Abstract:
A small vessel dock racking system provides a three-sided cradle that is rotatably connected to two lateral supports extending outward from one side of the dock. A person in the water can float the canoe or kayak into the cradle and lift it into a secure vertical storage position on the side of the dock without having to get up on the dock. A pivot point extending out into the water has the advantages of both accommodating freeboard and minimizing the distance between the pivot and the boat&#39;s center of gravity, thereby allowing for much less effort in lifting. Depending on the depth of the vessel, the cradle can be dimensioned so that the position of the vessel&#39;s center of gravity tends to hold the cradle in a vertical alignment after it&#39;s been lifted. Where needed, a cradle latch that can be activated from the water side further secures the storage position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of apparatus and methods for lifting small vessels out of the water and storing them when they are not in use. More particularly, the present invention relates to dock-mounted racks that are used to lift and store small boats. 
     When a small vessel, such as a canoe or kayak, is not in use, it is typically stored out of the water. In many instances, such storage requires that the vessel be lifted from the water and transported to a location away from the water or on a dock. Since these vessels usually weigh between 35 and 85 pounds and range in length from 9 to 17 feet, they are quite difficult to lift and cumbersome to transport, even over short distances, especially for one person. 
     Many small boat owners own or have access to a dock extending into the water. For these people, the most convenient place to store their vessels is on the dock. But when small vessels are stored on the dock surface, most of the dock width is obstructed, blocking access to the far end of the dock. Moreover, as there is typically a variance of 8 inches to 36 inches or more of freeboard between the dock surface and the water, lifting the boat onto the dock surface is clumsy at best if not impossible for one person and may result in damage to the boat and/or the dock and/or potential personal injury. 
     The prior art teaches a variety of hoists, davits and derricks for lifting small boats from the water onto the surface of a dock. The patent of Horton, U.S. Pat. No. 2,185,083, discloses a pivoting cradle by means of which a vessel is rotated into a sideways vertical position on the dock surface. Since the lifting force is provided by a winch mechanism on the dock side of the cradle, lifting from the water side is not enabled, and therefore one person cannot easily put the vessel into the cradle and then lift it without moving from the water side to the dock side. This necessitates a time-consuming two-stage process. The winch assembly and the lifted cradle also occupy considerable dock space and present an obstruction. 
     The patent of Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,143,991, teaches a hoisting mechanism for lifting a dinghy onto the transom step of a larger vessel. It could also be adapted for use with a floating dock, but it would not be suitable for a fixed dock having a variable freeboard. Like the Horton patent, it achieves vertical storage on the surface of the dock, thereby creating an obstruction. Anderson also shares the disadvantage of Horton of requiring a two-stage attachment-lifting process, since it provides no mechanical advantage for lifting from the water side. Since the vessel is clamped at the gunwale to the lifting arm, moreover, this mechanism is useless for kayaks and can damage canoes and rowboats by the “pinching” stress placed on the gunwale. Additionally, this invention requires modification to the vessel itself as an “eye” must be attached the vessel to secure the hauling line. This invention also lacks a means of securing the vessel in a vertical storage position, unless the hauling line is secured to the larger vessel or dock, once it&#39;s lifted out of the water. 
     The winch-actuated derrick mechanism disclosed in the patent of Platt, U.S. Pat. No. 2,465,118, deploys a flexible cradle loop under the boat, thereby avoiding the “pinching” stress of the Anderson mechanism. But the flexible loop cannot secure the vessel in a vertical position for storage over the water on the side of the dock. The intent of this invention is to drain collected water from the boat and is well suited for its purpose; however, inasmuch as the derrick is rotatable and the flexible cradle is basically two sided, its function as an unmanned storage mechanism is inadequate considering the event of inclement weather. As with Horton and Anderson, the winch lifting mode requires a two-stage attachment-lifting process, and the derrick structure occupies a lot of space on the dock surface. The extent to which the mechanism can operate with a high freeboard is limited by the length of the horizontal boom and the span of the lifting cradle. This invention also lacks the operability from the waterside of the vessel. 
     In the patent of Lunsman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,131, a cradle is formed by two horizontal bars that extend over the gunwales of the boat and two rope-like flexible elements that attach to the bars and extend under the vessel. Since the pivot points of the bars are fixed above the dock surface, the two rope-like flexible elements must be extended to accommodate freeboard variations from dock to dock or seasonally variations for the same dock; with increasing freeboard, however, this invention&#39;s purpose of lifting the vessel out of the water and turning the vessel on its side is diminished. This device also lacks a side support under the vessel once it&#39;s lifted, so that the sag of the flexible member will render the storage height above the water uncertain and unstable. Lunsman also shares the disadvantages of the other winch-actuated devices in terms of a two-stage operation and obstruction of dock space. 
     The apparatus taught by the patent of Lasko, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,593, uses an L-shaped davit assembly under the vessel connected to a dock-mounted lever arm to tilt a boat into a vertical position. The downward extension of the davit into the water is adjustable, thereby accommodating freeboard variations. But, because the davit&#39;s pivot point is fixed at dock level, downward extension of the davit has two adverse consequences. Lowering the davit to adjust for dock freeboard increases the distance between the pivot and the vessel&#39;s center of gravity, thereby proportionately increasing the force the operator must apply to the lever arm in order to lift the boat. Since the length of the lever arm is fixed, lifting the boat will become quite difficult in high freeboard conditions. Lowering the davit also causes the storage position of the boat to extend further out over the water from the dock edge, which creates an obstruction for other vessels using the dock, as well as multiplying the stress on the davit assembly under windy conditions. Like the other prior art, Lasko does not enable single-stage cradling and lifting (i.e., in which the operator stays on one side of the vessel?) of the boat. The rotation of the lever arm downward to the dock requires the user to bend over pushing downward to the dock (which can cause back injury) where a latch mechanism engages and holds the cradle in horizontal position. Then the lever is lift back to the vertical and the rope is wound taught on the reel guide attached to the upper portion of the lever. To launch, the lever is released, and the operator&#39;s hands unwind the rope via the reel guide on upper portion of lever (which can also be ergonomically stressful—the greater the freeboard the greater the torque on the hands). 
     The patent of Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,294,864, teaches a U-shaped davit, which is pivotally mounted to the stern of a large boat or the side of a floating dock. As with the Anderson patent, this apparatus is useless on a fixed dock that&#39;s subject to seasonal freeboard variations. Even as applied to a floating dock, this device becomes very inefficient for freeboard heights of less than a foot, because the reduced length of the lever arm will demand excessive torque to turn the winch. Although the Palmer mechanism provides a more stable storage position with less dock obstruction than the other prior art, it uses hooks to attach the davit to the gunwales of the boat, thereby subjecting the sides of the vessel to potentially damaging pinching and shearing stresses. Since, like the other prior art, the Palmer device does not enable water-side boat lifting, it requires a burdensome two-stage operation. 
     The foregoing review of the prior art reveals the following principal deficiencies: 
     1. Obstruction of dock space by the lifting apparatus; 
     2. Obstruction of dock space by storage of the boat over the dock surface; 
     3. Two-stage operation: first water-side boat attachment, then dock-side lifting; 
     4. No means available to operate from the waterside only; 
     5. No means available to operate from the waterside or dockside at the user&#39;s option; 
     6. Inability to accommodate variable dock freeboard; 
     7. Excessive lifting force/torque; 
     8. Lack of stability in the vertical storage position; 
     9. Potentially damaging shear stress on boat and/or dock sides during lifting; 
     10. Modification to the vessel itself; and 
     11. Complicated installation and de-installation for winter storage. 
     The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing a three-sided cradle that is rotatably connected to two lateral supports extending outward from one side of the dock. A person in the water can float the canoe or kayak into the cradle and lift it into a secure vertical storage position on the side of the dock without having to get up on the dock. A pivot point extending out into the water having the ability to be positioned above or below the dock surface has the advantages of both accommodating freeboard and minimizing and maintaining a constant distance between the pivot and the boat&#39;s center of gravity, thereby allowing for much less effort in lifting. Depending on the depth of the vessel, the cradle can be dimensioned so that the position of the vessel&#39;s center of gravity tends to hold the cradle in a vertical or past-vertical alignment after it&#39;s been lifted. Where needed, a cradle latch that can be activated from the water side further secures the storage position. With attachment of a tether cord, the lifting operation could also be performed from the dockside of the vessel and at the user&#39;s option. 
     For purposes of spatial orientation, in the specification and claims for the present invention, the following definitions will be used: 
     “Longitudinal” or “longitudinally” means the direction in which the dock extends outward into the water, i.e., in the direction of the dock&#39;s length; 
     “Lateral” or “laterally” means the direction perpendicular to longitudinal, i.e., in direction of the dock&#39;s width; 
     “Horizontal” or “horizontally” means in a plane parallel to the surface of the dock; 
     “Vertical” or “vertically” means in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the dock; 
     “Loading position” means the orientation of the present invention with the centerline of the cradle in the horizontal plane; 
     “Storage position” means the orientation of the present invention with the centerline of the cradle in the vertical plane; 
     “Proximal” means that part of a component of the present invention which is nearest to dock when the present invention is in the loading position; 
     “Distal” means that part of a component of the present invention which is farthest from the dock when the present invention is in the loading position; 
     “Upper” means that part of a component of the present invention which is farthest from the water surface when the present invention is in the loading position; 
     “Lower” means that part of a component of the present invention which is nearest to the water surface when the present invention is in the loading position; 
     “Inward” or “inwardly” means in the direction toward the centerline of the cradle; and 
     “Outward” or “outwardly” means in the direction away from the centerline of the cradle. 
     Unless otherwise specified, the described orientation and/or position of a component of the present invention is given with reference to the loading position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a three-sided cradle that is pivotally connected to two dock lateral supports. The dock lateral supports are L-shaped structures, each having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm. The vertical arms are attached to one side of a dock by a dock mounting assembly, while the horizontal arms extend orthogonally laterally outward from the dock side. The dock lateral supports can be attached to the dock at a fixed height above the water level, or alternately they can be slidably attached to the dock through the dock mounting assembly, such that the height of the dock lateral supports can be adjusted for variable freeboard. Alternately or concurrently, a variable height mechanism can be incorporated in the dock mounting assembly to adjust the height of the dock lateral supports for variable freeboard. 
     The cradle comprises four support structures: a loading member, an upper resting member, and two side resting members. The loading member and the upper resting member can both be rigid members, or one of them can be a flexible member. In their rigid embodiments, the loading member and the upper resting member are open-sided rectangular structures, which are open at the proximal sides of the rectangles. The open sides of the loading member and the upper resting member are orthogonally connected by the two side resting members. The side resting members are connected to two pivot joints on the horizontal arms of the dock lateral supports through two pivot members that extend orthogonally outward from the side resting members. The locations of the pivot joints on the horizontal arms of the dock lateral supports can be fixed or slidably adjustable, as can the locations of the pivot members on the side resting members. 
     The loading member comprises a loading member crossbar and two loading member laterals. The loading member crossbar is horizontally and longitudinally aligned parallel to the dock side. The loading member crossbar is connected at either end to two loading member laterals, which are horizontally and laterally aligned perpendicular to the dock side. The length of the loading member crossbar, which defines the width of the cradle, is less than the length of the vessel to be stored, but optimally not less than two feet, in order to ensure that the center of gravity of the vessel is securely positioned within the cradle. The length of the loading member laterals, which establishes the depth of the cradle, is optimally approximately equal to the beam (maximum width) of the vessel to be stored, but it must be greater than half the beam of the vessel to ensure that the vessel&#39;s center of gravity is positioned within the cradle. 
     The upper resting member comprises an upper resting member crossbar and two upper resting member laterals. The upper resting member is horizontally and longitudinally aligned parallel to the dock side. The upper resting member crossbar is connected at either end to two upper resting member laterals, which are horizontally and laterally aligned perpendicular to the dock side. The length of the upper resting member crossbar is equal to or less than that of the loading member crossbar. The length of the upper resting member laterals can be equal to or less than that of the loading member laterals, but it must be greater than half the beam of the vessel to ensure that the vessel&#39;s center of gravity is positioned within the cradle. The length of the upper resting member laterals must also be sufficient to ensure that the upper resting member extends completely over the cockpit opening of the vessel, in order to prevent the distal end of the upper resting member from entering the cockpit when the cradled vessel is pivoted upward. 
     The side resting members rigidly orthogonally connect the proximal ends of the loading member laterals and the upper resting member laterals, thereby creating a cradle opening between the loading member crossbar and the upper resting member crossbar. The length of the side resting member establishes the height of the cradle opening, which must be larger than the height of the vessel to be stored. The extent to which the cradle opening height is greater than the vessel height will affect the angle at which the stored vessel rests with respect to the vertical, as will be discussed in the detailed description which follows. 
     For purposes of orientation, the cradle has a centerline, which is aligned horizontally and laterally and is equidistant from the two upper resting member laterals, equidistant from the two loading member laterals, and equidistant from the loading member crossbar and the upper resting member crossbar. 
     In alternate embodiments, as mentioned previously, either the rigid loading member or the rigid upper resting member can be replaced by one or more flexible members, which can be adjustable straps. In these embodiments, preferably, there are two straps, with one end of the straps attached at or near the proximal end of the rigid member and the other end of the straps attached at or near the distal end of the rigid member. In one version of these alternate embodiments, for example, the upper resting member is rigid and has the structure described above, while the loading member comprises two straps. The proximal end of each strap may be attached (via a cam buckle or a more permanent attachment means) either to the side resting member at or near the proximal end of one of the upper resting member laterals, or to the upper resting member at or near the upper end of the side resting member, while the distal end of each strap is attached at or near the distal end of one of the upper resting member laterals. At the distal and/or proximal ends of the straps, there are strap tightening means, such as cam buckles. 
     In another alternate embodiment, a pivot rod is pivotally connected horizontally and longitudinally between the horizontal arms of the two dock lateral supports orthogonally at the pivot joints, such that the pivot rod is aligned parallel to the dock side. The proximal ends of the loading member laterals are orthogonally rigidly attached to a short cradle sleeve. The proximal ends of the upper resting member laterals are orthogonally rigidly attached to the upper ends of the side resting members. The lower ends of the side resting members are orthogonally rigidly attached to the short cradle sleeve inwardly adjacent to the proximal ends of the loading member laterals. In this configuration, the length of the upper resting member crossbar is less than that of the loading member crossbar. 
     A vessel is loaded into the cradle by first adjusting the positions of the pivots joints, pivot members and/or the height of the dock lateral supports, to the extent that the particular embodiment of the present invention enables such adjustments. As previously noted, the height adjustment of the dock lateral supports can accommodate freeboard variations. As will be explained in the detailed description which follows, adjustments with respect to the locations of the pivot members and/or the pivot joints can alter the ultimate storage location of the vessel in terms of height and distance from the dock side. 
     After the appropriate adjustments are made, the cradle is rotated into the loading position, in which the loading member and the upper resting member are horizontal or tilted slightly downward toward the water surface. For the rigid embodiments, the vessel is positioned on the water side of the cradle parallel to the cradle opening and is pushed and, if necessary, lifted sideways into the cradle. For the flexible embodiments, the vessel is positioned with its centerline perpendicular to the rigid member lateral and is pushed/lifted under or over the catenary of the loosened strap; then the vessel is secured by tightening the strap. After the vessel is in the cradle, the vessel is lifted into its storage position by pivoting the cradle upward into a vertical alignment. The cradle is pivoted upward by applying an upward radial force to the loading member crossbar and/or the upper resting member crossbar. This can be done from the waterside, or it can be done from the dockside of the cradle, with the aid of a rope or tether cord attached to the loading member or upper resting member crossbar. 
     When the cradle with the vessel within it has been pivoted to the vertical position, the loading member and the upper resting member are perpendicular to the water surface and the dock surface. In this position, a latching mechanism on the dock surface may be needed to hold the cradle in the vertical alignment, depending on the location of the pivot joint with respect to the center of gravity of the vessel. This mechanism and other features of the present invention will be further described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in the storage position and loading position, respectively. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of the cradle of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in the loading position. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross-section views of the cradle of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in the storage position. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic depiction of three alternate vessel storage angles. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the relationship between cradle width and the longitudinal position of the vessel&#39;s center of gravity. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the cradle of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which the loading member is a flexible member. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the cradle of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention showing alternate locations of the pivot joint. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic illustrations of the movement of the cradle of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with different pivot joint locations. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic illustrations, respectively, of the opportunity for increased pivot height through the use of the vessel&#39;s buoyancy characteristics, and the opportunity for increased pivot height with the use of a cradle having a flexible loading member. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are perspective views of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention having an extended cradle cross member;  FIG. 10C  is a cross section view of the same embodiment showing the extended cross section member resting on the horizontal arms of the dock lateral supports in the storage position. 
         FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C are perspective detail views of a cradle sliding pivot member assembly used in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C are schematic illustrations of the function of the cradle sliding pivot member assembly. 
         FIGS. 13A ,  13 B, and  13 C are perspective detail views of a dock mount lateral sliding pivot point assembly used in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 14A ,  14 B, and  14 C are cross section views illustrating the function of the dock mount lateral sliding pivot in conjunction with an extended cross bar added to the cradle. 
         FIGS. 15A ,  15 B and  15 C are perspective detail views of a vertical sliding pivot point assembly used in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are cross section views of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention adapted for use with a floating dock, shown in the loading position. 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  are cross section views of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention adapted for use with a floating dock, shown in the storage position. 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are side detail views of a latch and release assembly and a latch and release mechanism, respectively. 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  are sequential operational views of the latch and release mechanism in the latching operation and the release operation, respectively. 
         FIGS. 20A ,  20 B, and  20 C are side perspective view of three different configurations of a fixed-height dock mounting assembly 
         FIGS. 21A and 21B  are cross section views of a pin-controlled variable-height dock mounting assembly. 
         FIGS. 22A and 22B  are cross section views of a clamp-controlled variable-height dock mounting assembly. 
         FIGS. 23A and 23B  are cross section views of a leverage-controlled variable-height dock mounting assembly. 
         FIGS. 24A ,  24 B, and  24 C are perspective views of the components of a three piece dock mount assembly incorporating the function of a pivot lateral height adjustment. 
         FIGS. 25A and 25B  are perspective views of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which incorporates a pivot rod lateral crossbar that engages the female pivots provided on the cradle assembly and both dock laterals supports. 
         FIGS. 26A ,  26 B, and  26 C are perspective views of three basic applications of the present invention, each illustrating the loading and storage position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the present invention  10  comprises a three-sided cradle  11  that is pivotally connected to two dock lateral supports  12 . The dock lateral supports  12  are L-shaped structures, each having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm. The vertical arms are attached to one side of a dock  13  by a dock mounting assembly  14 , while the horizontal arms extend orthogonally laterally outward from the dock side  15 . The dock lateral supports  12  can be attached to the dock  13  at a fixed height above the water level, through the use of a fixed-height dock mounting assembly  14 , such as any of the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 20A ,  20 B or  20 C. Alternately, the vertical arms of the dock lateral supports  12  can be slidably attached to the dock side  15 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 21A ,  21 B,  22 A,  22 B and  24 A,  24 B,  24 C, such that the height of the dock lateral supports  12  can be adjusted for variable freeboard. Alternately or concurrently, a variable height mechanism, such as the one illustrated in  FIGS. 23A ,  23 B, can be incorporated in the dock mounting assembly  14  to adjust the height of the dock lateral supports  12  for variable freeboard. 
     The cradle  11  comprises four support structures: a loading member  16 , an upper resting member  17 , and two side resting members  18 . The loading member  16  and the upper resting member  17  can both be rigid members, or one of them can be a flexible member. In their rigid embodiments, the loading member and the upper resting member are open-sided rectangular structures, which are open at the proximal sides of the rectangles. The open sides of the loading member  16  and the upper resting member  17  are orthogonally connected by the two side resting members  18 . The side resting members  18  are connected to two pivot joints  19  on the horizontal arms of the dock lateral supports  12  through two pivot members  20  that extend orthogonally outward from the side resting members  18 . 
     The locations of the pivot joints  19  on horizontal arms of the dock lateral supports  12  can be fixed or slidably adjustable. An exemplary vertical sliding pivot joint assembly  21  is illustrated in  FIGS. 15A ,  15 B and  15 C. The locations of the pivot members  20  on the side resting members  18  can also be fixed or slidably adjustable. An exemplary cradle sliding pivot member assembly  22  is depicted in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C. An exemplary dock mount lateral sliding pivot member assembly  34  is depicted in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B, and  13 C. 
     The loading member  16  comprises a loading member crossbar  23  and two loading member laterals. The loading member crossbar is horizontally and longitudinally aligned parallel to the dock side  15 . The loading member crossbar  23  is connected at either end to two loading member laterals  24 , which are aligned horizontally and laterally perpendicular to the dock side  15 . Thus, the loading member crossbar  23  corresponds to the longitudinal side of the open-sided rectangular structure, while the two loading member laterals  24  correspond to the two lateral sides of the open-sided rectangular structure. The length of the loading member crossbar  23 , which defines the width of the cradle  11 , is less than the length of the vessel  25  to be stored, but optimally not less than two feet, in order to ensure that the center of gravity of the vessel  25  is securely positioned within the cradle  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The length of the loading member laterals  24 , which establishes the depth of the cradle  11 , is optimally approximately equal to the beam (maximum width) of the vessel  25  to be stored, but it must be greater than half the beam of the vessel  25  to ensure that the vessel&#39;s center of gravity is positioned within the cradle  11 . 
     The upper resting member  17  comprises an upper resting member crossbar  26  and two upper resting member laterals  27 . The upper resting member crossbar  26  is horizontally and longitudinally aligned parallel to the dock side  15 . The upper resting member crossbar  26  is connected at either end to two upper resting member laterals  27 , which are horizontally and laterally aligned perpendicular to the dock side  15 . Thus, the upper resting member crossbar  26  corresponds to the longitudinal side of the open-sided rectangular structure, while the two upper resting member laterals  27  correspond to the two lateral sides of the open-sided rectangular structure. In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the length of the upper resting member crossbar  26  is equal to that of the loading member crossbar  23 . The length of the upper resting member laterals  27  can be equal to or less than that of the loading member laterals  24 , but their length must be greater than half the beam of the vessel  25  to ensure that the vessel&#39;s center of gravity is positioned within the cradle  11 . The length of the upper resting member laterals  27  must also be sufficient to ensure that the upper resting member  17  extends completely over the cockpit opening of the vessel  25 , in order to prevent the distal end of the upper resting member  17  from entering the cockpit when the cradled vessel  25  is pivoted upward. 
     The side resting members  18  rigidly orthogonally connect the proximal ends of the loading member laterals  24  and the upper resting member laterals  27 , thereby creating a cradle opening  28  between the loading member crossbar  23  and the upper resting member crossbar  26 . The length of the side resting member  18  establishes the height of the cradle opening  28 , which must be larger than the height of the vessel  25  to be stored. The extent to which the height of the cradle opening  28  is greater than the height of the vessel  25  will affect the angle at which the stored vessel  25  rests with respect to the vertical, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the angle at which the stored vessel rests with respect to the vertical is a factor in terms of rain entering and draining from the cockpit of a stored vessel  25 . 
     In alternate embodiments, as mentioned previously, either the rigid loading member  16  or the rigid upper resting member  17  can be replaced by one or more flexible members  29 , which can be adjustable straps  30 . Examples of these flexible-member embodiments are depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , and in  FIGS. 16A ,  16 B,  17 A and  17 B, as applied to a floating dock. Preferably, there are two straps  30 , with one end of the straps  30  attached at or near the proximal end of the rigid member  31  and the other end the straps  30  attached at or near the distal end of the rigid member  31 . In one version of these alternate embodiments, for example, the upper resting member  17  is rigid and has the structure described above, while the loading member  16  comprises two straps  30 . The proximal end of each strap  30  is attached at or near the proximal end of one of the upper resting member laterals  27 , while the distal end of each strap  30  is attached at or near the distal end of one of the upper resting member laterals  27 . At the distal and/or proximal ends of the straps  30 , there are strap tightening means, such as cam buckles. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the rigid-member variety, as shown in  FIG. 25 , a pivot rod  32  is pivotally connected horizontally and longitudinally between the horizontal arms of the two dock lateral supports  12  at the pivot joints  19 , such that the pivot rod  32  is aligned parallel to the dock side. The proximal ends of the loading member laterals  24  are orthogonally rigidly attached near the ends of the short cradle sleeves  35  inwardly adjacent to the pivot joints  19 . The proximal ends of the upper resting member laterals  27  are orthogonally rigidly attached to the upper ends of the side resting members  18 . The lower ends of the side resting members  18  are orthogonally rigidly attached to a short cradle lateral  35  inwardly adjacent to the proximal ends of the loading member laterals  24 . The short cradle sleeves  35  provide an inner diameter that functions as the female portion of a pivot joint. The pivot rod  32  slides through the first pivot joint  19 , then through both short cradle sleeves  35 , and then through the second pivot joint  19 . Lynch pins  36  are then inserted through both ends of the pivot rod  32  securing the pivot rod  32  in place. The cradle  11  is now free to rotate about pivot rod  32 . In this configuration, the length of the upper resting member crossbar  26  is less than that of the loading member crossbar  23 . 
     A vessel  15  is loaded into the cradle  11  by first adjusting the positions of the pivots joints  19 , pivot members  20  and/or the height of the dock lateral supports  12 , to the extent that the particular embodiment of the present invention  10  enables such adjustments. As previously noted, the height adjustment of the dock lateral supports  12  can accommodate freeboard variations. Adjustments with respect to the locations of the pivot members  20  and/or pivot joints  19  can alter the ultimate storage location of the vessel  25  in terms of height and distance from the dock side  15 .  FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate the effect on the storage height of the vessel  25  of various locations of the pivot members  20  along the side resting members  18 .  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C illustrate the use of a cradle sliding pivot member  22  assembly (as depicted in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C) to achieve a relatively high storage position close to the dock side  15 .  FIGS. 14A ,  14 B and  14 C illustrated the use of a dock mount lateral sliding pivot member  34  assembly (as depicted in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 C) to achieve a relatively high storage position close to the dock side  15 . Vessel storage height can also be adjusted through the use of a vertical sliding pivot joint assembly  21 , such as the one depicted in  FIGS. 15A ,  15 B and  15 C. 
     After the appropriate adjustments are made, the cradle  11  is rotated into the loading position, in which the loading member  16  and the upper resting member  17  are horizontal or tilted slightly downward toward the water surface. For the rigid embodiments, the vessel  25  is positioned on the water side of the cradle  11  parallel to the cradle opening  28  and is pushed and, if necessary, lifted sideways into the cradle  11 . For the flexible embodiments, the vessel  25  is positioned with its centerline perpendicular to the rigid member lateral  31  and is pushed/lifted under or over the catenary of the loosened strap  30 ; then the vessel  25  is secured by tightening the strap  30 . After the vessel  25  is in the cradle  11 , the vessel  25  is lifted into its storage position by pivoting the cradle  11  upward into a vertical alignment. The cradle  11  is pivoted upward by applying an upward force to the loading member crossbar  23  and/or the upper resting member crossbar  26 . This can be done from the waterside, or it can be done from the dockside of the cradle  11 , with the aid of a rope or tether attached to the available crossbar  23   26 . 
     When the cradle  11  with the vessel  25  within it has been pivoted to the vertical position, the loading member  16  and the upper resting member  17  are perpendicular to the water surface and the dock surface. In this position, a latching mechanism  33  on the dock mounting assembly  14  may be needed to hold the cradle  11  in the vertical alignment, depending on the location of the pivot joints  19  with respect to the center of gravity of the vessel  25 . An exemplary latch and release mechanism is illustrated in  FIGS. 18A ,  18 B,  19 A and  19 B. Alternately, an embodiment of the type depicted in  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  14 B incorporating a cradle extended crossbar, can be used to maintain the vertical storage position without the need for a latching mechanism. 
       FIGS. 26A ,  26 B and  26 C illustrate the three basic principal applications of the present invention, as described below. 
     FIG.  26 A—Floating Dock—“Constant Freeboard” 
     Under this condition, the floating dock is typically much wider than traditional stationary dock, and the freeboard is relatively constant by virtue of its floating design. 
     This preferred embodiment comprises:
           FIG. 20A  Dock Mount Assembly—Bracket/Pin Dock Mount Assembly   A combination of the Cradle Sliding Pivot ( FIG. 11A ) and Vertical Sliding Pivot ( FIG. 15A )   A Flexible Loading Member Cradle—( FIG. 6 )       

     With this configuration mounted to the floating dock, due to freeboard height and vessel height, the top surface of the vessel may be in a position above or below the floating dock surface. The Vertical Sliding Pivot in combination with the Flexible Loading Member Cradle will accommodate these variances. 
     In this application the user is on the dock, as the water level is usually to deep for the user to enter the vessel from the water. 
     The vessel is floated into the cradle  11 ; the flexible loading member straps  30  are slightly pulled/tightened (on the dock side of the cradle) and held in place with cam buckles. The user then grasps the tether cord (which could be an extension of the flexible loading strap extending from the resting member crossbar side of the cradle), and then pulls the cradle  11  into its vertical position. Once vertical, the user would grasp the upper resting member crossbar  26  and slide the cradle  11  (via the cradle sliding pivot) such that the cradle “sits” on the pivot on one side and on the dock on the other. To lower the vessel back into the water the process is reversed. 
     FIG.  26 B—Waterside Loading and Racking 
     Under this condition, the user is in the water; where the water depth is such where the user could easily position him/herself to enter the canoe or kayak while in the water. 
     This preferred embodiment is comprises:
         Dock Mount Assembly FIG.  20 C—Surface Lateral/Pin Dock Mount Assembly     FIG. 22  or  FIG. 24  configured as—Clamp Controlled Dock Lateral Support Height Adjustment     FIG. 13 , A Dock Mount Lateral Sliding Pivot     FIG. 2  and FIG.  3 —A Rigid Member Cradle with a  FIG. 10  Extended Crossbar positioned as shown in  FIG. 14         

     The configured components would be mounted to the stationary dock and the dock lateral  12  would be adjusted to its desired height. The user would float the canoe or kayak into the cradle  11  and, using the upper resting member  17  and or the loading member  16 , the user would then rotate the cradle  11  to a vertical position. The user would then push the cradle  11  toward the dock such that the cross bar, when the cradle is lowered, would sit on the horizontal arm of the dock lateral support  12  maintaining a stable condition of storage. To lower the cradle/vessel back into the water for launching purposes the loading process would be reversed. 
     To adjust for changes in freeboard throughout the season, the user would use the buoyancy technique as illustrated in  FIG. 9A  and exercise the function of the Clamp Controlled Dock Mount Pivot Lateral Member Height adjustment per  FIG. 22  or  FIG. 24 . 
     FIG.  26 C—Dockside or Waterside Load and Racking 
     This preferred embodiment would enable the user to either be dockside or waterside to exercise the function of this invention. 
     This preferred embodiment comprises:
         Dock Mount Assembly FIG.  20 C—Surface Lateral/Pin Dock Mount Assembly     FIG. 22  or  FIG. 24  configured as—Clamp Controlled Dock Lateral Member Height Adjustment   A Fixed Pivot, located close to the dock mount assembly, essentially a very short Dock Mount Pivot Assembly Lateral   A Flexible Loading Member Cradle—( FIG. 6 )   A Latch Release Mechanism  FIGS. 18 and 19 , wherein the Latch is located on the Resting Member and the Latch Pin is mounted on the Dock Mount Vertical Member.       

     The configured components would be mounted to the stationary dock and the dock lateral would be adjusted to its desired height. The user would float the canoe or kayak into the cradle and, using the upper resting member  17  and vessel (if in the water) or a tether cord (if on the dock), the user would then rotate the cradle  11  to a vertical position where the latch release mechanism engages and latches the cradle and vessel in place. To lower the cradle/vessel back into the water for launching purposes, the user would “push” (if in the water) or “pull” (if on the dock) the vessel/cradle until the latch release link engages. Then the user would lower the cradle/vessel into the water using either the tether cord or vessel and upper resting member  17  (dependent on the location of the user). 
     To adjust for changes in freeboard throughout the season; the user would use the Flexible Loading Member Cradle technique as discussed in association with  FIG. 9B  and exercise the function of the Clamp Controlled Dock Mount Pivot Lateral Member Height adjustment as discussed in association with  FIG. 22  or  FIG. 24   
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims.