dog on board

[gary allen]

Here's a silly question for the dog owners: We are going to be taking our dog with us on trips. We chose the twin motor option, so we are having a side mount swim step installed. We are wondering how we are going to get our dog (a strong swimming labrador) back on board if we anchor and go ashore for picnics, hikes, etc. Any tips?

Thanks in advance,
Gary

[Da Nag]

[Da Nag]

Oh...and don't forget to have a heavy dog towel on hand to drape over the gunnel when you hoist them in. Nothing like the nails of a large flailing pooch to scratch up your gelcoat.

[Kay]

A nice meaty rib bone held up so he/she can see should do the trick!

[Captains Cat]

Don't care how big/meaty the bone is, no 80lb wet dog is going to vault over the side of a C-Dory from the water. They make ramp like devices that will hook to a boat that lets the dog swim up to and climb up. Look at Boat US/West Marine.

The twin engines make it harder but there may be room there somewhere. Even if you hook it to the side, if the pooch can get up on the ramp and give a good shake, you may be able to grab him/her and wrestle the critter on board.

That's why we've got a Silky Terrier (who would never get willingly into the water, so it's a moot point). He wears a life jacket with a handle on it on the rare moments he's on the pier or on the boat.

Charlie

[Sea Wolf]

You never know when your best friend might just go for a swim, even if by accident.

When I had my boat at the Ox Bow Marina in the California Delta a few years back, Shadow, my 145 lb Great Dane, accidently slipped off a finger out near the end of our shed, and, had I not heard her thrashing about some 40 yards away, might have gone down for the third time.

Hoisting a dog that size up out of the water wasn't easy, but necessity allowed me to grab her by the collar and get the front half up on the dock then proceed to retrieve the back end sequentially.

I'm sure she didn't have any idea of where to swim to shore among all the boats, and without a life jacket, she would have expired right there.

That time we were lucky. Maybe not the next. Get the jacket, its a great practical and peace of mind investment. Joe.

[C-WEED]

Is it too late to change your outboard option? A swim-step is one of the best reasons for the single set-up. We have a big Yellow Lab and a German Shepherd. Both love to swim all day long. We beach camp and cook almost all meals on shore. Having the stern to shore and being able to step on the swim platform and onto the beach is a big plus. I couldn't count the times we jump in and out of the boat for this or that....

Someone posted a swim-step could be done with twins with some modification. If you are stuck on twins, check out Cabelas catalog. They have a ramp (gangplank) that goes from ground to the back of a pick-up or SUV for senior dogs to walk up. It is called the "PetStep ll". The material looks to be some sort of ABS. Is rubber coated and supports 500lbs. You might be able to tie one end to the cleat on the back corner of the boat and get the dog in around the engine and over the motor well. You could make something similar out of wood with a hinge in the middle to fold to save space.

We put a rubber backed rug over the swim platform and motor well. The dogs hop on a cooler when going into the cockpit. I sleep much better at night when the Shepherd hears a noise. She lets herself out the open zippered camper back. Hops off the back of the boat and goes on beach patrol. If all is well she hops back in and takes her spot atop the action-packer in the cockpit.

Chris on
"C-WEED"

[DaveS]

[Pat Anderson]

OK, this ain't about the dog (Oscar goes in and out via a dinghy or I wade), but I'll bite - what is an "anchor buddy"??

[DaveS]