Abstract:
A motor mount for a watercraft having a frame of tubular construction fixed to the stern of the watercraft to space the motor from the stern. The frame includes a pair of vertical legs receiving a yoke slidable along the legs. The motor is fixed to the yoke to be raised or lowered by a cable connected to the yoke. The frame includes a horizontal mounting member which also serves to provide a step for boarding or deboarding the watercraft.

Description:
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting a motor to a motorboat, sailboat or other watercraft for propelling the watercraft. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide novel method and apparatus for mounting a motor to watercraft such as a sailboat or motorboat. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel motor mount for watercraft which makes it easy to raise or lower the motor into a desired position with respect to the water or the associated watercraft. Included herein is such a motor mount which allows the motor to be moved into desired position through minimum, manual effort. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor mount that will achieve the above objects and yet may also serve as a platform for boarding or deboarding the associated watercraft. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide such a motor mount that may be economically manufactured with a rugged construction and easily applied to new or conventional motorboats, sailboats or other watercraft. 
   SUMMARY OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   In its preferred form, the present invention includes a yoke mounted to and for movement along any suitable frame or body, the latter being attached to the stern wall of the watercraft. The motor is fixed to the yoke and the latter is movable along the body to raise or lower the motor relative to the watercraft or waterline. A cable and block and tackle may be attached to the yoke for manually moving the yoke up or down. If desired the mounting body may be configured to also serve as a platform or step for boarding or deboarding the watercraft. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a motor mount constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the motor mount with motor attached to the stern of a sailboat; and 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but with the motor mount attached to a motorboat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail there is shown for illustrative purposes only, a motor mount constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention including as shown in  FIG. 1 , a yoke or slide  10  mounted for vertical movement along a support body shown as an open frame generally designated  12 . In the preferred embodiment frame  12  is rigid and made from rods or tubes including vertical legs  14  laterally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending between pairs of upper and lower mounting members  16 ,  18  which extend in the forward direction generally at right angles from legs  14 . The ends of mounting members  18  are interconnected by a cross-piece  21 . 
   In the specific form shown yoke  10  has a generally rectangular body including a pair of vertically extending cylindrical passages  19  respectively receiving the legs  14  of the frame so that yoke  10  is slidable along the legs. Preferably a pair of bearing sleeves of suitable material such as ultra high molecular-weight plastic are provided in passages  19 . The motor  24  ( FIG. 2 ) is fixed to the yoke  10  in any suitable manner such as clamping or bolting so that the motor  24  is movable with the yoke  10  vertically along the legs  14 . The motor  24  may be moved by a rope or cable line  26  fixed to yoke  10  in any suitable manner such as shown by eyes  28  fixed to the yoke. Cable  26  is provided with a block and tackle  30  shown in  FIG. 2 . The cable  26  may be secured in a jam cleat or other device attached to the aft stay  50  of the sailboat. 
   In the specific embodiment shown, frame  12  further includes upper and lower reinforcing cross-pieces  32  and  34  extending between and fixed to legs  14 . The upper cross-piece  32  is preferably provided with a layer of low friction material such as nylon or mylar  33  or other, ultra high molecular material since the cable  26  is engaged and guided by cross-piece  32  in the specific embodiment shown. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  the frame  12  may be attached to the stern  39  of a sailboat generally designated  40  by clamps  42  on the ends of mounting members  16 . Clamps  42  grip about the cross-piece  44  of a railing  46  fixed on the stern of the sailboat as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the shown embodiment, clamps  42  include an abutment plate  43  welded to mounting member  16  and a “C” plate bolted to abutment plate  43  through apertures shown at  47  in  FIG. 1 . Of course any other suitable clamp or fastening means may be employed. In addition the lower mounting members  18  are provided with a mounting plate  48  which is bolted to the wall of the stern  39  through apertures  49  and bolts (not shown). In the shown embodiment plate  48  is welded to cross-piece  21 , however in another embodiment it may be hinged to the cross-piece. 
   The motor mount of the present invention may also be used on a motorboat as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the frame is secured to the stern  60  of the boat by plates  52  fixed to the ends of upper mounting members  16  and fixed to the stern. In addition the lower mounting members  18  of the frame are provided with mounting plates  54  which are fixed to the stern wall as in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . The cable  16  is secured to a jam cleat or other suitable holding device attached to the railing  56  at the stern as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The frame may be a welded tubular construction with material such as stainless steel or other rust-resistant material. The same material may be used for the surface of the yoke. 
   In use, the motor  24  may be lifted out of the water merely by pulling the cable  26  which is easily done through the mechanical advantage provided by the block and tackle pulley system  30 . This will raise the yoke  10  and the motor along the legs  14  of the frame. Once in the desired position, the cable is secured in the jam cleat or other holding device. To lower the motor, the cable  26  is released from the jam cleat and the yoke and motor allowed to descend under gravity while under control of the operator who holds on to the cable to gradually allow it to reel out as the motor descends. The cable is re-secured to the jam cleat to hold the motor in the desired lower position. 
   The motor mount may also be used to provide a platform or step to permit access to the boat by stepping on the lower cross-piece  34  or mounting member  18  to board or deboard from the boat. It will also be seen that the present invention provides a motor mount that is economical to manufacture from readily available and durable materials for easy use with new or conventional boats. 
   Although preferred forms of the present invention have been shown and described above, it will be understood that various adaptations of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art but without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, although a preferred welded tubular frame construction has been shown and described as the body of the motor mount, other shapes and construction may be employed without departing from the invention. Also a hydraulic or other motor actuating system may be provided to raise or lower the yoke.