I had a middle-of-the-night chickentastrophe where, in the dark, I accidentally knocked the pot of chicken surprise off the galley stove onto the sole. Ugh! Too late to want to fully clean up the greasy mess, I set the pot and remaining contents into the cockpit and returned to the berth. Sometime later, I heard and felt the otter boarding, and knew exactly what and why. I was using a curtain over the companionway and REALLY didn't want it visiting me below. I jumped up fast, and it bolted, never to return. Apparently, I'm the scary one. It's the only time I knowingly had an otter on board (so far), which always surprised me as a liveaboard.
I used to keep my little (21') Ed Monk cutter down at Squalicum Harbor (Bellingham) with a full boat cover on it in the off season. I came to realize that an otter (or several) had found his way under the tarp and into the cabin. I guess I had left the companion way unlocked. I found a "deposit" below which contained a lot of fish bones. I had to feel sympathy for the animal that had to poop that out. It must have felt very abrasive, or worse.
That is otterly weird. Needing a morning mopdown is one thing but in the middle of the night?!
Look out! Good story.
I had a middle-of-the-night chickentastrophe where, in the dark, I accidentally knocked the pot of chicken surprise off the galley stove onto the sole. Ugh! Too late to want to fully clean up the greasy mess, I set the pot and remaining contents into the cockpit and returned to the berth. Sometime later, I heard and felt the otter boarding, and knew exactly what and why. I was using a curtain over the companionway and REALLY didn't want it visiting me below. I jumped up fast, and it bolted, never to return. Apparently, I'm the scary one. It's the only time I knowingly had an otter on board (so far), which always surprised me as a liveaboard.
Good one Dan.
I used to keep my little (21') Ed Monk cutter down at Squalicum Harbor (Bellingham) with a full boat cover on it in the off season. I came to realize that an otter (or several) had found his way under the tarp and into the cabin. I guess I had left the companion way unlocked. I found a "deposit" below which contained a lot of fish bones. I had to feel sympathy for the animal that had to poop that out. It must have felt very abrasive, or worse.