Anybody with a Dog Ladder

[DuckHunterJon]

So anyone that was following my questions about our recent boat purchase (Procraft 200 Combo F&S) knows that one of the primary reasons I looked at a Fish and Ski was for our dog. Bailey is a 10 year old Yellow Lab. She is very well trained, certified therapy dog, and obeys any command I have ever given her. She is our daughter, and gets treated as such.

So, we took her out on the new boat last week and other than the Optimax alarm going off every time I turned the key on, she loved it. With the fish and ski, she can walk from the tip of the bow, all the way to the stern and sit on either platform. Plenty of room, and easy walking on the carpet.

Next order of business is letting her swim. Due to her age and some arthritis issues, I'm not letting her pull herself up the swim ladder like I've seen others do. I've been looking at dog ladders from "Paws Aboard", "Doggy Docks", "Load a Pup", and "Dive n Dog". I really like the looks of the doggy docks, but the price is daunting ($350).

I'm looking for either feedback/reviews of any store bought ladders, or ideas that others have come up with for home built units. I have no problem building something for her, even if it involves some plastic or aluminum machining/welding. My goals are ease of entry for Bailey (boat sits about 10" out of the water in the back, so that should help), and something that can be stowed relatively easily when underway (light weight and folding, deflating, etc).

Any ideas we could kick around would be great. Thanks!

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

I thought I saw one at overtons for like 200...I am sure a home made ramp could be made..

 

[Beefer]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Not sure if I'll be any help, since I don't have a dog, but I also liked the looks of the Doggy Docks compared to the others.
What I really like about them is that it looks really easy to make. Carpeted plywood with some flotation foam on the bottom. A piano hinge or two, and that's about it. I'm thinking $60 and a little time.
I think it was the best design for an older dog. The trick will be getting her to use it.

 

[BF]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

while not for the boat, I did make a dog ladder for my Lab to get out of the water at my folk' place. There's a breakwater at the edge, with about a 1' drop to the water, and the water is about 3' deep right against it. I made it out of wood, but for a boat I'd think that an aluminum ramp that extends to 4', but can maybe go down to 1/2 that for portability would be good. You could probably build a something snazzy out of aluminum angle with or without welding.

What I found is that some buoyancy, but not too much is required. The wood ramp I built (Plywood and 2x2's) was fastened with a hinge on the breakwater, and would float. I put on little cross pieces for traction. But it was too buoyant and it was hard for pouch to get on the end since it was sitting too close to the surface... Problem solved when I mounted a cinder block on the end of it... then it would float with the block about 8" or so below the surface... basically she would swim over then end and then just climb up the ramp.

Basically I'm thinking of an aluminum ramp that can collapse in 1/2 length, with some floatation (e.g. a small boat bumper, or a hunk of "swim noodle" ?) mounted a foot or 18" from the far end. The other end could hook on the transom. You'd need it to have a surface so her feet don't go through (e.g. plastic cutting boards?) with some cross pieces for traction. I'm sure something very snazzy would be easy to build.

good luck... PS I think boats just need a yellow lab to be complete! Our is 13 now, and has slowed down a lot, but is still a big part of our family.

PPS:

I just noticed your Lab is named Bailey... that made me smile. We almost named our dog that, but decided to save the name b/c we liked it so much. We had no kids then. Now it's my 2nd daughter's middle name.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

not sure how well this would work on a boat but they seemed fairly durable, never saw a dog actually use one but we used to make them at my employer

http://www.amazon.com/Skamper-Ramp-Small-Animal/dp/B001RMHIH8

 

[dirtdiver]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

I have a vest for my dog with a handle in it. It makes it easy to pull her back up in. And that way we dont have to worry about her wearin herself out and not being able to get back to the boat.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Thanks for the replies so far.

BF - that's pretty much what I was thinking, something that would hinge in 1 or 2 places so it folds up, wasn't sure about how much flotation to use, most likely just take some playing with. I like the idea of the plastic cutting boards for the runner surface. Too cool on Bailey's name.

dirtdiver - beautiful dog there! Unfortunately, our lab is 95 lbs dry, and has fur like a sponge. I've hauled her up into my duck boat with her hunting vest before (when she decided to "help" me retreive a decoy). It was not fun. I don't think I'd be able to haul her in repeatedly. I do like the flotation that it adds, and have been thinking about getting a new hunting vest that includes the flotation pockets on the sides.

dimoriarty51 - OK - I give, what is that crawling up the ladder on the Amazon page??? I like the ides of the holes on top to make it lighter, allow water through, and add traction. I'll probably incorporate that into my design.



Thanks all, keep the ideas coming. I'm going home tonight to start taking measurements and designing something up.

 

[tuffshot]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Stick with duck stuff.
A few modifications and ...... instant doggy boat stand


http://www.lcsupply.com/Product/Shooting-Accessories/Avery-Double-Duty-Dog-Stand.html

 

[Stachi]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

looks like a possum !

 

[Beefer]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

looks like a possum !

I agree!

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Wood will eventualy rot I would use a material like this. for what you could buy the wood for, and seal it with a resin and your time involved you can probably get one of these and put some anti skid tape.

http://www.cuttingboardworld.com/pageb.html
18" x 42" less than $100 and would never rot, a type IV throwable and a couple snaps installed on the underside and your good to go

Have fun.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

We've taken daughter's new dog out 3 or 4 times this summer. He's still a pup at 6 months and weighs around 35lbs now. I looked at several of the ramps/ladders available and was floored by the prices. In addition, most seemed fairly bulky to store onboard. I ended up taking a 5' piece of scrap T111 siding I had about 16" wide and tying it to to the ski eye and tow strap hooks to hold it in place. I left my stern drive up to keep enough of board in the water he can get onto to. It needs some better grip. I tried rubber mat runner but when wet is still a little slick. Thinking of either painting with non-slip paint (paint w/sand mixed in) or putting some 3/8 X 1 strips across width of board maybe every 12". The biggest trick we've found is the end needs to be about 8" below water so dog can climb onto it. I first tried a square throw cushion but that wasn't enough flotation and it sank too deep when he climber onto it. That is when I came up with idea of stern drive supporting it at correct angle.

By next summer, I've got to come up with a beefier solution since he'll be bigger/heavier. Good luck with your dog ladder!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

I haven't taken a picture of it yet but here is what we use on our deckboat:
The deck is about 18" above the water.

The neighbor had a plastic swingset slide out to be trashed because the kids busted the upper mounting holes out. So I snagged it, used a sabre saw and router to clean up the end that was messed up.
Roughed up the sliding surface with a wire brush on a grinder. Smeared silicone adhesive on it then laid on some spongy rubber runner you buy by the foot at Lowes.
I added a flap of rubber conveyor belting I had to the top of the ladder with large flange aluminum rivets. Under the flap of conveyor belting is some industrial sized velcro with the mating velcro on the deck of the boat.
The slide is hollow, so I had to bore some big holes in the bottom so the end would take on water and sink below the surface about a foot.
It took a bit to get her to use it as it would go down more as she stepped on the end.
But she does now and if an old Basset Hound can do it, most any dog should too.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Thanks for the tip - plastic swingset slide - I love it. I'll be keeping my eyes open for one for sure.

I like the idea above about resting it on the outdrive, unfortunately, I have a big honkin' 200 Optimax outboard sitting right in the way. Possibly, though, I could have an arm that comes off the side that would rest on the cav plate when positioned properly.

Thanks again for the ideas. Started measureing up last night. I build custom cabinets on the side, so I'm going to build version 1 tonight out of wood and try it. If it works, I'll be looking for some plastic and aluminum to build one more permanent.

 

[Splat]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Check local garagesales for one of those plastic excersize steps. They are hollow and float quite well, the one we have and use already has a nonslip surface to it.

We kill 2 birds with one stone, we use the same step with the bottom riser to help our 11 year old black lab in and out of the suv. It works remarkably well.

Bill

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

Tuesday Morning stores have a sale flyer showing a 71" x 16" x 4" folding dog ramp for $50. Good for dogs up to 150 pounds. We're picking one up this weekend.

I just searched -- they don't seem to have them at the online store.

 

[gdombroski]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

How about this one for up to two hundred lbs. for $98 http://www.vkrpets.com/Pet%20Ramps.html?gclid=CLS98-_VoKMCFR0BiQodCSNkog

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Anybody with a Dog Ladder

I was just thinking about this type of thing for my dog. He Loves the water and though I haven't taken him out on the boat yet I am sure he will want to get in.

Thanks for the links and suggestions. Always willing to hear more.

MacPointMan