T&T: A Good DIY Dog Gangplank

[Ron Rogers]

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