SeaDek and your dog

[Trevor Shipman]

Question, hows the SeaDek hold up with dogs and their nails? I know the stuff is pretty tough but it’s also pretty expensive! So I don’t want to repeat a mistake if someone on here has a Golden Retriever size dog and has any experience on how it holds up.

Thanks!

 

[swatski]

Question, hows the SeaDek hold up with dogs and their nails? I know the stuff is pretty tough but it’s also pretty expensive! So I don’t want to repeat a mistake if someone on here has a Golden Retriever size dog and has any experience on how it holds up.

Thanks!

It is possible to scratch it and damage. But if you trim and file their nails should be no problem whatsoever.
Cats - that like to scratch - are a different story...
Just ask @malibu Dan, I think there is a nice looking pelt hanging on the wall of his garage but who knows.

--

 

[malibu Dan]

yep. I have had to replace upper and lower because I left it uncovered and cat thought it was s new scratching post.. if u look closely you can see punctures ..

 

[Bluewater272]

My golden retriever left some indentations on the swim deck early in the season. I started dremeling his nails to ensure they are nicely rounded, and haven't noticed any new marks. If the nails are smooth, shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Markk]

I have an 85lb Lab. She’s been on our new SeaDek for this season only. We keep her nails trimmed and filed with Dremel. Have noticed her put a minor scratch in the Seadek twice. Both times she was being pushed or thrown off the boat unexpectedly. In her normal walk and constant jumping in/out of water she hasn’t marked it.

I think my wake boards have cut it more than the dog

 

[Trevor Shipman]

Sounds like I get to break out a power tool! Thanks for the info guys.

I can grab a pair of the dog shoes but I have a feeling they’ll just be a pain in the ass for the dog plus I don’t want to take them on and off every time she wants to swim. Decisions decisions

 

[PEARCE]

We've got some marks and scratches on the Seadek from our 60# lab jumping in the water. I'm guilty of not being diligent in keeping her nails trimmed though. It's par for the course though. If it starts to look too bad I'll just replace it. We have it on the swim deck of our cruiser as well as on our Yamaha and the cruiser gets more traffic along with just wear and tear so it will be showing wear quicker. If it last five years or more then I'm happy with that. One of our dock neighbors measures it and installs it so it's not hard for me to get more. It just cost money!!

 

[Bluewater272]

Sounds like I get to break out a power tool! Thanks for the info guys.

Dremel makes a battery powered one that is pet-specific and runs at a slower speed. The little sanding drums take off nail in a hurry, so if you're using a 'real' dremel, run it slow.

 

[Coffeecan]

Our 70lb lab shepherd mix has put a few marks on the swim deck if he is trying to get up on the swim deck in aided. A dog life vest with a rescue handel makes a world of difference cause I can just lift him straight onto the back deck. Once he’s up there we have no issues.

 

[djetok]

https://www.google.com/search?q=nail+covers+for+dogs&ie=&oe=

I use nail covers for our 65 lb vizsla after I trim and file

 

[Papa]

Our Lab has not made a mark on ours. Ski's and other toys have made indentions, but no cuts.
Papa

 

[jcyamaharider]

https://www.google.com/search?q=nail+covers+for+dogs&ie=&oe=

I use nail covers for our 65 lb visla after I trim and file

Vizsla are like a tornado in a boat. We just use the dremel pet nail attachment ( on slow) and then file smooth. Has worked well but I can tell in a few years I will have to upgrade to sea deck from the marine mat that we have now.

 

[bronze_10]

We have a 140 pound great dane... she has taken chunks out of the sea deck trying to get her to come off the swim deck into knee deep water... (big baby)... at first i freaked.. then i just decided the seadeck is a wearable item... the biggest problem is she doesnt like the wind in her ears when we are underway.

 

[djetok]

Vizsla are like a tornado in a boat. We just use the dremel pet nail attachment ( on slow) and then file smooth. Has worked well but I can tell in a few years I will have to upgrade to sea deck from the marine mat that we have now.

They calm down a lot when they get older, like 7 lol. boone is about to be 8 in October and still has energy but is very well behaved when told too.

 

[jocolo21]

85lbs american bully no marks not even on the seats

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

Thread revive. My wife wants us to take our little girl out on the boat. Which of all the different types of mats are the most durable? She’s only 120 pounds, but has the power of a 200 pounder and 3” wide paws that curl/grip like a cat.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

Seadek is tough (and expensive) stuff but I wouldn’t put my pup on there without booties on. If I had carpet, I’d have no problem leaving the boots off

 

[Coffeecan]

Our sea deck is a bit tougher than the marine mat that’s on the back deck. However, it sounds like your dog will be too rough on any mat. The booties are a good idea if you can get her to adjust to them. Otherwise loading and unloading the dog will be key.

 

[jocolo21]

just make sure his nails are rounded

 

[JMDyamota]

I have a 95 pound german shepherd who will never be accused of being mellow. We rarely have to trim his nails as he does a good job of wearing them down himself. He is almost always with us on the boat. I have some nail marks in the mats on the swim platform, but the snap in matting inside the boat and everything else is holding up fine. He is a great swimmer, but I always have him in a life vest with a handle when away from shore so I can use the handle to get him on board. Once he and I got our open-lake boarding process worked out (i.e. he learned to relax and not try to claw his way onboard while I lift him), the damage to the mats on the swim deck has been minimal, notwithstanding the fact that he frequently uses the swim deck as a launching pad to get into the lake. I, too, view the mats on the swim deck as a wear item and don't get too worked up over a nail mark here or there.