We have 2 Labradors that are always on board when we go out on the lake. They're unproductive 3rd and 4th mates but they always love the swimming or just cruising around with the wind in their fur. If your lab is outgoing as most of the breed is, I'm sure he/she will not have any objection what-so-ever to boating!
We've tried to get ours to use the swim platform to do their business but no such luck, (we have a Four Winns with a huge extended platform so its real easy to clean off by reversing hard until a wave or 2 goes over the platform). So we usually wind up planning on docking a few times during the day to let the dogs do their business, needless to say the plastic bags and paper towels are always on board as you never know when nature will call for them.
One company I would recommend is Ruffwear.com, they sell lifejackets with handles which makes hauling the dogs back on board real easy. The bigger of the 2 weighs in at 85lbs and the jacket makes it easy to pull him on board unassisted. Plus you never have to worry about them tiring in water way too cold and deep to assist them without risking your own safety.
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