Abstract: A protective cover for fragile boat bumpers includes two sheets of relatively thin rubber having a sheet of criss-crossing fibers therebetween, the two rubber sheets being fused to each other. The cover is initially formed from a blank of sheet stock comprised of two flat panels and a flange or wing extending from one of said flat panels so that when said flange or wing is overlapped with a marginal portion of the other of such panels and bonded thereto, a relatively flat tubular body is formed with a passage extending therethrough. The body has a pair of flaps hingedly connected to each end thereof so that the protective cover can be pulled downwardly over a boat bumper so as to protect the foamed sleeve of which the bumper is comprised from impact forces that would break and otherwise damage the relatively fragile foamed plastic, usually polystyrene.

Abstract: A boat lift with self aligning attachment. The lift used for raising and lowering a boat in a boat slip. The slip disposed between spaced apart parallel dock sides. The lift adjustable for various widths of boat slips along with adjustment for the vertical height of the boat dock.

Abstract: A boat lift mounted on a plurality of spaced masts secured in suitable foundations are provided to support an equal number of spaced rails extending angularly into the water to a depth below the draft of the boats to be elevated on the boat lift. A plurality of boat carriers slidably mounted on the rails have spaced rollers engaging the flanges of the rails to facilitate movement of the boat carriers relative to the rails. The boat carriers have horizontally extending extensions secured to their lower ends to underlie the boat which is chocked to hold it in an upright position on the boat carrier extensions as the boat is moved out of the water. A winch housing having a power actuated winch therein is provided to wind up a cable secured to the boat carrier to pull each of the carriers and the boat on the carrier extensions up the rails to elevate the boat out of the water.

Abstract: A boat dock and lift is disclosed in which an upright frame is provided having a pair of spaced upright members and a horizontal cross member therebetween. A lift is movably mounted on the frame. The lift has a support engageable with a boat hull and a pair of generally vertical arms movably mounted on the frame uprights. A compound pulley and cable arrangement is mounted on the horizontal cross member of the frame. This pulley and cable arrangement includes a first pulley block stationary with respect to the frame, and a second pulley block movable horizontally along the cross member. A first cable is secured to the frame, is entrained around certain of the pulleys on the first and second pulley block, and is secured to one of the lift uprights. A second cable is also secured to the frame, entrained around others of the pulleys on the first and second pulley blocks, and is secured to the other lift upright.

Abstract: A boat hoist has a frame with forward part including spaced upright posts, a rearward part including spaced upright posts, spaced to permit the passage of a boat therebetween, and an inclined track assembly attached to the frame between the pairs of spaced upright posts, a boat platform mounted for movement up and down of the track assembly, means for moving the boat platform upward along the track assembly, means for moving the boat platform downward along the track assembly, and means for holding the platform at a lower position and at an upper position on the track assembly. The hoist requires much less effort to lift and lower a boat because of the inclined plane and provides a convenient safer means of removing the boat from the water.

Abstract: A system for maritime transportation and distribution of bulk raw materials includes a series of containers, a carrier vessel, a container unloading dock for unloading material from each container, and a loading dock for loading material into each container, each container having openings in the stern and bow walls for loading and unloading materials, provided with watertight covers and/or valves, and having no hatches on deck so that the containers can be stacked one on the other, the vessel having a hold provided with a port for the flotation loading and unloading of the containers into and out of the hold, the hold comprising retention devices to lock each container to the structure of the carrier vessel, in the stowage position the containers being stacked one on the other in a multilayer arrangement, the unloading dock being a sloping bed graving dock which includes a tunnel located underneath the same in communication with the floor of the dock through openings provided with watertight covers, and a con

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drydocking method and apparatus including a moment resisting arrangement for maintaining the drydocking device in a substantially horizontal plane while raising or lowering a vessel relative to a surface of a body of water. The drydocking device includes a submersible pontoon having a first side positioned adjacent to a single fixed structure and having an arrangement for selectively introducing air or water into at least one chamber within the pontoon for raising and lowering the pontoon, respectively. The pontoon has a moment resisting arrangement which includes a cable secured to the fixed structure and extending around a first sheave positioned adjacent to the first side of the pontoon. The cable extends across the pontoon and around a second sheave positioned adjacent to a second opposite side of the pontoon to an anchoring arrangement beneath the second side of the pontoon.

Abstract: A boat lift supported on a single stanchion that includes a sleeve assembly mounted for slidable movement on the stanchion. A cross arm mounted on the sleeve assembly carries fork members which protrude out from the cross member. Blocks on the forks cradle the hull of a boat for lifting. Standards mounted on the cross member carry bumper floats and docking eyes.

Abstract: A method of launching a large object such as a ship, barge or floatable offshore structure from a dock to water at a lower level than the dock surface by pushing the object over the dock edge, supporting the portion of the object extending past the dock edge on open bottom launch cans and continuing the procedure until the object is fully supported above the water only by the launch cans. By ballasting the launch cans the object is lowered into the water where it floats.

Abstract: The present invention entails an adjustable boat cradle for supporting a boat. There is disclosed a rectangular base frame structure with a plurality of adjustable vertical support assemblies strategically located and connected to the base frame structure. Typically said vertical support assemblies extend generally upwardly from at least the corner areas of the base frame structure and includes an upper cradle pad that actually engages a side portion of the boat's hull while the keel of the boat is directly supported by an underlying support. To accommodate hulls of various sizes and shapes, the effective length and angle of orientation of the vertical support assemblies can be conveniently adjusted. In addition, the cradle pads are universally mounted about the vertical support assemblies such that they will rest adjacent the hull irrespective of the orientation of the support structure comprising the respective vertical support assemblies.

Abstract: A boat hoist comprising a column, a tubular hoist slidable vertically, on said column, a boat cradle on said hoist, shore reinforcement means to anchor an upper part of said column to the shore, and a power unit connecting said column and hoist.

Abstract: In combination with a boat lift of the type having a plurality of opposed floatation tanks being affixed to a main structure and an horizontally disposed intermediate platform extending therebetween; a gunnel supporting system which comprises a plurality of paired stabilizing arms, and a crossbeam for each pair of stabilizing arms horizontally and transversely disposed beneath the platform; each pair of stabilizing arms consists of a first stabilizer arm and a second stabilizer arm transversely spaced from each other, each stabilizer arm being vertically disposed and extending through the platform so as to be pivotally connected to its associated crossbeam; a flange for pivotally connecting each stabilizer arm to its crossbeam, a retainer bolt for maintaining each stabilizer arm in a relative vertical position, a winch and a tension cable attached to the lower ends of the stabilizer arms for pivoting the same toward each other in a transverse plane thereby engaging the sides of a boat within the stabilizer ar

Abstract: The submersible drydock system of the present invention is one in which the buoyancy of the docking platform is altered to effect raising and lowering thereof. The submersible dock comprises a submersible platform having a buoyancy chamber formed therein. Foundations are located below the platform and a parallelogram linkage system interconnects the platform and the foundation. The parallelogram linkage system is operable to retain the platform in the generally horizontal plane in all positions during raising and lowering of the platform. A buoyancy control system is provided which communicates with the buoyancy chamber to vary the amount of air within the chamber to effect raising and lowering of the platform relative to the foundation.

Abstract: The present shiplift apparatus has a horizontal lift platform with eight lift points (four on each side along the length of the platform). Four lift motors are provided, each operating a first cable for lifting the platform at a lift point which is located toward the longitudinal, midpoint of the platform and a second cable for lifting the platform at a lift point near one end or the other of the platform. Each second cable is connected to a linear actuator for leveling up the platform independent of the lift motors.

Abstract: An attachment for a boat lift to facilitate its placement and/or removal from a dockside location. A boat lift for small pleasure boats generally comprises a stationary framework which supports a movable boat supporting member and a winch or equivalent mechanism for elevating and lowering the boat supporting member relative to the stationary framework. The present invention comprises a set of wheels which are mounted on the stationary frame and normally retracted when it is desired that the boat lift rest upon the lake bottom or on shore. When it is desired to reposition the boat lift itself, a coupling is established between the wheel assembly and the boat supporting member so that when the boat lift's own winch mechanism is operated, the wheels are extended causing the weight of the boat lift to be supported on the wheels rather than upon the ground.

Abstract: A floating dry dock for a boat comprising a tubular, boat-supporting platform made from a planar array of interconnected PVC conduit (or similar material) and a pair of vertical, buoyant, tubular side walls connected to the platform. The dock includes an atmosphere venting system with its outlet above the water surface at all times connected to the base conduit platform and a freely positionable pump in fluid communication with the platform conduit array, which allows for the pumping of water into and out of the platform tubular array, which controls the depth level of the platform. The vertical side wall conduits are sealed and filled with air to add positive buoyancy to the platform to prevent it from sinking beyond a desired level. The diameter of each conduit of the ballasting tubular array for the platform is selected to accommodate boats of varying displacements. In operation, the device can be stored by floating adjacent a sea wall or the like.

Abstract: An hydraulic boat lift utilizing readily available city water as the pressure fluid comprises one or more lift cylinders buried vertically under a body of water with the upper ends of the cylinders protruding into the water, a cradle supporting plate is connected to the top of each cylinder ram to support a cradle below the water surface until the cradle is elevated above the water surface, the cradle being stabilized in a horizontal plane by at least three poles vertically buried below the water and spaced equiangularly about each lift cylinder, each pole at its upper end being connected by a rigid radial member to the upper end of the lift cylinder and the cradle supporting plate being connected to the upper end of each pole by a chain having means to adjust its length to prevent the plate and cradle from being unbalanced out of horizontal position.

Abstract: A braking and stabilizing system for a boat in a water channel, including boat lifting apparatus in the water channel engageable with the bottom of the boat, and including inflatable bags connected to the boat lifting apparatus for moving same upwardly to lift the boat while stabilizing same.

Abstract: A ship's docking plant includes a floating platform, partly enclosing a vertically displaceable docking member, providing large working areas around the same, when in raised position. The docking member is retained in relation to the platform by a vertical guide means at the inward, transverse side of the docking member, said guide means permitting the docking member to obtain various angular positions with respect to a horizontal plane, in the longitudinal, as well as in the transverse direction. The docking member is, along its longitudinal sides, connected to the platform by means of reversible chain winches, permitting an adjustment of the position of the docking member in relation to a horizontal plane, when lowered down.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a large ship from water to a pre-determined area for repair thereof comprising: lifting means for lifting the ship out of the water; guidance means to guide the ship while it is on the lifting means to the pre-determined repair area; and means for enabling the lifting means to be emplaced on the ship; said enabling means having an entrance.