It’s a beautiful, sunny day when I arrive at a blocked cruiser at a local marina to get started. I glance at the hull identification number and the pleasurecraft license, just to make sure everything’s in order.

Starting with the hull above the waterline, I tap with my hammer; working from the transom to the bow, checking both the port and starboard sides. The whole hull sounds the same from rail to waterline, so I make some quick notes and then repeat the process with my moisture meter along the same path.

After finishing the topsides, I get down beneath the boat to repeat the process on the hull below the waterline.

Suddenly, I notice movement out of the corner of my eye — a shadow near my feet. It’s growling. For a moment, I wonder if this is how I meet my end: not with a bang, but with a bark.

Then I feel a weight on my legs followed by something wet brushing my ankles. Looking down toward my feet and I see a furry rear end filling my vision. Turns out, the owner of that tail is super friendly and loves to slobber! With hammer in hand and a wagging tail in my face, I carefully crawl out from under the boat.

Sitting up, I realize Slobbery has a friend—a sweet girl with ears dragging beside her, bounding up to me and then plopping down, promptly demanding a belly rub. She’s all business and there will be no negotiations.

That’s how I met two adorable basset hounds named Horse, the slobbery one, and Bingo, the business woman.

Every boat I inspect is unique, just like its owner—and their pets are no exception. I’ve had the pleasure of being supervised by dogs, cats, a lively parrot, and even a laid-back snake.

There’s more to boat surveying than just using phenolic mallets and moisture meters. It’s about making sure your family—furry, feathered, or somewhere in between—can enjoy the water safely.

From my experience, some of the most memorable moments in boat surveying come from those dog days.

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