Patent ID: 7047900

Claim:
A watercraft storage apparatus for storing a watercraft in water, the watercraft having a hull and a bow, two sides, and an aft, comprising: an inflatable portion that surrounds the sides and the bow of the watercraft above the waterline and is sized to provide protection of an above waterline section of the hull from damage that can be caused from wave action or from other objects striking or coming into contact with the hull; a flexible, water-impervious, lower sheet section attached to the inflatable portion that envelops the under waterline section of the hull; and a moveable aft section mounted to the inflatable portion that allows for entry and exit of the watercraft from an area bounded by the inflatable portion and the aft section, wherein the inflatable portion maintains a general U-shape due to air pressure in the inflatable portion, wherein the inflatable portion lacks a rigid frame structure, and wherein the movable aft section includes a rigid portion defining a general U-shape, wherein the aft section includes a U-shaped drop-down gate defined by rigid tubing that is movable up or down, wherein the drop-down gate is selectively controllable by an air bladder and an air pump.