Abstract: A docking or mooring system for a boat includes a horizontal shaft mounted with respect to a structure at which docking the boat may be desired. The system also includes at least one hitch mounted forward of the bow of a boat and defining a tapering recess configured to receive the shaft. The shaft is spring biased at a predetermined height but is selectively movable vertically. The hitch includes a latching mechanism with cams that automatically engage the shaft using the forward motion of the boat.

Abstract: In a towed array breakout of the type deployed from or retrieved by naval ssels a junction is defined between a fixed portion of an electrically conductive wire and a movable portion of the wire portion. A relatively hard potting material is provided around and defines the fixed portion of the wire. A coiled helically shaped portion of the same wire or a second wire is integrally joined to the first portion and defines the movable portion. This movable second portion is encased in a relatively soft urethane material so as to provide freedom in both a bending and tension mode. A third portion of the wire is connected to the opposite end of the coiled second portion. This structure affords strain relief at the junction between the fixed portion of the flexible conductor and the movable second portion.