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From: Ron Rogers (no email)
Date: Mon Mar 03 2008 - 18:02:32 EST
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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