Dogs on board - how to safely retreive from water

[rszobel]

Has anyone ever rigged any kind of hoist to lift dogs out of the water? I have two around 60 lbs that the wife wants to take aboard and I am sure that one will jump sooner or later as she is a lab!

[Catigale]

Well, they need dog PFDs of course, with an attach point.

A simple block of. The boom works well for hauling up 50 pound loads imhe.

[Retcoastie]

A properly sized PFD goes without saying. Ours always wear theirs when they are in the cockpit and we are under way. At anchor we are more flexible. If the shore is near and they could climb up out of the water, our girls get some slack.

[RobertB]

PFDs for heavier dogs will not work for lifting - I searched long and hard, the West Marine one is best I could find but still not meant for lifting. Most will tear apart or hurt the dog. For a 60 pound dog, you may have luck, but my 80 and 90 pound retrievers it is a no go. Suggest you fit the vest to the dog and lift - if it works, buy it.
We have successfully helped the dog on board just by getting the dog to the transom and gently pulling it up - letting the dog do the climbing.
I also made a dog boarding ladder/platform with 1-1/2 inch PVC fittings and pipe. It is about 12 inches wide and 48 inches long (made of right angle and tee fittings). I wrap the rungs in pieces cut from an exterior door mat for grip and attach a plywood back board. Both rung grip pads and backboard attached with heavy duty zip ties. This ladder can be tied to the top of the boarding ladder - it has its own buoyancy but I have considered using a pair of dock fenders tied to the far end for additional buoyancy. We tried once but found pulling the dog up the transom worked better - easier for the dog to understand.
The ladder is used often when we beach bow first - it provides a good person (and dog) boarding ladder at the bow.

[Tomfoolery]

You could buy a factory made version of what RobertB made, though it's $200 from WM.

I haven't tried it, but I suspect that's what it would take to get my lab back on the boat if she ever got brave enough to actually get wet. Yeah, that's right - I've got a lab who doesn't like water.



http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50354

[RobertB]

The yellow ladder is in line with what I was thinking when I made mine. The home-made is only 2 inches thick (easier to store). As far as getting the dog to use it, there is definitely a learning curve - unless you have a dog with an actual working brain

I never quite convinced the dogs to put thier paws (one after the other) on the stairs, the concept is not natural. That is why we just get them to swim to the transom, grab paws and/or collar, and give a hand up. A strong dog does not have much trouble.

BTW, I have two Cheasapeake Bay Retrievers who naturally have water on the brain. It was pretty awsome when our girl wanted to ride up front with the kids in the back bay behind Ocean City, MD. She slipped and went off the side like a frisbee - did not phase her. Later that day she rode the tube behind the boat with one of my sons.

We mainly have the yellow life preservers for the dogs so they are easier to see if they do go over in rough water

[rszobel]

thanks for all of the suggestions. I was thinking of building something similar but may just try the transom route first to save the money and learning curve!

[K9Kampers]

Here's a LINK to a thread from last year showing my homemade dog ramp. Note that I changed the mounting location mid-season, but don't yet have any good inwater pics. The new mount location has a length of steel angle u-bolted cantilever from the swim ladder with oarlock sockets mounted to it, the ramp has the oarlocks. Very is to setup & remove. Unfortunately, the new mount doesn't allow the ramp pull up vertically out of the water, but does provide a steadier ramp with less slope than the previous mount.

[rszobel]

Here's a LINK to a thread from last year showing my homemade dog ramp. Note that I changed the mounting location mid-season, but don't yet have any good inwater pics. The new mount location has a length of steel angle u-bolted cantilever from the swim ladder with oarlock sockets mounted to it, the ramp has the oarlocks. Very is to setup & remove. Unfortunately, the new mount doesn't allow the ramp pull up vertically out of the water, but does provide a steadier ramp with less slope than the previous mount.

this is exactly what i am looking for -- what i don't understand is how it connects to the boat with the oarlocks -- can you explain or provide better pics to show how it actually connects -- thanks.

[K9Kampers]

Close up of oarlock sockets on transom:



View from above:



View from below:



Does this help? More Q?s...

[rszobel]

this is what i was looking for. just didnt understand how it connected. pix helped a lot. thanks for the help. rz

[RobertB]

The ramp pictured is very similar to what I made - with one main difference. Pictured one has plywood on top with slats across. I put the plywood on the bottom and wrapped the PVC crossmembers with rubber backed carpet exterior floor mat pieces so paws could get a good grip.

Also, the is a bit of a challenge in that there is less room to place dedicated mounts for the ramp.

[Gerry]

How do you get your dogs in out of the cabin? We have a pair of 75 pound Goldens? Is the pvc ramp in this post strong enough for this task?
Gerry

[rszobel]

Both of my 60 lb pups just went up the ladder with a little nudge.

[K9Kampers]

I've not tried the ramp with 75 lb dogs but I believe it would be strong enough for that application.
My 22 lb dogs just climb the companionway ladder.