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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Dog swim ladders

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Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/16/2007 : 10:00:46

Does anyone have suggestions on a swim ladder that would be compatible for dogs to enter/exit boat from and into the water?

Thanks

Tanglefoot

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2007 : 10:51:06

which model boat do you have? My pit bull has a jacket with a handle on the top of his back. Clip a halyard to it, toss him in, reel him back and up when it is time to go.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2007 : 14:11:24

I also have the PFD for the dog with the handle but want a real, easily stored, inexpensive, comfortable avenue for my 60 lb. golden to exit/enter the boat and my inflatable. Everything pre-made is very expensive and to my mind poorly thought. I'm getting ready to create something I think will work real well with the use of a boogy board cut on one end to engage the swim ladder half way down along with two attached lines or poles that would snap on to the stanchion. When I'm done I'll post some photos but I think you get the idea.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 01:47:48

Dave,
I've been pondering on this as well, I've got an 80lb chocolate lab who's going to be sailing with us. She's a good swimmer, but the Puget Sound is a very cold place to swim, even in the deep of summer. We've gotten her the best PFD we could find, but having a dog ramp for the boat and the inflatable would be a good thing. I'm interested in your boogy board idea and am looking forward to seeing pictures.

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 08:45:28

Jonathan and Dave:

I too have been searching for a ladder for my 75 pound Golden Retriever. I like the Paws Aboard ladder although it is expensive. Check it out at http://www.pawsaboard.com/.

Which brand of PFD do you have for your dog? What do you like and dislike about it? Would you buy the same one again or a different one?

Thanks.

Will

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Downbucket
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 08:50:37

I just posted the reply about Paws Aboard but the user name was not mine so I just wanted to correct but do not know how. Therefore, I am posting this message.

Will

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 11:31:43

Will,
We like the [url="http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47803343&parent_category_rn=40003683&vcat=REI_SEARCH"]Ruff Wear[/url] PFD for our chocolate lab. In fact the picture shown in the ad could almost be her. It's sturdy, has a grab loop between her shoulders, but probably best of all, if you do have to use the grab loop to snatch her over the rail, her chest is well supported by the vest, not a single strap like on our last kind (that we gave away). We make her wear it the whole time we're out, which doesn't seem to bother her.

As a side note, a long time ago when I was sailing my catamaran, the golden retriever I had then just wore an adult small zip up vest. He was a big dog though, about 110lbs. The only problem with it was it made him sort of waddle when he was walking on shore, but he could swim in it just fine. People laughed at it, but he was getting older and I wasn't about to lose him because of that. He was headstrong (as most retrievers are), and wouldn't think twice about swimming across the lake to get to me. I felt better knowing that if he got tired, or fell overboard (common occurrence for him on the catamaran, he liked to walk the sponsons, never did figure out how to back up) he wouldn't drown.

Edited by - on

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2007 : 08:12:02

Hey Frank,

I have a 1980 Beneteau First, and a 5 month old male golden retriever.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2007 : 08:27:23

I was wondering what your transom configuration was, those 250 people have it pretty good for this kind of thing.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2007 : 14:03:12

Yeah Frank,
I'm really partial to the C-25 (better be, huh?) but sure would like the 250 stern. No worries then!
Was talking to a friend the other day and he suggested using the fold up ladder made stationary at 110 degrees or so from the transom with a piece of cloth/carpet droopilly (is that a word?) clipped on so as to make a "puppy stairway". Sounds like it might work pretty well with minimal hardware but I don't know about a 100 lb. dog getting between the stanchion posts up top.

Edited by - DaveR on 03/21/2007 14:13:09

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2007 : 14:23:25

Yeagh, my transom is as high as the older c-25, I think the dog life jacket, a block, and the boom, might be the way to go.

Thanks everyone!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2007 : 16:40:59

Merlyn - my 50 lb. Lab Shep mix wears a doggie pfd and is generally able to jump from the bow of my Zodiac onboard my '82 C-25, albeit with some assistance via the grab handle. The key is to be standing in the dink with the bow positioned at the port transom and flip the kickerboard for the dinghy outboard up out of the way. The bow of a Zodiac comes a good foot and a half off the water line and the remaining foot or so is not that hard.

Now that she is 12 - we too are wondering how to get her onboard even easier. I have contemplated a board with 1/2 inch strips screwed into it that would allow her to walk up the ramp from the Zodiac.

Sten

Edited by - on

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2007 : 08:53:57

We might have found a million dollar idea!

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2007 : 11:54:35

Just came across this... http://www.yachtsee.com/doggydock.htm

It could be better for the 250 than the 25.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2007 : 12:38:49

Dave,

There's some interesting items listed on that website you provided. I thought this was particularly interesting...

The Cruzin Cooler

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2007 : 12:52:58

Actually, there Pet Ramp looks promising...

[url="http://www.yachtsee.com/images/petstep/index.html"]Pet Ramp[/url]

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2007 : 13:01:18

Take a look at [url="http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044725018925a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=dog+ladder&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=dog+ladder&noImage=0"]Paws Aboard[/url] from Cabela's. See if this helps?

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2007 : 19:40:40

Looking at the doggy dock got me thinking. For about a tenth of the price you could bundle three [url="http://www.sprintaquatics.com/prodinfo.asp?number=164"]fun-noodles[/url] together on either side with some heavy duty canvas, netting or something in between for the dog to get up on, a piece of plywood attached at the boat/dock end and suitably waterproofed and you're there.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2007 : 09:26:57

Like the Pet Ramp!

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2007 : 10:16:18

"The Cruzin Cooler"

Hmmm... seeing that picture launched the 'Dukes of Hazard' theme in my brain... now it's stuck. :>(

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bc12
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2009 : 09:54:54

The Paws Abroad makes the best I think.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2009 : 18:41:46

I wonder what the tow rating is on that thing...

Edited by - on

bc12
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 06/02/2009 : 06:24:52

Whoops

I meant Paws Aboard makes the best [url="http://www.puppypfd.com/dogboatladder1.html"]dog boat ladder[/url]! Not Paws Abroad...sorry. They're also a really great [url="http://www.puppypfd.com"]dog life jacket[/url] brand.

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