Breast point docking system

Docking system for securing a craft to a dock or slip using a single line secured to the middle cleat of the boat. The system includes a mounting system, a docking car assembly slideably mounted on the mounting system; at least one bumper mounted on the docking car assembly; a biasing system which urges the docking car assembly is a first direction on the mounting system; and a docking line connected to the docking car assembly, a docking line connected to said docking car assembly, wherein when a force is placed on the docking line, the docking car is urged in a direction opposite to the first direction. Adjustable bumpers are provided which prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment.

The present invention relates to a boat docking system. More specifically, the invention relates to a breast point docking system designed primarily for securing 30 to 90 foot pleasure boats to a dock or slip, using a single line secured to the middle cleat present on almost all powerboats and many sailboats. The single line is secured to a bumper system that can rise and fall with the tides, and adjustable bumpers prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most pleasure craft in the size range of 30-90 feet are docked alongside a quay, or are secured in a slip. For securing a boat to a quay, four lines are typically required—a bowline, a stern line, and two spring lines, fore and aft. The bow and stern lines hold the craft to the dock, and the spring lines prevent it from moving fore and aft. One or more bumpers are usually needed to prevent chafing against the dock, and each bumper is held in place by one or two lines. A disadvantage with bumpers is that they are bulky and require extra storage space on the craft to avoid them moving around while underway.

Securing a boat in a standard slip typically requires five lines—two bowlines, two stern lines, and one spring line. Bumpers are not normally required, although they may be employed depending on the size and layout of the slip.

If the craft has a crew, which is normally the case for significantly larger boats, docking is ordinarily not a problem for the owners of the boat. The crew takes care of it, and the owners are not concerned about maneuvering the boat or how much time it takes to secure the boat.

For yachts in the 30 to 65-90 foot range, many owners wish to operate the craft by themselves. They may employ a captain in certain circumstances, but they usually enjoy the actual boat operation themselves. They may take pleasure from the navigation and steering; they may wish the privacy that comes from not having a crew; they may regard the expense and management of a crew as burdensome; or some part or all of the above. In many instances, the owners of such yachts are couples, typically husband and wife, and it is not unusual of the husband to assume the role of captain and the wife first mate. When the yacht is underway, typically no major issues arise, as the captain usually assumes responsibility for the navigation and operation of the boat and, if the boat is equipped with an autopilot, most of the steering is accomplished automatically. However, docking the boat can be challenging, where the captain is fully occupied positioning the vessel, and the mate assumes responsibility for setting the lines and securing the vessel. Tension between the captain and his mate is not uncommon during these procedures, and can spoil what has otherwise been a pleasant voyage.

A need exists for a docking system which eliminates or reduces the time and skill required for crew members to position a vessel on docking. The present invention seeks to satisfy that need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a docking system which makes it possible to secure a craft typically in the 30 to 90 foot range to a dock or slip using a single line secured to the middle cleat present on almost all powerboats and many sailboats. The single line is secured to a bumper arrangement that can rise and fall with the tides. Adjustable bumpers are provided which prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment.

In one embodiment, there is provided a docking system comprising a mounting system; a docking car assembly slideably mounted on said mounting system; at least one bumper mounted on said docking car assembly; a biasing system which urges the docking car assembly in a first direction on the mounting system; and a docking line connected to the docking car assembly, wherein when a force is placed on the docking line, the docking car is urged in a direction opposite to the first direction.

In another embodiment, there is provided a docking assembly suitable for mounting on a dock or quay, comprising a docking system as defined above, and first and second bumper carrying devices positionable on a dock or quay on either side of the docking system and spaced from the docking system by a distance such that when a craft is secured to the docking system and bumpers on the bumper carrying devices are in contact with the craft, rotation of the craft about the docking system is prevented.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a method for docking a craft at a dock or quay, comprising bringing a craft alongside a docking assembly which includes a docking system as defined above and first and second bumper carrying devices positioned on the dock or quay on either side of the docking system, hitching the docking line to a center cleat of the craft, pulling on the docking line to draw the craft into contact with bumpers on the docking system, cleating the docking line, and moving the bumper carrying devices to bring the bumpers carried by the bumper carrying devices into contact with the craft on either side of the docking system.

The system of the present invention is known as a breast point system. This arises from the expression “breast line” which a nautical term for a dock line that is perpendicular to the side of a boat, or that secures a boat to a piling by the center cleat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a docking system which includes a docking car assembly2having a docking car4provided with two bumpers6,8mounted to a support member10. The support member has a front face12and a rear face14. Mounting rings16and18are provided on the rear face14of the support member10, and are generally positioned so as to be in alignment with the bumpers6,8, as shown inFIG. 2. Typically four mounting rings are provided, two vertically one above the other behind bumper6and two vertically one above the other behind bumper8(FIG. 3a).

The docking system2further comprises a mounting system including a mounting plate20having a front face22and a rear face24. The rear face24is provided with an attachment bracket26for mounting the mounting plate20to a support, such as a pylon28. The front face22of the mounting plate20is provided with longitudinally extending rod members30,32which are spaced apart from each other by the same distance as the mounting rings16,18so as to permit the mounting rings of the docking car assembly to be slidably mounted on the rods30,32of the mounting system.

Each mounting rod member is provided with a biasing system for urging the rings16,18upwardly on the rods30,32. This biasing system may be in the form of springs34,36, each of which is retained on the respective rod member by stop members38,40. The internal diameter of the mounting rings16and18and the external diameter of the rod members30,32are such that the rings may be slideably engaged on the rod members but with a small amount of play to reduce rattle. The springs34,36serve to urge the docking car4upwardly for ease of access when docking and to reduce downward looping of dock line48.

The support member10is further provided on the front face12with gripping means such as handles42,44,46to allow a crew member on a boat to take hold of the docking car4, irrespective of the tide level. This permits the crew member to pull the docking car4downwards against the biasing effect of the springs to allow the person to grab the dock line48mounted on hook52.

The support member10is provided with two apertures50,88through which the line48extends, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A guide member such as, for example, pulleys96,98are mounted on the rear face14of the support member10and behind each aperture50,88, over which the line48passes, as shown inFIG. 3b.

The line48may be provided at one end with a loop90to allow the line to be easily attached to and removed from hook52. The other end of the line48may be provided with a ball94or other enlarged region to allow the line to be grabbed, and also to prevent the line48from disappearing back though the aperture88.

A jam cleat92is provided on the front face12of the support member10to secure the line48as it is pulled though the aperture88, and to prevent it from going back through the aperture88. A permanent cleat58may also be provided on the front face12as a further point of securing the line48.

The rods30,32are provided at their upper ends with stop members54,56. These stop members prevent disengagement of the docking car4from the rods30,32.

FIG. 3aillustrates the system ofFIG. 1from the side. A boat60is shown secured to the docking system by line48tied to the middle cleat62of the boat.FIG. 3bis a partial side view showing the pulleys96,98mounted to the rear face14of the support member10.FIG. 3cis a partial plan view showing the jam cleat92mounted on the front face12of the support member10and generally opposite the pulley96.

Vertical movement of the docking car4on the rods30,32is permitted as the tide rises and falls. The docking system is designed such that the distance between the stop members54,56at the top of the rods and the bottom of the rods is greater than the difference between low and high tide to allow for maximum vertical movement of the docking car4between low and high tide.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate an alternative embodiment of the docking system of the invention in which the biasing means for urging the docking car4in an upward direction comprises a weighted pulley system. This biasing system includes pulleys64,66rotatably mounted on each rod30,32, and a counter-weight68,70connected to the support member10via a connecting line72,74which extends from the counterweight around a groove provided in the pulley circumference to attachment points76,78on the support member10.

FIG. 6illustrates the use of the docking system of the invention in a boat slip. In this arrangement, finger84of the slip extends to a pylon28where the docking system2of the invention is mounted, and to which the center cleat62of the boat60can be hitched.

FIG. 7illustrates in plan view a system ofFIG. 1as employed on a dock100. Once the boat60is secured to the docking system2, rotational movement of the boat about the docking system is prevented by a moveable bumper system which permits bumpers disposed on either side of the docking system2to be moved towards and away from the boat. An embodiment of such a moveable bumper system is illustrated inFIG. 7, which shows first and second bumper carrying devices102,104disposed on either side of the docking car4and each mounted on an in-dock track106,108recessed into the dock100. Bumpers110,112are provided on the bumper carrying devices102,104. Typically, the bumpers110,112are spaced about 10 feet on either side of the docking car4.

Movement of the bumper carrying devices102,104towards the boat brings bumpers110,112into contact with the boat60to prevent rotation of the boat about the docking system2. Typically, one bumper is present on each bumper carrying device, but more than one bumper may be used, if desired.

FIG. 8is side view of a tripod bumper carrying device of the invention, comprising a frame including outrigger members110having a wheel134connected to a lower end of each outrigger member. The upper end of each outrigger member is connected to a sloping central member112. The lower end of the sloping member112is connected to a foot114which is configured to slideably engage with the in-dock track106. Movement along the in-dock track106is facilitated by lifting and then pulling or pushing the device using the handle116.

A carrying unit118is mounted on the frame at the opposite end to the foot114. The carrying unit118is provided with upper and lower tracks120,122on which the moveable bumpers110,112are mounted. The tracks120,122also permit lateral sideways adjustment of the bumper(s).

As an alternative (not shown), in the situation where there is no pylon situated close to the dock, the docking car4may be mounted on its own tripod bumper carrying device, and will be moveable towards and away from the boat in the same way as are the outer tripod bumper carrying devices with the bumpers110,112. In this instance, three in-dock tracks will be present, with the docking car2mounted to the horizontal tracks120,122of center tripod bumper carrying device. As with the bumpers mounted on the tracks120,122, sideways lateral adjustment of the docking car4on the tracks120,122can be effected, if desired.

FIG. 9ais a plan view of an in-dock track106employed in the invention.FIG. 9bis a view of the track from the end. The track106includes keeper members124positioned longitudinally along the length of the track and defining spaces132which extend a distance longitudinally which is slightly longer than the length of the foot114. A hole126is located in the base of the track between each of the keeper members124. The hole126is for receiving a fastening pin130mounted to the foot114, by passing the pin through the hole128in the foot and into a respective hole126in the base of the track, to thereby fix the foot in a desired position once the bumpers are in position either against the side of the boat or back on the dock when not in use.

A bumper carrying device102may be removed from the track106by pulling the pin130out of the holes126and128, sliding the bumper carrying device along the track106to align the foot114with a space132between the keepers, and lifting the foot out of the track using the handle116. The bumper carrying device can then be removed from the dock area or relocated on a different track by lifting the foot114clear of the ground using handle116and rolling the device on the wheels134.

FIG. 10is an end view of the tripod bumper carrying device of the invention as viewed from the water. The outrigger members110extend outwardly at an angle of about 60-70 degrees to stabilize the tripod against tipping.

The docking system of the invention may be provided with a shore-power outlet144and water hose connection142, as are typically found in boat slips and docks. A light140may also be provided to illuminate the docking system at night.

In use when docking, as the boat60comes alongside the docking system2, the mate grabs one of the handles42-46, removes the line48from the hook52and ties the line to the center cleat62of the boat. This secures the boat to the docking system. The mate then grabs the ball94at the other end of the line48and pulls on the line48. This causes the line48to move around the pulleys96,98and out of the aperture88, and urges the docking car4to move downwards on the rods16,18against the effect of biasing system34,36. As the boat60is drawn into contact with the bumpers6,8, the line48may be temporarily cleated in the jam cleat92until the tripod bumper carrying devices102,104are located in position. This is achieved by lifting the tripod bumper carrying devices by the handles116and moving them towards the boat with the foot sliding in the track. When the bumpers come into contact with the boat, the foot114is adjusted to a position where the pin130can be inserted though hole128in the foot into a respective hole126to prevent further movement in the track. Both the moveable bumpers and the docking car can be moved a few feet towards or away from the boat along the respective in-dock tracks for fine tuning adjustments. Once all bumpers are finally positioned against the boat, the line46may be hitched to the permanent cleat58to fully secure the boat to the docking system.

The system described above is designed for concrete or wooden docks with the boat tied alongside. The system may also be employed in slips, or for fastening the car to wood or concrete pilings instead of horizontal docks.

Piling mounts may place docking car and/or the bumpers in fixed position, either directly in front of piling or offset to one side or the other. Piling mounting may also contain horizontal tracks, so the docking car and/or the bumpers may be adjusted from side to side.

It will not be necessary in most cases, but a version of the piling mount could have tracks similar to in-dock tracks, so that the docking car could be adjusted outward from the piling. This would require two tracks, one on each side of the piling. Different versions could be adjustable both from side to side and closer or further from the piling, or either or neither.

A less expensive version will be available for slip owners that know exactly where the docking car needs to be, as in the case where the installation is for a single dock and single boat. This version would simply mount the docking car and bumpers to the dock or to pilings, and would dispense with the in-dock tracks. This version will be available with or without horizontal tracks for side-to-side adjustment.