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Old 14-01-2025, 15:26   #1
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Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

I have a Golden Retriever who is a Paddleboarding enthusiast. I'm looking for a way to get her on and off the boat from/to the water. I've been looking at this and wondering if anyone here has any experience with it or a comparable product. https://www.dogproofer.com/collectio...48963671458070

The boat is a 30' Catalina with closed transom. I think the gunwale is thick enough. Anyone have any ideas?
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Old 14-01-2025, 16:12   #2
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

We used to lift our Newfoundland on and off the boat with a harness contraption from the boom. It looked like the setup they used to lower the cow into the velociraptor pen in Jurrasic Park.
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Old 14-01-2025, 16:25   #3
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

ok, That was funny!
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Old 14-01-2025, 17:32   #4
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

Had a friend that attached a light alum. (pool?) ladder to his transom top,with hinges.He stored it up vertically & lowered it to water to make a ramp for dog. He ran a strip of plywood? up it to give dog some grip & to provide a "solid" ramp to walk on.Wasn't pretty but it worked well. / Len
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Old 14-01-2025, 22:03   #5
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

Hi, topham,

For a lot less money than the contraption you linked to, look at Dog Flotation Devices, or even doggie life jackets (Google). There are many to choose from. You want one you can clip a halyard onto, for easy launch and retrieval, so really look at the "handles" for bringing your pooch aboard.

I like deblen's idea, too, but would put good non-skid on the "ramp" or little stringers athwart it, to help when/if slips occurr.

Ann
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Old 14-01-2025, 22:30   #6
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

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Originally Posted by JPA Cate View Post
Hi, topham,

For a lot less money than the contraption you linked to, look at Dog Flotation Devices, or even doggie life jackets (Google). There are many to choose from. You want one you can clip a halyard onto, for easy launch and retrieval, so really look at the "handles" for bringing your pooch aboard.

I like deblen's idea, too, but would put good non-skid on the "ramp" or little stringers athwart it, to help when/if slips occurr.

Ann
She has a life jacket. The problem is that it's about 3 1/2 feet from the gunwale to the waterline.
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Old 15-01-2025, 06:28   #7
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

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She has a life jacket. The problem is that it's about 3 1/2 feet from the gunwale to the waterline.
We have similar freeboard or slightly more at the stern, but we do have a swim platform. I usually stand on the swim platform and kinda pull the dog off the edge, taking his weight with the handle on his life jacket, then turn and lower him down to the water (and vice versa). A set of stairs would make life easier, but as long as I don't have to pick up the 55 lb dog too often, lifting him by hand is doable.
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Old 15-01-2025, 12:26   #8
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

During a year sailing from Toronto down the eastern seaboard to the Bahamas, returning via Quebec, we had a young Golden Retriever on board, good ol' Sam! Our freeboard was about 45" (114cm) We trained him to ALWAYS jump into the Zodiac to enter the water. He NEVER jumped directly from our yacht into the water! Once in the Zod he would wait for a command to leap in. To get him out, he learnt to come alongside the Zod, we would haul him out by his collar while he made every effort to get himself out using his fore and hind legs! Once in the dinghy and after he shaken most water off (!) it was very easy to lift him on deck. A lifey makes it even easier, didn't have those back then. They, especially Goldens, will do anything to help as much as they can to stay in the 'good books'!
As an add-on, we also trained him to take a c*** to a word command, (busy). All very useful when doing all day passages on the ICW! Don't get the wrong impression, he had a fantastic time, would dive for starfish and on occasions decide to swim back from the beach with the kids, rather than ride the dinghy. Having spent most of the time there digging to Australia! Typical Golden ... they always have that independent streak. Gotta love 'em!
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Old 15-01-2025, 21:11   #9
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

Maybe a floating dock like this:

https://www.amazon.com/VOFiTNY-Infla...35180298&psc=1
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Old 16-01-2025, 04:26   #10
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Re: Ways to get a dog in and out of the water

Biba, a Swiss shepherd about 25kg, would be lowered from the stern where I attached a home made davit and pulley system. I think I posted photos in an earlier post.
She didn't like the Jurassic Park cow transport (funny @greatestlakes) :-) so after a few years she took to just walking down the passerelle into the dinghy. To board an (unstable) SUP (which neither she nor I enjoyed but kudos to you), we went first to the dinghy and from the dinghy to the SUP.

For anyone who doesn't own a dog but is wagging a finger at the nuttiness of human adoptees of dogs, know that all dogs are different and that some dogs really really enjoy sailing and water life despite the challenges they realise they face compared to their human companions.

R.I.P. Biba
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