cat to feel secure and at home on your ship, so make sure she has everything she needs to become used to being around water.

Of all the ways I can travel with my cat , I consider sailing one of the best ones...

L isa Clark has been sailing around the world on a fiberglass boat with her cat Amelia since she adopted the abandoned kitten in November 2013.

Why are There Cats on Boats?

Ship cats have been a part of many different types of ships throughout history, including those used for business, exploration, and even warfare. There are several reasons cats have been brought aboard ships, but the most common is keeping rodents in check. Vermin on ships can damage ropes, timber, and electrical cables.

Some sailors think a cat's sharp vision might guide them to avoid a shipwreck at night.

Can Cats Liveaboard Boats?

Many live-aboard families choose cats as companions. Cats are great sailing pets, much better than dogs. Cats have a lower activity need, and many may adjust well to life aboard a vessel with less attention and special care than a dog. Cats have long been a part of ships due to their adaptability and entertaining companionship.

Living Aboard with a Cat on a Boat

As mentioned earlier, living with a cat on a boat is possible, and many cat lovers are doing it. However, here are some things to consider if you want to bring your cat with you on your boat:

I would like to separate the cat´s needs into 3 big groups:

• Food & Water

Entertainment

• Health & Hygiene

Food Aboard

 Cats are not very good at drinking water, they absorb most of the hydration through food. Particularly on a sailing vessel, cats will get dehydrated food will just make matters worse.

Consider switching your cat to a wet diet when on a boat, so in case they are not very regular at drinking water, they still have a healthy hydration level in their bodies.

Regarding food, if you leave the dock, consider always packing enough food for 10-20% more days than you are going out. Things happen and you should ensure that your cat can eat throughout the trip.

While cats need less activity than dogs, they still need mental and physical stimulation. 

Try to provide an environment where your cat can thrive, with enough scratching, climbing, and hiding spots. Usually, boats don't lack those, but satisfying your boat will help keep your cat healthy and your boat intact.

Health and Hygiene

See a vet before you go to ensure your cat is healthy enough to travel.

Another safety consideration is leaving your cat roaming around the boat. If the boat is underway, the cat should wear a harness or a lifejacket and attach it to a lifeline, so in case it fell on the water, it'd be easier to get back up. When not underway, those measures are still recommended, but if the cat is walking around without a harness or a floating device for cats , there should be always someone paying attention to the cat.

Do Cats Get Sea-Sick?

Just like humans or dogs, cats may become seasick. They will likely prefer some time alone, so let your cat go through the process without forcing them to do anything in particular. If they throw up, add extra liquid to their meal to avoid dehydration.

Cat symptoms of sea sickness include:

• Frequently licking their lips
• Lip smacking
• Drooling a lot
• Making sounds of pain or anguish, such as whining
• Anxiety, boredom, or a sudden lack of activity

The sea sickness medicine Dramamine is safe for cats to consume, speak with your veterinarian before administering it to your cat.

Sanitation of Sailboats with Cats on Board

Boats are usually small spaces that clutter quickly and can get dirty with ease. Luckily, they tend to be equally easy to clean.

A liveaboard cat doesn't have to mean a messy space... unless you need to fit a litterbox!

Managing the LItterbox Aboard a Sailboat

Regarding the litterbox, it's important to have a clean litterbox always available to your cat. We use flushable (biodegradable) litter so that we can dump it overboard (always according to local regulations ). We use World's Best Litter and are very happy with it!

Try using a very tall litterbox so that the litter stays inside. Top-entry litterboxes work best for sailing environments, although some sailors have built-in litterboxes into a cabinet, for extra coolness.

Do Cats Like More Sailboats or Motorboats?

Cats in general enjoy smooth rides and mild noises, which does not sound like a motorboat at all.

If you are at a point where you want to buy a boat and you want to take your cat with you and you don't know if you should get a sailboat or a motorboat, the answer is, get a sailboat. Not only because they are classier and cooler, also because of sailboats:

• Have displacement hulls that cut through the water instead of jumping waves, making them a more comfortable ride.
• They run on wind vs. engines, so you and your cat can enjoy navigating with almost zero noise.
• Sailboats have more vertical space than motorboats, giving your cat a natural playground to play on.

I Took My Bengal Cat on a Sailboat Circumnavigation Trip

Let me tell you about when our two cats and I explored Long Island with nothing but the sun and the breeze.   Leaving Santos, we entered the dark hours of nighttime sailing before we knew it. The cats enjoyed exploring the boat, and after 36 hours of nonstop sailing, we arrived at Harihan, the most beautiful spot in the world, to do absolutely nothing. Coy and I became snuggly monsters and realized why we weren't ready for the storm.

To ensure our safety and the stability of the anchor during the storm, we had to go outside. To recharge our batteries, we stopped for a little rest. Coy and I went for a stroll on the beach on day four after deciding to take a day trip there. The approaching storm made us think it was time to go back so we could adjust the sails.

On the fifth day, we were all pretty tired, so we took turns being captains, and the cats chose a rocky place to live. Before we knew it, another beautiful sunset and day had come and gone.

The storm finally arrived when we thought it would never come. After arriving back in New York, everyone on the crew agreed on one thing: we needed a holiday from our holiday.

Prepare Boat for Sailing With a Cat

One of the most important things to do before setting sail with your cat is to prepare the boat. The process includes ensuring your sailboat is secure for cats by "cat-proofing" it.

How do You Cat Proof a Boat?

Before bringing a cat on board, you must take steps to cat-proof your sailboat. You should "cat-proof" your boat by getting rid of or blocking your cat's access to any places that could be dangerous.

Be careful first to close up any holes leading to the bilge. Most sailboat bilges are damp, unclean, and cramped, which creates problems.

Cats are known to eat and damage electrical panels and wires, so it is important to secure them.

Your cat will be fine there if you keep the rest of the boat open, safe and accessible. Protect cabinets shut, and consider installing netting over deep cubbies to keep your cat from becoming tangled or stuck behind a panel or bulkhead.

Keeping a Cat Safe While Sailing

Cat safety on a sailboat is simple. Temperature, water, and the natural environment are the most important problems. Here, we'll discuss some of the special considerations that must be made for your pet when living aboard a sailboat.

• Teach your cat to swim. You want to make sure it can swim if it falls overboard.
• Cat life jackets : Using a specific cat life jacket is an excellent start. In an emergency, these lifejackets would also come in handy.
• Leashes and harnesses allow your cat to enjoy the sailing deck safely. A leash is often fastened to the railing or the stay wire on liveaboards. Your cat will have twice as much room to roam when they are on a leash and harness.
• Climate and Temperature: The same temperature rules apply to sailboats and cars. The boat should never become too hot, especially if you have a cat. Maintain comfortable temperatures within the ship by turning on the heat and air conditioning.

Conclusions on Boating With Cats

Sailing with cats gives company at sea, bonding possibilities, and many chances for images of beautiful adventure cats enjoying the yacht life. Having a cat aboard your boat can put the wind in your sails.

Stay Wild, Stay Safe, We'll See You Outdoors!

Albert & Mia

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Cat Rigged Sailboat - Pros and Cons

• Thread starter catalanc
• Start date Nov 18, 2018
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Hi Guys, I saw a Seaward cat rigged sail boat on Dillon lake a while ago. I sail single-handed most of the time and the lake can be very tricky with shifting wind direction and quickly changing speed. So, the cat sounds kinda interesting to me. Anyone out there have one and/or anyone have pros and cons of a cat rigged vs. a sloop rigged.  

catalanc said: Hi Guys, I saw a Seaward cat rigged sail boat on Dillon lake a while ago. I sail single-handed most of the time and the lake can be very tricky with shifting wind direction and quickly changing speed. So, the cat sounds kinda interesting to me. Anyone out there have one and/or anyone have pros and cons of a cat rigged vs. a sloop rigged. Click to expand

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

Since you are sailing Dillon Lake, I am guessing you saw one of the Sage boats made in Golden, CO. https://sagemarineblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/sailing-a-sage-15-cat/  

JohnShannon

Well a cat boat is super easy to sail. You only have 4 or 5 lines on the entire boat. Tacking is super easy. I bet one large sail is cheaper than a bunch of smaller sails. Performance wise? I expect a sloop outsails it, but I am not sure the difference is so dramatic. Most cat boats are relatively heavy and not exactly modern keel/rudder setups, and a little slow. Wyliecat 30 is light and modern underbody and is fast. For lake sailing and single handing I think a catboat is a good choice.  

A single mast cat rigged boat sails better than a sloop or a cutter under jib or main alone, but not better than either under proper sail. So, if you're not looking for sailing performance, but the ease of sailing instead, a catboat may well be a good choice.  

Hey, AFAIK, The pros and cons: Pros of a catboat: - Shallow draft - Easy to sail - just one sail, tack by just turning the wheel - tiller - Fast downwind with the large sail Cons of a catboat -Pointing ability - can't point high, don't go upwind well Barry  

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Sailing upwind in Cat/sloop

• Add to quote

I apologize in advance to the fellow who PM'd, me with this question but regretably my answer was too long for a PM. I thought this might have enough general interest that I put it here. Out of respect for their privacy the question has been altered so that hopefully the specific person and boat is not identified. I also apologize because much of my answer was copied from an earlier post that I had written for some other similar discussion in some other sailing forum. The questions was: I have just purchased Canadian crusing design built between 1986-89 (not a Nonsuch), that is almost a catboat, with mast far forward, large main, fractional rig and a small jib that just fits between forestay and mast and which self-tacks. The boat is widebeamed and I've found it doesn't point that well. I'm getting 65 degrees tack angles. Is there anything I can do to the trimming or sail configurations (i.e oversized jibs, etc.) that might improve the upwind performance? My response is that it is a little difficult to answer this question without knowing the boat and seeing how the person sails her. I am also not familiar with the specific model in question so I am guessing a bit and talking in perhaps broader generalities than might be ideal. That said, this boat was not unique.The 1980's was a period when a lot of manufacturers hoped to cash in on the popularity of the Nonsuch. Manunfacturers as diverse as C&C, Freedom, Hunter, Herreschoff Catboats, and Pearson, built 30 foot or so catboats with freestanding, or nearly freestanding rigs, many of which also tried to add spinnakers or jibs. In most respects, these were reasonably good boats in terms of nice accommodations, easy handling and reasonable performance. To one degree or another, a short coming of almost all of these catboats was some reduction in windward performance. This shortcoming derived from a number of common causes that are imbedded in the design concept of many of this style of boat. First of all, most of these boats offered moderately shoal draft fin keels. While better for windward performance than a full keel, these long fins tended not to point especially high as compared to deeper draft/ shorter chord fin keels, plus they also make a lot of leeway. Most of these boats had a lot of wetted surface. While part of the cleverness of the Nonesuch was that that Ellis had carefully modelled his hull form to minimize wetted surface, few of the clones seemed to be as careful. Lots of drag requires lots of power to overcome and so many of these boats had to be 'driven off' rather than pinched. In other words, om order to over come all of these design issues, these boats were typically sailed so that the helmsman does not try to point as high in order to optimize the speed part of the VMG equation. Next comes the rig. Important to sailing upwind consistently well is maintaining good airflow over the sails. Freestanding rigs (which I assume your boat is and apologize if I am mistaken) have several inherent problems when it comes to beating. In a general sense, to make up for the lack of shrouds, they tend to have much larger diameter masts, and these tend to throw a big wind shadow. To a minor extent, the mass of turbulance being shred off these larger diameter masts is like sailing in bad air all the time. Some like the Freedoms had carbon fiber masts of a smaller diameter, but some used what were essentially heat hardened, spun aluminum light poles which were heavy and had a very large diameter. Upwind, it is important to keep the sail shape steady as well. Because free standing spars tend to be by their very nature more flexible than stayed spars, there is a tendancy for the forestay tension to vary and with it the headstay sag to vary as well, this automatically changes the angle of attack and lead angle on the jib, disrupting the airfliow over the sail. Similarly, the head of the mast flexes as well, opening and closing the leech, loosening the halyard tension and flattening and rounding the sail with each cycle. Its disruptive to the sail shape and airflow, which are also bad things for upwind sailing. Even so, tacking through 130 degrees is excessive. What makes matters worse is that I am assuming that this angle is being read off of the compass courses and not off the GPS and so does not include leeway. Anyway, getting to the heart of your question. First of all, because of the large amount of wetted surface on these boat, if you want toi go up wind, a clean, smooth bottom paint is extremely important. Ironically more so than on a race boat. I would then next start with the jib. First of all, the jib should have a row of telltales roughly 18 inches from the leading edge and there should be one set (one on erither side of the sail) that is roughly 25% from the top, 25% from the bottom and one last set in the middle. If you don't have them make them and put them on. These can be made with 8" lengths of yarn or musical cassette tape taped to the sail. When going upwind I would spend time on the foredeck and watch the sail to see what it does. Have the helmsperson slowly turn up towards a luff and then fall off. The windward teletales should all start to act up at the same time. Tall blade type headsails are very sensative to sheet lead angle and self tacking jibs rarely have proper sheet leads. If the telltales at the head or the foot 'break' first then the sheet lead is wrong. Some of self tacking jib systems permit lead adjustment but most don't. If you can adjust your lead and the head of the sail breaks first then the lead needs to be moved forward to pull downward and use more of the head of the sail. If the bottom of the sail breaks first then move the lead aft. If you can't adjust the lead at the sheets, then you are stuck going with the traditional method of raising the tack of the jib above the deck with a pennant. If the windward head telltale of the sail is breaking first, then add a short length of line to raise the tack of the jib above the deck further. If the bottom is breaking first and there is no penant then the sail is probably shot. If the jib is on a boom, there are no easy answers other than to get a sailmaker to look at the sail and see if it can be recut. The next issue is the length of transverse motion of the jibsheet lead. If the motion is too wide, then you cannot point. You can look at ways of keeping the jib traveller from swinging as far. While improving the Jib lead can help a lot, I am afraid that adding a genoa probably will not do you much good. Then move onto you mainsail. The big issue here is getting a tight enough leech to point without stalling the sail. In this case, telltales in the trailing edge of the sail near the batten pockets can really help. Upwind, the outhaul halyard should be reasonably well tensioned. Ideally the traveler and mainsheet are set so that the boom is roughly on the center line of the boat, and the trailing edge of upper teletale is roughly parrallel to the boom (sight up the sail from below the boom.) The trailing edge Telltales should be flying and the sail should not be luffing. Too tight and the sail will stall, too loose and you can't point. Moving the traveler above the centerline and easing the sheet will allow the upper batten to open up if it is cocked to windward and dropping the traveller and tightening the sheet will move the batten to windward relative to the boom. Play with this and you should see both your speed and pointing angle improve. Most of these catboats were sold as being easy to sail and so had primitive sail shaping gear so you are somewhat limited in what you can do beyond that. With good hardware you can often get good performance upwind even with old and blown out sails. But in the absense of good sail shaping gear, the sails take a real beating and there is nothing much you can do about it. This means that sails have a shorter lifespan on boats like these and they will have a bigger impact on upwind performance than on more conventionally rigged designs. In other words, if you really care about good upwind performance, you may need new sails. Uh! I hate being the one to say that..... Regards, Jeff  

Pearson 303 upwind Hello all from a novice sailor with a Pearson 303. I am trying to determine how close to the wind I can sail effectively and if there is anything I can do to improve it with trim or stay/shroud tensions. It seems that right now I can only get to within 60 degrees of the wind before a dramatic reduction in speed. For instance yesterday I was in a close reach making over 6 knots, as I headed up closer to the wind but before it luffed completely my speed reduced to 3 knots or so. This occurred when the apparent wind was a little less than 45 degrees off the wind. Should I be measuring the sailable angle into the wind from just before it luffs but making little headway, or from a better angle with decent speed. Also is there a rule of thumb or formula of when to bear off to gain more speed. In other words if my destination is upwind, is it better to go closer to the wind slower or go further away from my destination faster? The last thing is whether the rake of the mast has an effect on upwind angles. Mine is noticeably raked aft. Would straighter up improve upwind performance. Thank you Neil  

Neil, a boat like the 303 should be able to sail within about 45 degrees of the wind and only lose a bit of speed - no more than a knot. While rig tuning may be an issue, sail trim is more likely. The most important things include the position of your genoa car to control the genoa shape and the use of the traveller and mainsheet to control the main shape. Next comes things like halyard tension and outhaul tension. Telltales on the genny and main are essential to understand what is happening.  

Thanks Jim, I have so much to learn. I have totally ignored the genoa car and the outhaul. The genoa as a result was quite full and rounded which I assume should be flat instead, like the main. I am going sailing for a week next week and will try it out. Thanks so much.  

Thanks Rich I will definitely read those articles. The backstay turnbuckle is at its maximum right now but I don't have a gauge to measure it. There is noticeable rake so I assume I am at the best I can do for that. The weather helm for the Pearson 303 is well documented and mine seems to fit in what others describe so I will concentrate on sail shape (new sails) and learning how to read the telltales. Again thanks so much for the help.  

Salti - The 303 usually has a woven dacron mainsail with a boltrope (3 strand dacron rope in a sleeve at the luff). Most sailors dont 'raise' such sails properly .... you need to raise and THEN apply additional strain to the luff to additionally stretch-out that boltrope so that the sail can take its 'designed shape'. If you dont do this the poor shape will cause a LOT of 'weather helm'. Next time out, raise the main and then apply additional halyard tension by 1" for every 11 ft. of luff length (about an extra 3" for a P303). Then, Put the boat onto a hard beat at 12-15kts and let go of the wheel. If the boat keeps a straight course or falls off to leeward ... then slightly ease the halyard until the boat 'slowly' heads up to weather. If the boat 'heads up' aggressively, add more main halyard tension and/or THEN consider to take some rake out of the mast. A boat that is dragging its rudder sideways through the water isnt going to 'point' (may be skidding off to leeward) and is going to be 'cranky', etc. The 303 has DEEP bilges and not much relative exposed keel surface area. If you heel a lot .... that keel is going to start to slip to leeward. Usually better to keep such a boat 'standing more upright' when beating. Watch how the wake is coming off the stern .... shouldnt be more than about 5° off from the boats centerline. ;-)  

Hello Rich, Back from a week of sailing around Narragansett Bay (RI) with a lot of practice going upwind. Of course everything you said improved the upwind performance incredibly with both the ability to point closer to the wind and the gain in speed. I now have good speed even inside the "no sail" zone of the windex. We had much practice in moderate and light winds. As you recommended I tightened the main halyard, tightened the outhaul, brought the genoa cars back and flattened the genoa. I haven't tested the tune of the backstay but it seems balanced after slowly going into the wind when I let go of the wheel. In moderate winds of 10-12 knots we achieved a speed of 5 knots on a very close haul which surprised me to no end. We had the boom over the centerline, the genoa car aft and the 150% genoa flat and about 4-6 inches off the spreader bar. We were zooming even though we were heeling about 25 degrees and sometimes hit 30 degrees. We would lose speed if I tried to level her out by easing the mainsheet so I kept it there and hung on. Is such a heel normal in those conditions? In light winds of about 6 knots, we made about 2.5 to 3 knots headway upwind, little heel with the same settings, although I couldn't flatten out the genny as much as I would have liked since it would rub on the spreader bar. The compass difference between the port and starboard tacks was around 100 degrees (except against the current). In the past, before these corrections, the difference between the tacks was 160 degrees! It was like going backwards. I still have much to fine tune but you set me on the right course and it is much appreciated. Neil  

Sounds like you learned at lot! Generally if you are heeled over 25+ degrees consistently, you are overpowered. Most boats sail better when they are "on their feet" and not heeling so much. Learn how to depower in stronger winds by flattening sails, dropping the traveller, moving the genoa car, reducing sail area, etc. Makes for a more comfortable and faster ride. Do you have telltales on the genny and main? If not, put some on. Will make a big difference in being able the trim the sails to the conditions and point of sail.  

Jeff, I wonder if the boat your questioner is referring to is a Glibert 30? They were interesting-looking boats but did not sell very well as they were a bit pricey. The questioner also mentions 65* tacking angles. If this is 65* each side of the wind there is a definite problem. If it is 65* in total that would be highly impressive in a cruising boat.  

When I ordered new sails, I was talked into a 150 genoa with a foam luff, which presumably retains the proper shape when furled. I am now wondering after the 25 degree heels, if it is too much in anything but light winds. With 10-12 knots of wind I would think that reefing the main is not necessary, but perhaps furling the genoa might help it get back on her feet. The genoa cars are pretty far back as it is, and when I released the main it immediately luffed, so it must be the genny. Tell tales looked good at this setting while going 5 knots within the no sail zone but weather helm was substantial. So if the sails are flat and everything else looks good, should I furl a bit to get more upright?  

Neil: With heavy weather helm and heeling 25+ degrees, you definitely need to do something. The foam luff should help retaining genny shape as you reef. I'd try rolling it in a bit under those conditions and see the effects. Weather helm can usually be reduced with the main, but if you are overpowered, it may not be enough. Don't be afraid to have the main luff a bit under those conditions if it reduces weather helm. If it doesn't, then reefing the genny a bit is worth a try. Jim  

Saltineil, looking back at what Shaw said about the P-303: "The design parameters were laid down as follows: 1) A really big boat in the 30 foot range that sails at low angles of heel, has a shallow draft, and excellent sailing qualities across a wide range of wind conditions. 2) An easily driven boat that can be handled easily by a couple or a young family- an efficient boat for experienced or inexperienced sailors alike." This is not a boat that likes to sail with a rail buried. I've found that shortening sail above the mid teens reduces that weather helm you note, and also drives the boat as well without the leeway that sets up with larger angles of heel. As for the foam luff, I've ordered one in a new 135 genoa which should be delivered in a few weeks. I expect it to help retain sail shape when I roll it in a little to keep the boat standingup. As for the weather helm, the original manual for the boat says the mast is tepped with a rake. You may want to think about reducing it some if the weather helm is excessive.  

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Father and son jump to safety as power boat slices through their kayak - and doesn't stop

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

A father and son who were kayaking at a popular beauty spot in Washington state have told how they were forced to leap to safety moments before a power boat drove into them.

After a week-long investigation, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office in Washington has arrested a 20-year-old man, who is suspected of driving a power boat through the two-person kayak , almost slicing it into two pieces.

The incident happened in Puget Sound, at Carlyon Beach, on the Totten Inlet side of the tip of the Steamboat Island peninsula earlier in Augus. Police finally arrested a suspect on Friday following eye witness accounts.

“A power boat had collided with a kayak, leaving its two occupants floating in the water,” said the Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post. “The operator of the power boat, who was alone, continued on without stopping to assist. Thanks to a detailed description of the boat, our boating deputies were able to track it down. The boat was owned by the operator’s employer, who cooperated fully with the investigation. The suspect has been located and is now facing criminal charges.”

The kayakers involved were Philip Hill and his son Adam, who were paddling to Hope Island when they saw a power boat heading for them. As they recount in an interview with KING 5 Seattle (video below) they waved their bright yellow paddles to alert the power boat driver, and refuse to believe he wouldn’t have been able to spot them or their bright red kayak.

But the boat continued towards them and they had to bail, leaping into the water as the power boat ploughed through the kayak, almost breaking it in two.

“You can kind of see a couple of the spots where the propeller hit,” says Adam, showing the damage to the kayak in the video, which shows one end of the craft hanging off. “It split through it entirely.”

And while it’s been more than a week since the potentially fatal collision, Adam says, "Physically, we're fine – mentally, still messed up.”

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