Abstract:
A self-adjusting watercraft canopy/cover assembly having a protective cover and a floating watercraft lift. The lift includes a watercraft lifting support and a float attached to the watercraft lifting support for supporting the watercraft lifting support on a body of water. The float is movable to selectively lift and lower the watercraft lifting support relative to the body of water along a first path of movement. The lift further includes an assembly which causes the protective cover to move along a second path of movement different from the first path in response to movement of the float.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for covering a watercraft. More particularly, it relates to a watercraft canopy/cover system that is self-adjusting in concert with the operation of a watercraft lift. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   That it is advantageous to protect watercraft from the elements by the use of watercraft canopies and/or covers and watercraft lifts is well known. 
   Watercraft covers and canopies protect watercraft from environmental elements and other hazards occurring above the waterline. A watercraft that is not covered may be subject to damage and degradation: Rainwater may enter the watercraft, damaging the interior and potentially overburdening the craft to the point of sinking it; ultraviolet radiation is known to cause a boat&#39;s exterior and interior surface paint and materials to degrade. Watercraft covers, generally consisting of a non-permanent synthetic fabric positioned on the top surfaces of the watercraft to conform to and cover the watercraft during non-use, avoid this difficulty by stopping rainwater, sunlight and other elements from directly contacting the surface of the boat. A difficulty inherent in existing covers, however, is that significant labor is required to remove the cover before watercraft use and to replace the cover after watercraft use. Watercraft canopies and boathouses, generally permanent or semi-permanent structures that extend above and over the watercraft without contacting the watercraft, are also used to protect moored watercraft. Watercraft canopies avoid the labor-oriented difficulties inherent in covers because they do not require removal and replacement. Unlike watercraft covers, however, canopies do not fit closely to the surface of the watercraft and elements may enter the watercraft through significant gaps between canopy and watercraft. Alternatively, a canopy may be positioned to avoid such gaps—this, however, creates the difficulty that watercraft users will not be able to easily ingress and egress the watercraft without risk of striking the canopy. Certain watercraft canopies attempt to alleviate this difficulty by providing mechanisms by which the canopy may be vertically adjusted relative to the watercraft. U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,252 B1 discloses a watercraft canopy that vertically adjusts using a wench to move canopy support members between raised and lowered positions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,059 employs hydraulic pressure to similarly move canopy support members vertically between raised and lowered positions. These canopies, however, are not functionally integrated with watercraft lifting devices and thus do not provide certain protections and ease of use attributes, as is further stated below. 
   Watercraft lifts, conversely, protect watercraft from environmental elements and other dangers generally occurring below the waterline. A watercraft may be subject to several difficulties if moored within the water: damage to the watercraft may occur when wave action or other in-water forces causes the hull of the watercraft to strike adjacent in-water structures such as docks or seawalls; damage may also result from longer term effects such as vegetative buildup on the hull of the watercraft. Watercraft lifts, such as prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,809 B2, prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,264, and prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,179 alleviate these potential hazards by allowing the watercraft user to lift the watercraft from a position in the water to a position where the watercraft is wholly above the water. The watercraft lift thus provides a convenient solution to the before-stated difficulties since the watercraft may be quickly removed from the water during periods of non-use and returned to the water when desired with minimal user effort. 
   The combined use of watercraft lifts and canopies is known and such use partially addresses the foregoing difficulties. An example of one type of watercraft lift to which canopies have been attached is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,264. The method of combining watercraft lift and canopy systems allows the user to employ two boat protection systems that address both watercraft hull and upper surface preservation concerns. The difficulties stated above in regard to existing canopies and covers, however, also apply to current watercraft canopy and/or cover systems. Though watercraft lifts and canopies may be used together, the current state of the art does not provide users with a mechanism that fully integrates the functional aspects of a watercraft lift with those of an adjustable canopy/cover. Users must still adjust the watercraft lift and adjustable canopy systems independently, causing difficulties in operation. 
   Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a watercraft canopy/cover that does not require manual removal and replacement of the canopy/cover after each use, which adjusts the canopy upwardly to provide easy watercraft ingress and egress and which is fully integrated with the operation of a watercraft lift such that the positioning of the lift in its protective, watercraft-raised position automatically causes the canopy/cover to adjust to a lowered, watercraft-protected position relative to the watercraft. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This summary of the invention section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of the invention and is not a complete description of the invention. Particular aspects of the invention will be pointed out in claims stated below—such claims alone will demarcate the scope of the invention. 
   The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for covering a watercraft: More particularly, to a watercraft canopy/cover that is mechanically integrated with a watercraft lift such that the canopy/cover adjusts from an elevated first position that allows for easy passenger and watercraft ingress and egress while the lift is in its watercraft-down position to a lowered second position relative to the watercraft that substantially protects the watercraft when the watercraft lift is operated to position the watercraft in the watercraft-up position. 
   In one aspect of the invention, a self-adjusting watercraft canopy/cover is used with a prior art watercraft lift having a pair of approximately parallel floats that accommodate a watercraft between the floats. The floats are actuated from a first position wherein the floats are beside the watercraft and the watercraft independently floats in its position between the floats to a second position wherein the floats are beneath the watercraft and the watercraft is thereby lifted via the buoyancy of the floats beneath it. A vertically moveable lifting structure, including bunks that directly contact the watercraft, is used to support the watercraft. The canopy/cover is positioned over the watercraft lift on linkages that are attached to the watercraft lift. Upright members coupled with canopy support connections provide additional support for the canopy/cover. The canopy/cover consists of a canopy frame and a semi-flexible cover that extends over at least some part of the watercraft. The canopy/cover includes multiple linkages connecting the canopy/cover to the floats by a control element, the linkage transmitting the motion of the float between its positions to adjust the canopy/cover in such a manner that the canopy/cover is elevated when the lift is in the first position where the lifting structure upon which the watercraft is positioned is below water, and lowered when the lift is in its second position where the lifting structure upon which the watercraft is positioned is above water. The linkage may be adjustable to accommodate different watercraft heights. In another aspect of the invention, the canopy/cover may be linked to a floating or non-floating watercraft lift employing a line and a pulley connected to the canopy frame as the linkage to integrate the motion of the watercraft lift with the motion of the adjusting canopy/cover. In another aspect of the invention applying to ground-based cantilever lifts, the linkage may be pivotally attached to the cantilevering aspects of the watercraft lift by a control element consisting of an elongated extrusion at an angle whereby the outer ends of the elongated extrusion are positioned so that the control element rotates vertically upward when the cantilevering aspect of the lift rotates downward to lower the watercraft. In yet another aspect of the invention, a floating watercraft lift with floats that move vertically relative to the waterline by the displacement of air or some other lighter-than-water gas may employ canopy/cover-supporting floats as a control element that maintains the position of the canopy/cover while lowering the lifting structure, thereby allowing the canopy/cover to adjust relative to the lifting structure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are schematic, and not to scale, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of a watercraft lift in the watercraft up position according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of a watercraft lift at the approximate mid-point between the watercraft up and watercraft down positions, according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of a watercraft lift in the watercraft down position according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a portion of the prior art watercraft lift integrated with a portion of the self-adjusting canopy/cover mechanism of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of components of the linkage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of the components of the self-adjusting canopy/cover mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of the assembly components of the canopy frame of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of the canopy frame and rafter system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view of the canopy frame and cover of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view of the means by which the canopy/cover portion of the present invention is attached to the self-adjusting canopy mechanism and to the prior art watercraft lift. 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift in the watercraft-up position. 
       FIG. 12  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift at the approximate mid-point between the watercraft-up position and watercraft-down position. 
       FIG. 13  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift in the watercraft-down position. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift in the watercraft-up position. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift in the watercraft-down position. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift in the watercraft-up position. 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift in the watercraft-down position. 
       FIG. 18  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art floating, air-displacement lift in the watercraft-up position. 
       FIG. 19  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art floating, air-displacement lift in the watercraft-down position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   This section illustrates aspects of the invention, and points out certain preferred embodiments of these aspects. This section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to inform and teach the person of skill in the art who will come to appreciate more fully other aspects, equivalents, and possibilities presented by invention, and hence the scope of the invention is set forth in the claims, which alone limit its scope. 
   The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for covering a watercraft: More particularly, to a watercraft canopy/cover that is mechanically integrated with a watercraft lift such that the canopy/cover adjusts from an elevated first position that allows for easy passenger and watercraft ingress and egress while the lift is in its watercraft-down position to a lowered second position relative to the watercraft that substantially protects the watercraft when the watercraft lift is operated to position the watercraft in the watercraft-up position. Several details of the preferred embodiment are set forth in the following description;  FIGS. 1 through 19  provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be practiced without several of the details described herein. In the following description of the embodiments, it is understood that a watercraft includes any vehicle that is at least partially waterborne, which includes boats and similar vessels, but may also include amphibious vehicles including various amphibious automobiles or aircraft. Moreover, in the description that follows, it is understood that the figures related to the various embodiments are not to be interpreted as conveying any specific or relative physical dimension, and that specific or relative dimensions related to the various embodiments, if stated, are not be considered limiting unless future claims state otherwise. 
   An end view of a prior art watercraft lift to which the invention may be coupled is shown in  FIG. 1 . The watercraft lift  10  includes a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending floats  11  that are approximately parallel. The floats  11  may be comprised of a sealed and enclosed structure formed from a rigid and corrosion-resistant material, such as a rigid polymer, aluminum, or other like materials and may have a hollow interior volume to provide buoyancy when partially submerged in water. Alternatively, the floats  11  may include a material within the interior volume having a specific density less than that of water. For example, the internal volume of the floats may include a foamed polymeric material that at least partially occupies the internal volume of the floats  11 . With reference still to  FIG. 1 , the watercraft lift  10  further includes a lifting structure  12  that is positioned between the floats  11  that is configured to receive and support a watercraft  15 . The lifting structure  12  may include a pair of longitudinally extending and spaced-apart bunks  13  that define support points for the watercraft  10 . The bunks  13  may be angled upwardly and inwardly as they extend from a rear portion to a forward portion of the watercraft lift  10  to additionally provide a stop mechanism for the watercraft  15  by contacting a hull portion of the watercraft  15  once the watercraft  15  is suitably positioned on the watercraft lift  10 . A pair of generally upward-extending, hollow upright members  14  are also attached to the lifting structure  12 . The upright members  14  present visually prominent features to an operator of the watercraft that may assist the operator in locating the lift  10  prior to positioning the watercraft in the watercraft lift  10  and may physically assist the operator in guiding the watercraft  16  into position between the floats  11 . The upright members  14  also provide additional structural stability for the canopy/cover mechanism, as is discussed below. 
     FIG. 2  is an end view of the prior art watercraft lift in-between the watercraft-up and watercraft-down positions. The floats  11  are actuated from a first position, shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the floats  11  are underneath the watercraft  15  and the watercraft  15  is thereby lifted by the buoyancy of the floats  11  beneath it, to a second position, shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein lifting arms  20 , pivotally connect to lifting structure  12  at one end and to floats  11  at the opposing end, are actuated to rotate outward and upward relative to the lifting structure  12 , causing the floats  11  to rotate outward and upward relative to the lifting structure  12 . The watercraft  15 , positioned on bunks  13  which are attached to the lifting structure  12 , is lowered relative to the floats and the waterline due to the upward motion and buoyancy of the floats  11 . 
     FIG. 3  is an end view of the prior art watercraft lift  10  in the watercraft-down position. The floats are actuated from a second position, shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein the floats  11  are at an approximate mid-point between the watercraft-up and watercraft-down positions to a third position, shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein lifting arms  20  are actuated to further rotate outward and upward relative to the lifting structure  12 . The watercraft  15 , positioned on bunks  13  which are attached to the lifting structure  12 , is further lowered relative to the floats and the waterline due to the outward and upward motion of floats  11  and lifting arms  20 . At this point, the buoyancy of the watercraft  15  is sufficient to cause it to float above and independently from bunks  13  with sufficient clearance between the watercraft lift  10  and the watercraft  15  to allow easy watercraft ingress and egress. 
   It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the watercraft  15  is raised from the water by operating the prior art watercraft lift  10  in the opposite order of the process described above in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a portion of the prior art watercraft lift  10  integrated with a portion of the self-adjusting canopy/cover mechanism  40  of the present invention. Control element  41  consisting of a metal bracket, provides a means by which linkage  42  is attached to the prior art floats  11 . Control element  41  is attached by inserting two screws (not shown) through the bracket and into the float  11 . Control element  41  is positioned at the central part of prior art floats  11  such that the operating motion of the floats  11  is transferred through linkage  42  to canopy frame  43 . Canopy support connection  44  is inserted into prior art upright members  15  and connected to canopy frame  43 . In the preferred embodiment, four self-adjusting canopy/cover mechanisms  40  are installed on the prior art watercraft lift  10  at four points outward from and parallel to the prior art lifting arms  20  such that the canopy is stabilized above the watercraft lift  10  and provides full coverage for the subject watercraft  15  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of components of the linkage  42  wherein a hollow inner linkage  50 , manufactured from PVC, aluminum or some other rigid material, is inserted into a hollow outer linkage  51  manufactured from a similar rigid material with a slightly larger diameter. The inner linkage  50  is drilled to include a concentric set of holes  52  at or near the top of the linkage. The outer linkage  51  is drilled to include multiple sets of concentric holes  53  spaced approximately 6 inches from each other along the vertical axis of the linkage. The concentric holes  53  may be positioned anywhere along the vertical axis of the outer linkage, according to the user&#39;s needs. A snap button  54  is inserted into the inner linkage  50  such that the snap button aligns with and penetrates through the holes  52 . The inner linkage  50  is slideably inserted into the outer linkage  51  such that the snap buttons are aligned with the outer linkage&#39;s concentric holes  53  according to the canopy height requirements, which are in turn contingent upon the height of the watercraft to be covered. One skilled in the art will understand that the placement of the outer linkage&#39;s multiple holes  53  in relation to the inner linkage&#39;s holes  52  allow the user to modify the maximum and minimum heights of the canopy/cover to accommodate a full range of vessel heights, and to ensure a close fit of the canopy/cover (shown in  FIG. 9 ) to the vessel in the watercraft-up/canopy down protected position. 
     FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of the components of the assembled self-adjusting canopy/cover mechanism  40 . Linkage  42 , canopy support connection  44 , canopy frame bracket  60 , and control element  41  are shown. To construct the canopy support connection  44 , a hollow inner guide  61  consisting of PVC, aluminum or some other rigid material is inserted slideably into a hollow outer guide  62  consisting of the same material with a slightly wider diameter. The support connection  44  is inserted into the upright members  15  of the prior art (not shown in  FIG. 6 ), which have a slightly larger diameter to receive the support connection; its position during operation is maintained by the rigidity of the upright members  15 . The linkage  42  and canopy support connection  44  are attached to canopy frame bracket  60  by nuts and bolts (not shown). One skilled in the art will appreciate that canopy support connection  44  is not required for invention functionality, but provides additional support that may be beneficial to design performance, and that other attachment methods and configurations are possible. 
     FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of the assembly components of canopy frame  40  of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, hollow side tubes  71  consisting of PVC, aluminum, or some other rigid material including concentric holes  72  situated near the ends of the tubes are slideably connected to hollow central union sleeves  73  of slightly less diameter and including concentric holes  74 , and secured by screws  75  and nuts  76 . Hollow elbow tubes  77 , also of slightly less diameter relative to side tubes  71  and including concentric holes, are attached to the outward ends of side tubes  71  using screws  75  and nuts  76 . Hollow end tubes  78 , consisting of PVC, aluminum, or some other rigid material including concentric holes (not shown) and having the approximate diameter of side tubes  71 , are slideably attached to the ends of elbow tubes  77  and secured by screws  75  and nuts  76 . Velcro straps  79  which include hooks  79   a  and loops  79   b  are situated at multiple points along the canopy frame  43 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the canopy frame  43  may be fabricated by various alternative means such as welding and that multiple materials will allow the user to obtain a relatively light-weight, rigid structure sufficient for functionality. 
     FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of the rafter system  80  that supports the canopy/cover  91  of the present invention. Bowed rafters  81 , consisting of PVC, aluminum, or some other rigid material, and having female entry points  82  at both ends, are connected to concentric points along the canopy frame&#39;s side tubes  71  to support the cover (not shown in  FIG. 8 ). Screws  83  are driven through previously existing concentric holes in side tubes  71  and further driven through rafter female entry points to secure the rafters to the canopy frame  43 . Velcro straps  79  are situated on the canopy frame  43  such that hooks  79   a  and loops  79   b  face the inside of the canopy frame  43 . 
     FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view of the canopy frame  43  and cover  90  of the present invention and the means by which the canopy frame  43  and cover  90  are attached to form the canopy/cover  91  of the invention. The cover  90 , consisting of a flexible synthetic material such as laminated polyester-based fabric or some other weather-resistant flexible material and including an interior channel  92  for a draw string  93  which runs along the perimeter of the cover, is attached to the canopy frame by positioning the cover  90  above and over rafters  81 . The cover  90  is made secure by pulling velcro straps  79  through pre-cut entry points along the sides of the cover  90 . The cover  90  is drawn tightly over the rafters and canopy frame  43  by applying force to the velcro straps  79  and by pulling the velcro straps tight over the drawstring and then further secured by tying the opposing ends of the draw string. One skilled in the art will appreciate that flexible and non-flexible synthetic and natural materials may be used to fabricate a suitable cover  90 , and that other methods of attaching the cover  90  to canopy frame  43  are available. 
     FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view of the means by which the canopy/cover portion  91  of the present invention is attached to the self-adjusting canopy mechanism  40 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned to rest within the canopy frame brackets  60  and secured to the frame brackets  60  by drilling holes into the canopy frame  43  in alignment with pre-drilled holes on the frame brackets  60 . Screws  100  are inserted through the drilled holes and secured with a nut (not shown) on the opposing side of the canopy frame  43 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other attachment methods are possible and the same effect will be obtained. 
     FIG. 11  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift  10  in the watercraft-up position. The base of the linkage  42  is attached to the control element  41  that is positioned vertically below the watercraft support bunks  13  at this point in the lift&#39;s operation. The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to the canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage  42  and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft  15  is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the approximate center of the floats  11  via the control element  41 . The canopy support connection  44  is retracted into the upright members  14  of the prior art. The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is below or vertically parallel to the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft  15 . The upward bowing of the canopy/cover  91  caused by the rafters  81  allows space for the subject watercraft&#39;s windshield or other upwardly extending structures. 
     FIG. 12  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift  10  at the approximate mid-point between the watercraft-up position and watercraft-down positions. The base of the linkage  42  remains attached to the control element  41  that is positioned approximately horizontal to the watercraft support bunks  13  at this point in the lift&#39;s operation. The linear distance from the base of linkage  42  to the canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the subject watercraft  15  is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage that is attached to the approximate center of the floats  11  via the control element  41 —this distance being relatively greater than the corresponding distance described in  FIG. 11  due to the vertical motion of the floats  11 . The canopy support connection  44  is partially extended from the upright members  14  of the prior art. The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is vertically parallel to or above the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft  15 . 
     FIG. 13  is an end view of the present invention integrated to the prior art watercraft lift in the watercraft-down position. The base of the linkage  42  remains attached to control element  41  that is positioned vertically above the watercraft support bunks  13  at this point in the lift&#39;s operation. The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to the canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the subject watercraft  15  is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the approximate center of the floats  11  via the control element  41 —this distance being relatively greater than the corresponding distance described in  FIGS. 11 and 12  due to the upward vertical motion of the floats  11 . The canopy support connection  44  is fully extended from the upright members  14  of the prior art. The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is above the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft  15 . 
     FIG. 14  is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift  140  in the watercraft-up position. The base of the linkage  42  is pivotally attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a rigid extrusion welded or otherwise attached to cantilevering aspects  141  of the prior art watercraft lift  140 . The control element  41  is approximately parallel to the waterline in this watercraft-raised position. The linkage  42  is angled at approximately forty-five degrees relative to the waterline. The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage  42  and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the cantilevering aspects of the lifting structure  12  via control element  41 . The canopy support connection  44  is retracted into the upright members  14  of the prior art  140 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is below or vertically parallel to the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown). The upward bowing of the canopy/cover  91  allows space for the subject watercraft&#39;s windshield or other upwardly extending structures. 
     FIG. 15  is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift  140  in the watercraft-down position. The base of the linkage  42  is pivotally attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a rigid extrusion welded or otherwise attached to cantilevering aspects  141  of the prior art watercraft lift  140 . The control element  41  is approximately perpendicular to the waterline in this lowered position. The linkage  42  is angled at approximately ninety degrees relative to the waterline in this position. The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage  42  and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the cantilevering aspects of the lifting structure  12 . The canopy support connection  44  is slideably extended from the upright members  14  of the prior art  140 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is above the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown). 
     FIG. 16  is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift  140  in the watercraft-up position. The base of the linkage  42 , in this embodiment a non-rigid line consisting of cable, rope or some other flexible material, is attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a bolt or some other device to which the non-rigid line is connected to cantilevering aspects  141  of the prior art watercraft lift  140 . The control element  41  is approximately parallel to the waterline in this watercraft-raised position. The linkage  42  is positioned to run through a pulley  160  that is attached at the top of upright members  14  which in this embodiment extend through the canopy frame  43  so that the canopy frame  43  and canopy/cover are vertically slideable along the vertical axis of said upright members  14 . The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the control element  41 , the length of linkage  42 , and the position of pulley  160 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is below or horizontally parallel to the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown). The upward bowing of the canopy/cover  91  allows space for the subject watercraft&#39;s windshield or other upwardly extending structures. 
     FIG. 17  is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art cantilever lift  140  in the watercraft-down position. The base of the linkage  42 , in this embodiment a non-rigid line consisting of cable, rope or some other flexible material, is attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a bolt or some other device to which the non-rigid line is connected to cantilevering aspects  141  of the prior art watercraft lift  140 . The control element  41  is below the waterline in this watercraft-lowered position. The linkage  42  is positioned to run through a pulley  160  that is attached at the top of upright members  14  which in this embodiment extend through the canopy frame  43  so that the canopy frame  43  and canopy/cover  91  are vertically slideable along the vertical axis of said upright members  14 . The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the control element  41 , the length of linkage  42 , and the position of the pulley  160 . In this watercraft-down position, the downward vertical motion of the cantilevering aspects of the lift  141  is translated to the linkage  42  through the control element  41 , causing the linkage  42  to move through the pulley  160  and thereby raising the canopy/cover  91  relative to the bunks  13  and waterline. The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is above the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown). It will be understood by one skilled in the art that this embodiment of the invention could also be used with a prior art floating watercraft lift such as an air-displacement lift. 
     FIG. 18  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art floating, air-displacement lift  180  in the watercraft-up position. The base of the linkage  42  is attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a float with sufficient buoyancy in concert with other similarly attached control elements to independently support linkage  42  and canopy/cover  91 . The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage  42  and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the control element  41 . The canopy support connection  44  (shown in  FIG. 19 ), which is attached to the lifting structure  12 , is retracted into linkage  42 . The control element  41  contains a central hole that allows the canopy support connection  44  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) to vertically translate through the control element  41  while being held horizontally in place by the rigidity of linkage  42 . The lifting structure  12  is above the waterline due to the buoyancy of the air-displacement floats  181 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is approximately parallel to or below the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown). 
     FIG. 19  is an end view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention integrated to a prior art floating, air-displacement lift  180  in the watercraft-down position. The base of the linkage  42  is attached to control element  41 , which in this embodiment is a float with sufficient buoyancy in concert with other similarly attached control elements to independently support linkage  42  and canopy/cover  91 . The linear distance from the base of the linkage  42  to canopy frame  43  is determined by the length of the linkage  42  and is constant throughout the movement of the lift. The height of the canopy/cover  91  relative to the watercraft (not shown) is determined by the position of the watercraft support bunks  13  relative to the lower base of the linkage  42  that is attached to the control element  41  floats. The canopy support connection  44 , which is attached to the lifting structure  12 , is extended downward from linkage  42 . The lifting structure  12  is below the waterline due to the lack of buoyancy of the air-displacement floats  181 . The canopy/cover  91  is positioned such that the lower perimeter of the canopy/cover  91  is above the upper-most side structures of the subject watercraft (not shown).