Patent ID: 7197998
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for attachment to a boat to support and pull a tow rope, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a support; a tow rope spool having the tow rope connected thereto, said tow rope spool rotatably mounted on said support and selectively rotatable in either a winding direction to wind the tow rope thereabout or an unwinding direction to unwind the tow rope; drive structure including an electric motor operatively associated with said spool selectively actuatable to rotate said spool in the winding direction to wind the tow rope about said spool; and automatic shut-off structure operatively associated with said drive structure to deactivate said drive structure to terminate rotation of said spool in said rewinding direction responsive to said tow rope attaining a predetermined condition, said predetermined condition being a magnitude of tension of said tow rope, and said automatic shut-off structure deactivating said drive structure after said tow rope reaches said magnitude of tension, said support including a housing having a housing interior accommodating said spool and defining a housing opening communicating with said housing interior, said tow rope extending through said housing opening and the tow rope having a distal end with a handle or other structural member thereon engageable with said housing when said tow rope is being rewound about said spool to tension said rope to said magnitude of tension.