Patent ID: 9440716
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: B63B

Claim Text:
1. A system for automatically deploying a boat fender to protect a boat's hull, comprising: a fender basket adapted to contain a boat fender in a stowed position and to lower the boat fender from the stowed position into a deployed position capable of protecting the boat's hull; wherein the boat fender is attached to a line, the line being coupled to a winch, the winch being coupled to a motor; and a system controller comprising a plurality of software programming instructions stored in a memory and operating on a processor of a computing device; wherein the system controller directs operation of the motor; and wherein the system controller receives GPS location information pertaining to the boat, and prompts a user for input to raise or lower the boat fender, the prompt being based at least in part on the GPS location information; and wherein the system controller, based on the GPS location information, directs the motor to lower the boat fender to the deployed position when the boat arrives at a predetermined distance from a dock.