Dog boat ladders

[Jillybean]

Dog boat ladders, does anyone own one?

We love our dogs. Now that we?re boat owners, I?m sure we?ll be taking them out with us most days this summer. I already bought them PFDs that have the strap on the back which will make it easier to pull them out of the water but with the way our dogs like to swim, this will probably get old quick.

I was looking at the Paws Aboard ladder but it seems a bit pricey. Plus it?s bulky and I read a lot of negative comments from owners of large breed dogs.

http://www.pawsaboard.com/ladder.asp

I saw this ladder called Load A Pup. It?s much cheaper, doesn?t look as bulky. Actually right now, I?m tempted to buy it but just wanted to find out if anyone else owns a ladder of any kind and what their opinions are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXyWDODMzU

 

[Jillybean]

Re: Dog boat ladders

Ugh, having difficulties posting my youtube video.

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: Dog boat ladders

A guy on our dock had a 50-60 lbs. dog, he used a swim mat, tied it to his swim platform. The dog would swim over to it & go up the mat on to the boat. Seemed to work very well.

 

[Jillybean]

Re: Dog boat ladders

A guy on our dock had a 50-60 lbs. dog, he used a swim mat, tied it to his swim platform. The dog would swim over to it & go up the mat on to the boat. Seemed to work very well.

What's a swim mat? Is it a foam pool mattress? If so, that's not a bad idea.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Dog boat ladders

LOL! This one took me a couple seconds. I'm always learning something new on this forum. I've heard of bass boats, flats boats, mud boats...

I saw your title and my first though was "What the heck is a dog boat?"

I don't own a dog, but good luck with Fido.

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: Dog boat ladders

What's a swim mat? Is it a foam pool mattress? If so, that's not a bad idea.

Yes I think it is called closed cell foam, we have a couple that you can float on or use for a cushion like a sunpad to lay on the bow.

 

[livin4real]

Re: Dog boat ladders

Dog boat ladders, does anyone own one?

We love our dogs. Now that we?re boat owners, I?m sure we?ll be taking them out with us most days this summer. I already bought them PFDs that have the strap on the back which will make it easier to pull them out of the water but with the way our dogs like to swim, this will probably get old quick.

I was looking at the Paws Aboard ladder but it seems a bit pricey. Plus it?s bulky and I read a lot of negative comments from owners of large breed dogs.

http://www.pawsaboard.com/ladder.asp

I saw this ladder called Load A Pup. It?s much cheaper, doesn?t look as bulky. Actually right now, I?m tempted to buy it but just wanted to find out if anyone else owns a ladder of any kind and what their opinions are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXyWDODMzU

What kind of boat are you working with?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Dog boat ladders

Load A Pup. looks pretty good, for low slung boats.

 

[Jillybean]

Re: Dog boat ladders

We have a Stringray 220DR deck boat with an extended swim platform as pictured below. I grabbed the photo from the Stingray website.

Do you think the Load A Pup will work well with the platform?

 

[Expidia]

Re: Dog boat ladders

What platform???? I don't see no platform

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Dog boat ladders

Please post a photo of the platform.

 

[Jillybean]

Re: Dog boat ladders

funny! Glad you gentlemen enjoyed the picture..wish I could say it was me. I gladly would have posted a picture that included a hot young male but evidently research must show thats not a very wise marketing strategy

 

[sleeper]

Re: Dog boat ladders

We have a load-a-pup that we bought last year for our 70 lb lab. It can work well and stores small, but I had to modify it to make it work on our boat. We have a swim platform similar to yours. It basically all depends on where your ladder rungs fall in relation to the water. You need the load-a-pup to be low enough for the dog to be able to get onto it from the water, but also high enough that when they are standing on it they can reach the swim platform. The load-a-pup has some adjustment built into it, but I still had to modify it to make it work.

Also, your dog has the be trainable. There is nothing to see from the water for them to know where to go. Its not as easy as a giant yellow ladder or floating buoys like some dog ramps.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Dog boat ladders

After looking at that platform , the ladder seems to be tucked under the hatch. Does it swing under ( towards the boat) when you climb up on it ? If so, then the load a pup may take a bit of getting used to for your dogs, as it would tilt back as they get on it.

What are the complaints from the large breed owners in regards to the Paws Aboard?) Kinda bulky looking, I agree, but seems like a more logical setup for you rig.

My boat has neither, just a small platform off to the side of the outdrive, just above the water.The black lab got used to getting near it and then swimming about nearby until we yank/push him up.

 

[livin4real]

Re: Dog boat ladders

I'd just use two swim mats. The 1" thick type ones. Cut two holes in one on the end and run some black webbing around it and through the grab hole on the swim platform, then overlap the second pad onto the first a foot or so and put two more holes through both mats and strap together with another piece of webbing. This way you have something that is still usable for yourself when not being used for your dogs and also doesn't tie up your swim ladder. Don't forget to keep their nails as short as possible, otherwise your interior will look like a pincushion.

 

[Impactg]

Re: Dog boat ladders

Here's what we did on our old boat...

Purchased a ramp from dogramps.com for 100.00, added some marker buoys and a little hardware and it was come and go as you please for our pups.

Sadly, we just lost the last one a week ago at age 16...

 

[dondn46]

Re: Dog boat ladders

The Load-a-pup works well on almost any boat. There are 20 plus at Lake of the ozarks, in the cove we frequent. I've seen bass boats, house boats, many pontoons, formulas, rinkers, and ski boats. It seems to be a very good all around product. It works great for us, and we use it also. The guy earlier mentioned it goes back when boarding, I'm almost 200 lbs. and it doesn't go backward on me. Good luck

 

[JimMH]

Re: Dog boat ladders

I duck hunt but don't use a boat but my friends do. Avery Outdoors makes a good ladder that will hang on the gunwale. I don't know how it would work with the platform. I use to own a 84 Master Craft and my Lab could swim right up to the platform and get in.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: Dog boat ladders

jmprkns,
Interesting design. I have been reviewing the various designs out there. I'm not too fond of the idea of sharing the swim ladder though. My son jumps in and out of the boat as often as my dog does. If there was a way of mounting the dog ladder to the other side of the swim platform, I'd probably buy one. Maybe an optional hardware bracket to make your own ladder? I have a Glastron identical to http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1991-Glastron-1700-98277882

 

[cheejudo]

Re: Dog boat ladders

I too need a ladder for my dog, a 100+ lb black lab.. and he is only 2 years old =[