Abstract: A latch for releasably securing a boat includes an exposed hook member designed to releasably engage a complementary eye member mounted on a boat and a remotely operable actuator to disengage the hook member from the complementary eye member. The hook member is biased to rest in a first closed position and can be vertically moved to a second open position either by operation of the actuator or by contact with the complementary eye member. An augmentry eye member and clamp may be used to configure the auxiliary eye member in a horizontal orientation if an eye member mounted on the boat is vertically orientated.