Next message: Lew Hodgett: "Re: lv-ab: DIY Dog Ramp"
A while back we discussed commercial dog ramps and shared opinions about different brands. I hadn't had much luck with three different brands. One kept breaking under me although is was claimed to be able to support 500 pounds. The other two drowned.
So I discussed the idea of a DIY ramp with my skilled good friend John Adams. Then I went to Lowes and bought a sheet of exterior grade, structural, 3/8" plywood; a tube of PL construction adhesive, and some gray indoor/outdoor carpet.
I failed to account for the intrusion of the door into the starboard quarter opening in the hull. So John had to rip the edge off the 24"x 96" previous rip. So we laminated the two large pieces using the PL adhesive and used screws to secure the pieces together while the adhesive set. We took the two strips and glued and screwed them along each edge. I took the gangway back to the boat and temporarily covered it with the carpet as jolly King George would try it without carpet. The next day, the screws in the field were removed while the one on the edges remained. I painted the ramp with Klitz white primer and stapled the carpet in place.
In the first several days George used the ramp and I tested it with my weight. Each day the ramp felt stronger although it retained some give. I can handle the ramp and we found out it floats (a storm came up while we were gone and it slipped into the water.) BTW, the full 8 feet is necessary to cope with our wind tides here.
I recommend this construction to anyone with a dog too large to carry in their arms. The ramp is perfectly adequate for me with groceries. The cost was minimal.
Ron Rogers
Willard 40FBS
Lying Washington, NC
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