Abstract: A floating drive on dry dock includes a variable buoyancy beam positioned below the deck of the dock. The beam is formed of separate cells that can be filled with air from a common feeder line. Separate inlet risers allow air into each cell. As the air moves into each cell, water is displaced out an opening in the bottom of the cell. The flow of air and water is restricted or damped to assure even filling of the cells in a beam. The feeder line and risers can be back filled with water to limit air flow between cells. Multiple beams can be used to achieve the desired buoyancy.

Abstract: A drive-on dry dock (10) especially suited for a boat (12) longer than about thirty feet and weighing more than about seven thousand pounds. The dock (10) includes a platform (14), a guide (16), and a lift (18). The platform (14) includes an aft section (20), a forward section (22), and a hinge section (24) therebetween. The guide (16) defines a path for movement of the boat (12) from the aft section (20) to a rest position whereat the boat's bow engages and is supported by the forward section (22). The lift shifts the platform (14) between a first condition in which the aft section is only buoyant enough to support itself and so can be downwardly flexed form a ramp for the boat (12) and a second condition in which the aft section is sufficiently buoyant to lift the boat out of the water.

Abstract: A floating, drive-on dry dock assembly for a small craft is assembled from two kinds of hollow floatation units, tall units and short units. The units are interconnected so that their top surfaces are substantially coplanar. The units are arranged to form two arms which support the hull of the craft on each side of the longitudinal center line of the craft. The entire length of each arm is made up of tall units except the distal end portions of each arm which may be made up of short units. The short units are able to flex downward as a craft begins to ride up on the dock because of the location of the connection between adjacent units. The tall units, however, cannot flex relative to each other nearly to the same extent as the short units, and so they form a stable generally planar surface. The distal ends of the arms are connected to each other by an upside down short unit.

Abstract: A floating, drive-on dry dock assembly for a small craft is assembled from two kinds of hollow floatation units, tall units and short units. The units are interconnected so that their top surfaces are substantially coplanar. The units are arranged to form two arms which support the hull of the craft on each side of the longitudinal center line of the craft. The entire length of each arm is made up of tall units except the distal end portions of each arm which may be made up of short units. The short units are able to flex downward as a craft begins to ride up on the dock because of the location of the connection between adjacent units. The tall units, however, cannot flex relative to each other nearly to the same extent as the short units, and so they form a stable generally planar surface. The distal ends of the arms are connected to each other by an upside down short unit.

Abstract: A floating, drive-on dock for personal or commercial watercraft is assembled from a combination of hollow, air-tight floatation units. The dock includes a beam formed from a plurality of floatation units coupled together positioned underneath and attached to the dock to provide transverse support and lift for the floatation units and thereby reduce bowing or flexion when substantial forces are exerted, such as by large size watercraft, on the dock surface. Additionally, at least one of the floatation units that form the beam includes an aperture so that the buoyancy of that unit can be adjusted.

Abstract: A floating, drive-on dry dock assembly for a small craft is assembled from two kinds of hollow floatation units, tall units and short units. The units are interconnected so that their top surfaces are substantially coplanar. The units are arranged to form two arms which support the hull of the craft on each side of the longitudinal center line of the craft. The entire length of each arm is made up of tall units except the distal end portions of each arm which may be made up of short units. The short units are able to flex downward as a craft begins to ride up on the dock because of the location of the connection between adjacent units. The tall units, however, cannot flex relative to each other nearly to the same extent as the short units, and so they form a stable generally planar surface. The distal ends of the arms are connected to each other by an upside down short unit.

Abstract: A floating, drive-on dry dock assembly for a small craft is assembled from two kinds of hollow floatation units, tall units and short units. The units are interconnected so that their top surfaces are substantially coplanar. The units are arranged to form two arms which support the hull of the craft on each side of the longitudinal center line of the craft. The entire length of each arm is made up of tall units except the distal end portions of each arm which may be made up of short units. The short units are able to flex downward as a craft begins to ride up on the dock because of the location of the connection between adjacent units. The tall units, however, cannot flex relative to each other nearly to the same extent as the short units, and so they form a stable generally planar surface. The distal ends of the arms are connected to each other by an upside down short unit.