Abstract:
A floating watercraft port system is provided which allows for a designer to develop a port assembly of a desired configuration. The system comprises an entry member, an extension member and a bulkhead. The entry member comprises a cradle having an entrance section; and the extension member has a cradle which extends the full length of the extension member and is open at opposite ends of the extension member. Bulkheads are positioned on the entry and/or extension members at desired positions to delineate the forward ends of watercraft receiving cradles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/956,215 filed Aug. 16, 2007 which is titled Modular Floating Watercraft Assembly. This application is also related to application Ser. No. 12/125,206 filed May 22, 2008. Both of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to floating docks or ports for personal and small water craft, and, in particular to a modular port system for personal water craft. 
     There are several manufacturers of floating watercraft ports and lifts. However, the ability to customize the port/lift area of a marina is limited due to the design of most currently available watercraft ports/lifts. The owners of marinas or docks which include ports seek more and more versatility from the dock manufacturers to enable the marinas or docks to be assembled easily in different configurations. It would therefore be desirable to have an watercraft port/lift module which allows for greater customization in the design of the port/lift area of a marina. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Briefly stated, a floating watercraft port system is provided which allows for a designer to develop a port assembly of a desired configuration. The system comprises an entry member, an extension member and a bulkhead (or bow stop). 
     The entry member comprises a front end, a back end, sides, a bottom surface, and an upper surface. The entry member defines a cradle with an entrance section in the entry member upper surface. An entrance roller is positioned at the back of the entrance section. The entrance member is designed such that the roller mounted at the back of the entrance section is at or below water level when the port is floated in water (and when no watercraft is received on the member). The entrance member additionally can be provided with a marking surface. In an illustrative embodiment, the marking surface is at the back end of the entrance member, and slopes downwardly and rearwardly such that the marking surface is visible when the port is viewed in side and end elevation. The marking surfaces can be provided with identifying indicia or visibility enhancers. The visibility enhances can, for example, be light reflective elements or light emitting elements. 
     The extension member comprises a front end, a back end, sides, a bottom surface, and an upper surface. An extension cradle is formed in the extension member upper surface. The extension member cradle extends the full length of the extension member and is open at the front and back ends of the extension member. 
     The entry and extension members can be connected in series or in parallel. Further, any desired number of entry and extension members can be utilized in a single port system. Hence, a port system can comprise a single entry member; one entry member and one extension member joined in tandem; two entry members joined head-to-head; pairs of entry and extension members joined in tandem, the pairs being joined in parallel, etc. 
     The bulkhead or bow stop is selectively positionable on the entry and extension members. The bow stop can be a full bow stop or a small bow stop. The full bow stop is sized to extend substantially the width of the port member. It includes an upper surface, a front surface, a back surface, side surfaces and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is shaped substantially complementarily to the port upper surface such that the bow stop rests on the port member upper surface. The back surface of the bow stop defines a bow receiving area comprised of a pair of outwardly and downwardly sloping walls connected by a downwardly sloping generally U-shaped portion, such that the bow receiving area approximates the shape of a bow of a personal watercraft. 
     The small bow stop is designed to be easily removed from the port members. To facilitate this, the small bow stop is provided with posts extending from its bottom surface, and the port member includes post holes which receive the bow stop posts. The small bow stop includes a handle to which a tether can be secured, such that the small bow stop can be tethered to the port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a port entry member with rollers and connecting elements; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the port entry member; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the port entry member; 
         FIG. 4  is a back elevational view of the port entry member; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the port entry member; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the port entry member without rollers; 
         FIGS. 6A-D  are cross sectional views of the port entry member taken along lines A-A, B-B, C-C and D-D of  FIG. 6 , respectively, in which the cross-hatched area is a void or hollow area; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the port entry member 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the port entry member; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a port extension member; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the port extension member; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the port extension member; 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the port extension member; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear elevational view of the port extension member; 
         FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of a full bow stop for use with the port members; 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of the full bow stop; 
         FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the full bow stop; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of the full bow stop; 
         FIGS. 18A-D  are back perspective, bottom perspective, top plan and bottom plan views of an alternative design of the full bow stop; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear perspective view of a small bow stop for use with the port members; 
         FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of the small bow stop; 
         FIG. 21  is a rear elevational view of the small bow stop; 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of the small bow stop; 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom plan view of the small bow stop; 
         FIG. 24  is a bottom perspective view of the small bow stop; 
         FIGS. 25A-C  are bottom perspective, top perspective and side elevational views, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the small bow stop; 
         FIGS. 26A-B  are top perspective and bottom plan views of a second alternative small bow stop sized between the bow stop of  FIGS. 18-23  and  FIGS. 24A-C ; 
         FIGS. 27A and 27B  are perspective and side elevational views, respectively of an entry member and extension member connected together in tandem and provided with a small bow stop at the front of the entry member and a full bow stop at the front of the extension member; 
         FIGS. 28A-F  show views of some possible different configurations of the port members and bow stops; and 
         FIGS. 29A-D  are plan views of possible configurations of the port members assembled into or connected to dock members. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     An illustrative configuration of a personal watercraft port system  10  ( FIG. 27A ) comprises a port entry member  20 , an extension member  220 , a full bow stop  300  and a small bow stop  350 ,  350 ′,  350 ″. The small bow stop shown in  FIG. 27A  is the bow stop  350 ″. The port members  20 ,  220  and bow stops  300 ,  350 ,  350 ′,  350 ″ can all be molded from plastic and are hollow. Hence, they will float. As will be described below, the port members  20 ,  220  can accept any of the bow stops. Further, the port members can be connected together in a myriad of configurations as seen in  FIGS. 28A-F  and can be incorporated into dock assemblies, examples of which are discussed below and shown in  FIGS. 29A-D . Although the watercraft port system  10  is described for use with personal watercraft (PWC&#39;s), the port system  10  can also be used with other watercraft, including small boats. 
     The port entry member  20  is shown generally in  FIGS. 1-8 . The port entry member  20  includes an upper surface  22 , side walls  24 , a front end wall  26 , a back end  28 , and a bottom surface  30 . The port entry member  20  is molded to provide a higher freeboard so that a PWC parked on the port member will be out of the water. Although, the port member  20  has a higher freeboard, the overall height of the port member (i.e., the height of the side walls) is substantially the same as the height of the dock members to which the port member can be connected (see  FIGS. 29A-D ). 
     The upper surface  22  defines a cradle  32 , upper deck surfaces  34 , and a sloping entrance or ramp section  37  at the back of the port entry. As seen in  FIG. 4 , for example, the upper deck surfaces  34  are recessed slightly below the outer sides of the cradle  32 . The deck surfaces  34  can be provided with traction enhancing pads  35  ( FIG. 1 ) or the like. Additionally, the deck surface can be provided with textured areas  35   a  ( FIG. 6 ). The pads  35  pads are shown to extend along a central section of the deck  34  and to have a length of about one-half the length of the cradle  32 . Of course, the pads  35  could be shorter or longer if desired. A plurality of channels  33  extend across the upper deck surfaces  34  generally perpendicularly to the sides  24  of the port member  20 . 
     The cradle  32  is defined by a pair of walls  36  which slope downwardly and inwardly to a channel  38  which extends rearwardly from the front end of the port entry member  20  to the forward end of the entrance section  37 . The slope of the cradle walls  36  corresponds generally to the dead rise of a watercraft hull. As described in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/125,206, filed May 22, 2008 and entitled “Rollers For Use With Watercraft Ports and Lifts”, and which is incorporated herein by reference, to accommodate a greater number of watercraft, the slope of the cradle walls  36  corresponds to a median of common watercraft hull dead rise angles. The bottom of the channel  38  is generally level, as seen in the cross-section of  FIG. 6A . Hence, the cradle  32  does not slope from front to back, but rather, is generally horizontal. 
     A plurality of roller sockets  40  are formed in the cradle walls  36 . As seen, the roller sockets  40  are formed in pairs (i.e., two sockets, one on each of the cradle walls  36 , and which are aligned with each other). The roller sockets  40  are shown to be evenly spaced apart along the length of the cradle  32 , with the forward most socket being spaced slightly rearwardly of the front wall  26 . The roller sockets  40  receive rollers  50 . The roller sockets  40  are preferably shaped in accordance with the description thereof as set forth in the just noted patent application Ser. No. 12/125,206, which description is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the rollers  50  are preferably the rollers described in the just noted patent application Ser. No. 12/125,206, which description is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the rollers  50  have axles  56  and the sockets  40  have axle receiving channels  48 . The socket axle receiving channels  48  and the roller axles  56  are sized such that the rollers  50  can be snap fitted into the sockets  40 . Thus, the roller can be easily removed from the socket if necessary, and without the use of tools. The ability to remove rollers  50  from the sockets  44  enhances the ability to configure (or reconfigure) the dock and port assemblies incorporating the port members  20 ,  220 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the rollers  50  extend well above the cradle surface  36 . In fact, approximately one-half of the roller is above the cradle wall  36 . 
     The port member includes a pair of holes  51  ( FIG. 2 ) which is formed in the cradle walls  36  spaced slightly rearwardly from the forward-most roller socket. The holes  51  are closed at their bottoms, and thus are provided with drainage ports  51   a . As seen in  FIG. 6D , the holes  51  have a slightly curved wall, such that the circumference of the holes  51  decreases towards the bottom of the hole  51 . Although the holes  51  have downwardly curving walls, the holes  51  could be generally cylindrical if desired. Furthermore, the holes  51  could be any polygonal shape desired. 
     Additionally, the port member  20  includes a pair of post holes  53  positioned slightly forward of the holes  51  and slightly behind of the forward-most roller socket  40 . As seen in  FIG. 6B , the post holes  53  have an upper section  53   a  and a lower section  53   b . The lower section  53   b  has an upwardly and inwardly tapering side wall  53   c . That is, the diameter of the lower section  53   b  is greater at the bottom of the port member  20  than at the junction between the two post hole sections  53   a  and  53   b . The post hole upper section  53   a  is larger in diameter than the lower section  53   b , and hence, a shoulder  53   d  is formed at the juncture of the two post hole sections. The diameter of the post hole  53  at the shoulder  53   d  is sized to allow a pier post to pass through the hole  53  and to allow the port member  20  to float up and down on the water surface relative to the pier post as water level changes or in response to wave action at the port member  20 . The post holes  53  are shown to be generally cylindrical to correspond to the shape of the posts that are commonly used. However, if desired, the post holes  53  could be in other configurations (i.e., square, triangular, etc), as long as the post holes  53  are sized and shaped to allow the pier post to pass therethrough and to permit the port member to move vertically relative to the pier post as water level changes in response to changes in the water depth of the body of water in which the port assembly is located or to accommodate wave action. 
     The entrance section  37 , at the back of the port member  20 , is fairly wide. As can be seen, at the back of the entrance section, the entrance section extends across substantially eighty percent of the width of the port member. The entrance section is defined by a pair of rearwardly and inwardly sloping surfaces  54  ( FIG. 2 ) which extend from a surface  57 . The surface  57  slopes downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from an outer end of the ramp surface  54 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the downwardly and outwardly sloped surface  57  is visible when the port member is viewed in side or end elevation. Thus, the surface  57  will be visible to boaters from the water. Hence, the surface  57  can be used, for example, as a place to place a logo or other branding marks M. Additionally, the surface  57  could be used for reflective elements, lights, or identifying indicia (such as port numbers for a series of ports). The surfaces  54  define a ramp which leads into the cradle  32 . Actually, the surfaces  54  include an outer portion  54   a  and an inner portion  54   b . The inward or lateral slope of the inner portion  54   b  is greater than the inward or lateral slope of the outer portion  54   a , and the inner portions  54   b  are separated by a channel  58 . The channel  58  extends forwardly from the back edge of the entrance section substantially the length of the entrance section. 
     A cut-out  60  ( FIG. 6 ) is formed in the back edge  28  of the port entry member. The cut-out  60  is generally centered relative to the width of the back edge, the port entrance section  37  and the entrance channel  58 . Sloped surfaces  62  are formed on opposite sides of the cut-out  60 . Axle receiving slots  64  are formed in the surfaces. A roller  66  ( FIG. 4 ) is mounted in the cut-out  60 . An axle  68  extends through the roller  66  and is received in the axle receiving slots  64 . A plate  70  covers the slots  64  to maintain the axle in the slots (and hence to maintain the roller  66  in the cut-out  60 . In an illustrative embodiment, the roller  66  has a variable diameter, such that the diameter of the roller decreases from the outer end of the roller toward the center. At its center, the roller  66  includes a groove  66   a  which effectively separates the roller  66  into left and right halves. The length and rearward slope of the walls  54  of the entrance section  37  are such that the roller  66  is at the water level, or even below the water level when the port member  20  is empty (i.e., without a watercraft on the port member). Because the rear end the of entrance section (i.e., the edge  28  of the port member) is at or below water level, and because the roller  66  is at or below water level, it is easier to drive a PWC onto the port member  20 . 
     A further roller socket  70  ( FIG. 6 ) is positioned at the juncture of the entrance section  37  and the cradle  36 . The roller socket  70  is centered relative to the width of the port member  20  and the cradle and entrance section channels  38  and  58 , respectively. The roller socket  70  is generally rectangular in top plan. A shoulder  72  ( FIG. 6A ) is formed on opposite sides of the socket; and an axle receiving slot  74  is formed in each shoulder. The socket  70  also includes a drain hole  76 . A roller  77  (FIG.  2 ) on an axle is mounted in the socket  70 . The roller is held in place by plates  80  which are secured to the pocket shoulders  72 . The roller  77  is substantially identical to the roller  66 , and thus will not be described further. 
     The side walls  24  and the front end wall  26  of the port member  20  include a plurality of channels  82  which extend generally vertically the height of the port side walls  24 . When two port members  20  are connected side-to-side, or when the port member  20  is adjacent a dock member, the channels  82  of the adjacent members will be generally aligned. Hence, the channels  82  will define drain holes between adjacent members to allow water additional avenues to flow off the surface of the port member  20 . 
     Each side wall  24  also includes hand hold area  84  ( FIG. 1 ). The hand hold areas  84  are defined by generally trapezoidal recesses in the side walls  24 . As seen, one hand hold area  84  is formed near the front of the port member and a second is formed near the forward end of the port member cradle section. The hand hold areas  84  provide an area for people to lift the port member when the port member is being installed or removed from the water. A hole  86  is formed above each hand hold area  84 . The holes  86  provide a place for a cleat to be attached to the port member  20 . In place of a cleat, a rope or rope loop can also be fastened to one or more of the holes  86  of the port member  20 . If a rope or rope loop is to be secured to the port member, then the rope is passed through the hole  86 , and knots are formed in the rope on opposite sides of the hole. 
     Lastly, the side walls  24  and the front wall  26  include connector sockets  88 . The connector sockets receive connectors  90 , two of which are shown in  FIG. 1 . The connectors  90  are formed complementarily to the connector sockets  88 . The connector sockets and the connectors are substantially the same as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,055, but could be as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,608. The description of the connectors from both of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, the connector comprises a pair of bulbous ends connected together by a narrower section. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connector has a generally “dog bone” shape. However, the connector ends could be of any other desired shape, so long as the connector will resist being pulled horizontally out of the connector socket  88 . The connector can be a single piece, as shown in the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,608, or the connector can comprise upper and lower portions  90   a,b  which are connected by a rod  90   c , as seen in  FIG. 5 . In this latter instance, the connector socket includes upper and lower socket portions  88   a,b  connected by a channel  88   c . Additional connector sockets  88  are positioned at the back end of the port member  20  rearwardly of the rear hand hold  84  and at the center of the front wall These connector sockets only have sockets at the bottom of the port, and hence are not used for connecting two port members together or for connecting a port member to a dock member. Rather, the these connector sockets are provided to secure accessories, such as covers, canopies, storage boxes, light poles, etc., to the port member  20 . 
     The bottom  30  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of the port member  20  is somewhat similar to the bottom of the port shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,872, which is incorporated herein by reference. The bottom  30  includes an elongate channel  92  extending along the center of the port bottom  30  substantially the full length of the port bottom  30 . Several spaced apart cone-shaped indentations  94  are formed in the channel  92 . A cross-channel  96  extends across, and generally perpendicularly to, the elongate channel  92 . The cross-channel  96  is substantially shorter than the elongate channel  92 . A plurality of laterally extending, generally rectangular recesses  98  are formed on opposite sides of the elongate channel  92 . The rectangular recesses  98  are positioned generally below the roller sockets  40 . The recesses have side and end walls that slope slightly inwardly. Additionally, the upper surface  98   a  slopes from the inner end to the outer end, such that the end wall of the recess closer to the channel  92  is shorter than the end wall of the recess closer to the port side wall  24 . A pair of longitudinally extending, generally rectangular recesses  100   a,b  are positioned beneath the port deck surfaces  34 . The recesses  100   a,b  are generally similar, except for the fact that recess  100   b  (which is forward or recess  100   a ) is longer than recess  100   a . The recesses  100   a,b  have generally vertical end walls, however, the side walls slope inwardly slightly, such that the opposed side walls of a recess  100   a,b  are closer together at the top of the recess than at the bottom of the recess. The recesses  100   a,b  include a plurality of channels  102  which extend across the upper surface  102   a  of the recesses  100   a,b . The channels  102  are generally equally spaced apart and extend between the side walls of the recesses. The tops of the channels  102  contact, or are spaced slightly below, the top surface  22  of the port member  20 , and thus provide some support for the port upper surface  22 . An additional pair of longitudinally extending generally rectangular recesses  104  is positioned on opposite sides of the elongate channel  92  near the forward end of the port member  20 . The recesses  104  are positioned generally beneath the forward most roller sockets  40  and the holes  51  and between the post holes  53 . An additional pair of laterally extending generally rectangular recesses  106  is positioned below the entrance section  37 . The port bottom includes laterally and longitudinally extending ribs or ridges  108   a,b,  respectively. The ridges  108   a,b  form a series of boxes. Some of the boxes surround single recesses, some surround multiple recesses, and some do not surround any recesses. A series of the ridges outline the elongate channel  92  and the cross channel  96 . 
     Lastly, the port bottom  30  includes a sloped wall  110  which leads to a lower surface  112 . The sloped wall  110  and lower surface  112 , in conjunction with the port side walls  24  and end edge  28  form an enlarged hollow section in the port (as seen, for example, in  FIG. 6A ) below the entrance section  37 . This enlarged hollow section provided for increased buoyancy at the entrance to the port member  20 . When a watercraft is cradled in the port member, the motor, and hence heaviest part of the watercraft is at the back of the watercraft, and is therefor positioned on or near the entrance section  37 . Thus, this enlarged hollow section provides increased buoyancy for the heaviest part of the watercraft. 
     As noted above, the port member  20  is hollow, and thus is buoyant and will support a watercraft. The various recesses in the bottom surface  30  provide additional stability to the port member to reduce rocking of the port member, for example, in response to small waves. 
     The port extension member  220  is shown generally in  FIGS. 9-13 . The port extension member  220  is substantially similar to the entry member  20 , and hence will not be described in quite as much detail. The extension member  220  includes a top surface  222 , side walls  224 , a front wall  226 , a back wall  228  and a bottom surface  230 . The top surface  222  is comprised of a cradle  232  which is substantially identical to the cradle  32  of the entrance member  20 ; however, the cradle  232  of the extension port extends the full length of the extension member  220  (and opens out the front and back walls of the extension member). Because the cradle  232  is longer than the cradle  32 , the cradle  232  includes more roller sockets  240 , which are identical to the roller sockets  40 . On either side of the cradle  232 , the extension member  220  includes deck surfaces  234 . At the forward end of the cradle, the extension member  220  includes holes  251  and post holes  253 . The sides  224  and front  226  are identical in construction to the sides  24  and front  26  of the port entrance member  20 , and hence will not be described. The back wall  228  as seen is generally V-shaped. That is, rather than having a straight or flat bottom, as at the front wall, the bottom edges of the back wall are generally parallel to the top edges of the back wall. As seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the extension bottom includes a downwardly and rearwardly sloping surface  250  and downwardly and inwardly sloping surfaces  252  which are separated by a generally flat surface  254 . The surfaces  250 ,  252  and  254 , in conjunction with the back surface  228 , define an enlarged hollow area to provide more buoyancy at the back of the port extension member  220 . 
     The extension member includes connector sockets  288  at the front, back and side walls. The connector sockets  288  are identical to the sockets  88  of the entrance member  20 . Hence, extension members can be connected together in tandem or side-by-side, or, an extension member can be connected to the front of an entry member to form an elongate, tandem port assembly. 
     As noted above, the port system includes two bow stops which can be positioned on the port members  20 ,  220 . The first bow stop is a full bow stop  300  and the second bow stop is a smaller bow stop  350 ,  350 ′,  350 ″. The full bow stop  300  is intended to be essentially fixed to the port member. While it can be removed, it is not intended to be removed on a frequent basis. However, the smaller, half, bow stop  350 ,  350 ′,  350 ″ is intended to be removed regularly. 
     The full bow stop  300  ( FIGS. 14-17 ) includes a top surface  302 , side surfaces  304 , a front surface  306 , a back surface  308 , and a bottom surface  310 . The bow stop has a width equal to the width of the port members  20 ,  200 , and a length sufficient to cover the forward two roller sockets  40  of the entrance member  20  or the forward most roller socket  240  of the extension member  220 . The top surface is generally flat, and includes channels  311  which extend across the top surface. Post holes  312  extend from the top surface through to the bottom surface. The post holes  312  are positioned on the bow stop  300  to be aligned with the post holes  53 ,  253  of the port entrance member or extension member, respectively, when positioned on either of the two port members. As with the post holes  53 ,  253 , the post holes  312  have an upper section  312   a  and a lower section  312   b  which is smaller in diameter. Hence, a shoulder  312   c  is formed at the bottom of the upper section  312   a . Connector sockets  314  are positioned at the front and sides of the bow stop. The connector sockets  314  are identical in shape to the connector sockets  88  and are positioned to be vertically aligned with the front and side connector sockets of an entrance member  20  or extension member  220  when positioned thereon. Although the bow stop  300  is shown with a generally flat top surface  302 , the top surface could be provided with modifications such that the surface is not all flat. For example, a storage compartment could be formed in part of the top surface. Such a storage compartment would represent a raised area on the top surface  302 . 
     The back surface  308  has generally vertical wall sections  320  at the outer ends of the bow stop  300 . These vertical sections have a width approximately equal to the width of the deck surfaces  34 ,  234  of the entry and extension members  20 ,  220 . The wall sections  320  are connected by a generally V-shaped section  322  defined by a pair of outwardly and downwardly sloping walls  324  connected by a generally U-shaped portion  326 , which also slopes downwardly. Hence, the walls  324  slope in both a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane. The sloped shape of the V-shaped section  322  approximates the shape of a bow of a watercraft, such as a PWC. 
     The bottom surface  310  of the bulk head  300  is shaped complementarily to the upper surface  22 ,  222  of the port entry and extension members  20 ,  220 . To this end, the bottom surface has outer generally horizontal surfaces  330  which are sized to overlie the deck surfaces  34 ,  234  of the entry and extension members  20 ,  220 . Because the deck surfaces  34 ,  234  are below the outer ends of the cradle walls  36 ,  236 , the bow stop  300  has a surface  332  that curves or slopes upwardly from the inner edge of the outer surfaces  330 . Surfaces  334  extend diagonally inwardly and downwardly from the inner edge of the surfaces  332 . The surfaces  334  have a slope and shape corresponding substantially to the slope and shape of the cradle walls  36 ,  236 . The inner ends of the sloped surfaces  334  are connected by a rib  336  which is shaped generally complementarily to the cradle channel  38 . 
     In use, the full bow stop  300  is placed on a port member (either the entrance member  20  or the extension member  220 ) with the forward end of the bow stop flush with the forward end  26 ,  226  of the member  20 , 220 . As noted, the bottom surface  330  of the bow stop is shaped correspondingly to the upper surface of the port members. Thus, the rib  336  will be received in the cradle channel  38 , and the surfaces  330  and  334  will generally rest on their corresponding surfaces  34 ,  234  and  36 ,  236  of the port member  20 ,  220 . The fit of the bow stop  300  on the port member will help align the bow stop postholes  312  with the postholes  53 ,  253  of the port members  20 ,  200  and the connector sockets  314  with the port member connector sockets  88 ,  288 . The bow stop  300  is secured to the port member  20 , 220  by means of the connectors  90 . A full connector  90  (i.e., a full dog-bone connector as seen in  FIG. 1 ) can be used if the port member with the bow stop  300  is to be connected to another port member  20 , 220  or if the port member is to be connected to a dock member. If the port member is to be used by itself, then a half connector can be used, such as is used to connect accessories to the port member or dock members. As noted above, the bottom surface  330  of the bow stop  300  lies adjacent the upper surface  22 ,  222  of the port member. Hence, the roller sockets that lie beneath the bow stop must not have any rollers in them; otherwise the rollers will interfere with the placement of the bow stop on the port member. The bow stop bottom surface  330  could be provided with recesses which would receive the rollers covered by the bow stop. This would eliminate the need to remove the rollers upon installation of the full bow stop  300 . The rollers closest to the bow stop could be removed if desired. In this instance, the port can be provided with a cover plate (not shown) which could snap into place to cover the socket. 
     An alternative full bow stop  300 ″ is shown in  FIGS. 18A-E . The primary difference between the bow stop  300  ( FIGS. 14-17 ) and the bow stop  300 ′ is the shape or configuration of the V-shaped section  322 ′ which receives the bow of a watercraft. As best seen in  FIGS. 18C and 18D , the watercraft bow receiving section  322 ′ includes a first or entry portion  322   a  which leads into a narrower inner portion  322   b . A curved portion  326 ′ joins the ends of the inner portions  322   b .The entry portion  322   a  is defined by a pair of inwardly sloping walls  324   a  and the inner portion  322   b  is defined by a pair of more steeply angled walls  324   b . Finally, the inner portion walls  324   b  are defined by upper portions  327   a  and lower portions  327   b . The lower portion  327   b  is more vertically oriented, which the upper portion  327   a  slopes inwardly from the deck surface of the bow stop  300 ′. Lastly, a bar  325  extends between the walls of the inner portion  322   b  just forward of the curved portion  326 . Additionally, as can be seen, the deck surface of the bow stop is provided with a textured surface. 
     The small bow stop  350  is shown in  FIGS. 19-24 . The bow stop  350 , as will be described below, is intended to be easily removable. It is, as noted, smaller than the full bow stop  300 , and has a width approximately equal to the width of the cradle  32 ,  232 . The bow stop  350  has a generally flat top surface  352 , a front surface  354  which slopes rearwardly and downwardly, side edges  356 , a back surface  358 , and a bottom surface  360 . Holes  361  extend through the bow stop, from the top surface  352  to the bottom surface  360 . The holes  361  can accept fasteners (such as bolts, screws, or the like) to fix the bow stop  350  to the port member  20 ,  220 , should that be desired. 
     A handle member  362  rises up from the top surface. The handle member has a front-to-back width, at its base, of about one-half the front-to-back width of the bow stop top surface. The front surface of the handle member has an upper generally vertical section  364   a  and a lower section  364   b  which curves to meet the bow stop upper surface  352 . The handle member back surface forms part of the back surface  358  of the bow stop. The handle member/bow stop back surface  358  curves inwardly from its outer edges and downwardly and rearwardly from its upper edges. To this end, the surface  358  approximates the shape of a bow of a watercraft, such as a PWC, to receive a PWC bow. As seen in  FIG. 27A , the back surface can narrow considerably, such that at the bottom of the rear surface, the rear surface has a width which will allow it to fit between the roller sockets  40  of the port members. In this example, the back surface in essence forms a rearwardly extending tongue. As seen in  FIGS. 19 and 22  the back surface  358  which receives the watercraft bow need not be quite so long, and can extend to a point approximately mid-way between the forward most rollers of the port member  20 ,  220 . At its top, the handle member  362  includes a hole  370 . The hole  370  is positioned on the handle member, and sized such that a user can grasp the handle member and lift the bow stop. 
     Arced cutouts  372  are formed in the side edges  356 . The width of the bow stop  350  is such that it would cover the post holes  53 ,  253  of the port members. Hence, the cutouts  372  are positioned to be aligned with the port member post holes  53 ,  253  so that the post holes will not be covered by the bow stop  350 . Additionally, the cutouts  372  can engage the posts passing through the post holes, and the engagement of the bow stop with the postholes can help maintain the bow stop in place on the port member. 
     The bottom surface  360 , like the bottom surface of the bow stop  300 , is shaped complementarily to the cradle  32 ,  232  of the port members  20 ,  220 . The bottom surface includes a small flat surface  374  which lies on top of the deck surfaces  34 ,  234 . The majority of the bottom surface is defined by surfaces  376  which slope inwardly and downwardly. As with the full bow stop  300 , the small bow stop includes a rib  378  at its center which is shaped complementarily to the port member cradle channel  38 , and which is received in the cradle channel when the bow stop is placed on the port member  20 ,  220 . The sloping surfaces have a slope approximately equal to the slope of the cradle surfaces  36 ,  236 . To facilitate positioning of the bow stop  350  on the port member, the bow stop includes a pair of posts  380  which extend downwardly from the sloped surface  376  and are positioned, sized and shaped to be received in the holes  51 ,  251  of the port members  20 ,  220 . The posts  380  are generally similar in shape to the port member holes  51 ,  251 . Both the posts  380  and the holes  51 ,  251  are shown to be generally circular in plan. However, the posts  380  could be in other shapes (square, triangular, polygonal, etc) if desired, as long as the posts  380  can be received within the holes  51 ,  251  of the members  20 ,  220 . Additionally, the bow stop includes recesses  381  in the sloped surfaces  376  which are sized and shaped complimentarily to the roller sockets  40  and are positioned to be aligned with the roller sockets  40  when the bow stop  350  is placed on the port member. The recesses  381  have curved surfaces similar to the curved surface of the roller sockets  40 , such that the top portion of a roller  50  can be received in the recess  381  when the bow stop  350  is placed on a port member. Hence, placement of the bow stop  350  on a port member does not require that rollers  50  be removed from the port member. Rather, when the bow stop  350  is placed on the port member, the rollers  50  in the forward most sockets  40  will be enclosed by the bow stop recesses  381 . As noted above, the full bow stop  300  could be provided with similar recesses. The engagement of the posts  381  with the holes  51 ,  251  and of the cutouts  372  with support posts is such that the bow stop  350  can be easily removed from the port member for reasons as will be described below. To prevent the bow stop from inadvertently being lost, the bow stop can be tethered to the port member. For example a tether  373  (in the form of a rope, bungee cord, etc.) can extend either through the handle hole  370  or one of the corner holes  361  of the bow stop  350  at one end of the tether, and at the other end, the tether can extend through the hole  86  of one of the hand hold areas  84 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the small bow stop is shown in  FIGS. 25A-C . The bow stop  350 ′ is substantially identical to the bow stop  350 . However, it is much narrower (from front to back) and hence, the top flat surface  352 ′ does not extend forwardly of the handle section  362 ′. Thus, the front of the bow stop  350 ′ is generally vertical, and is defined by the front surface  364 ′ of the handle and the front  354 ′ of the bow stop body. The front to back width of the bow stop  350 ′ is sized such that the bow stop  350 ′ will not cover any of the rollers  50  of the port member  20 ,  220 . Hence, the sloped surface  376 ′ of the bottom surface  360 ′ do not include cavities, such as the roller receiving cavities  381  of the bow stop  350 . Because the bow stop  350 ′ is smaller than the bow stop  350 , it will be lighter, and hence easier to remove from the port member  20 ,  220  during normal use of the port member  20 ,  220 . 
     The small bow stops  350  and  350 ′ as noted, are generally the same except from their front-to-back length. The front-to-back length could be varied such that the bow stop length is between the lengths of the two bow stops  350 ,  350 ′. In this instance, such a bow stop would have some flat surface forward of the handle  362 ,  362 ′, however, such a flat surface would not be as long as the surface  352  of the bow stop  350 . 
     Another alternative small bow stop  350 ″ is shown in  FIGS. 26A-B . The bow stop  350 ″ is between the bow stops  350  and  350 ′ in size, and has commonalities with both the small bow stops  350  and  350 ′. The bow stop  350 ″ has a front-to-back length equal to the front-to-back length of the small bow stop  350 . Thus, when the bow stop  350 ″ is placed on a port member  20 , 220 , the bow stop  350 ″ will cover the forward most rollers on the port member. Hence, like the bow stop  350 , the bottom  360 ″ is provided with pockets  381 ″ which are positioned to be aligned with the roller sockets  40 ,  240  of the port members  20 ,  220 . In view of this commonality, the bottom  360 ″ of the bow stop  350 ″ is identical to the bottom  360  of the bow stop  350 . This can be seen from a comparison of  FIGS. 26B and 23 . Like the bow stop  350 ′, the bow stop  350 ″ has a flat front surface  364 ″ and a back surface  358 ″ which essentially extends length of the bow stop from the back edge of the bow stop. As can be seen by comparing  FIGS. 26A and 25B , the bow stop back surface  358 ″ is longer and has a shallower slope. In fact, the bow stop back surface  358 ″ can be divided into a lower portion  358   a  and an upper portion  358   b . The lower portion  358   a  has a steeper slope than the upper portion  358   b ; and, in fact, the slope of the lower portion  358   a  corresponds generally to the slope of the back surface of the bow stop  350 . The shallower back surface  358 ″ defines a longer bow receiving portion for the bow stop. This allows for the bow stop to receive a wider variety of watercraft. The bow stop  350 ″, like the bow stop  350 ′, is narrower than the bow stop  350 . Thus, the bow stop  350 ″ does not need the cutouts on the sides to accommodate pier posts. This will make the bow stop  350 ″ somewhat easier to position on, and remove from, the port member  20 ,  220 . However, due to the decreased side-to-side width, the bow stop  350 ″ has outwardly extending protrusions which accommodate the pockets  381 ″, as seen in  FIG. 26B . 
     As noted above, the use of the two types of port members (an entrance member  20  and an extension member  220 ) allows for watercraft ports to be configured in numerous ways.  FIGS. 27A-B  show an entrance member  20  and an extension member  220  connected in tandem. The extension member  220  is provided with a full bow stop  300  and the entrance member  20  is provided with a small bow stop  350 ″. This configuration allows for two watercraft to be stored in tandem on the tandem port assembly. To allow the first (or forward) watercraft onto the port assembly, the small bow stop  350 ″ will be lifted out of the way, and the watercraft can then be driven onto the tandem port into the forward position. The small bow stop can then be repositioned on the entry member  20 , and the second (or rear) watercraft can be driven on to the port. If the small bow stop is tethered to the port entry member  20 , then, when the watercraft are driven off the port assembly, the small bow stop can be allowed to float in the water without fear of loosing the bow stop. Although this figure shows one extension member  220 , it will be appreciated that two, three or more extension members can be connected in tandem with an entry member  20  to make a port assembly of a desired length. 
     In other configurations, the entry member can be used alone with either the small bow stop  350 ′ ( FIG. 28A ) or the full bow stop  300  ( FIG. 28B ). In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 27A-B  (and  FIG. 28D ), the full bow stop in the member  220  can be replaced with a small bow stop, as shown in FIG.  28 C. Two entry members  20  can be connected together head-to-head with no bow stop, with one small bow stop, with two small bow stops ( FIG. 28E ), or with two full bow stops ( FIG. 28F ). If two entry members are connected together head-to-head with either no bow stops or just the one small bow stop, then the configuration would allow for a watercraft to be driven on to the port assembly and then driven off the port assembly in a forward direction. This could be beneficial for servicing of watercraft. In  FIGS. 28A-E , the port assemblies are shown by themselves. The port assemblies shown in  FIGS. 28A-E  use the small bow stop  350 ′ when small bow stops are used. Either of the other small bow stops  350 ,  350 ″ could also have been used. However, the bow stop  350 ′ has the added benefit that two of the bow stops can be placed adjacent each other, as seen in  FIG. 28E . The two small bow stops  350 ″ could also be placed face-to-face in the same manner. 
     In  FIGS. 29A-D , the port assemblies are shown connected to, or assembled as part of a port configuration. As seen in  FIGS. 29A-D , when the port members are connected head to head and provided with the full bow stops  300 , the upper surface of the bow stops  300  become part of the dock surface to allow access to the ports. In fact, as seen in  FIG. 29D , a gangway to the dock assembly is connected to the full bow stops, rather than to a dock member of the assembly. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, although the port system is described for use with PWC&#39;s, it could be used with other watercraft as well. The small bow stop  350  could be smaller such that the bow stop  350  does not extend the full width of the port cradle. In this instance, the bow stop  350  would cover only a portion of the rollers of the pair of rollers. Further, depending on the placement of the bow stop on the port member, and the position of the rollers on the port member, the bow stop  350  may not cover any rollers.