Patent ID: 8256366

Claim:
A boatlift for paddle or oar powered watercraft, the boatlift comprising a boatlift body, a first guide rail and a second guide rail, said boatlift body defining a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side; said first and second sides extending from said first end to said second end of said boatlift body, an elongate watercraft-receiving cradle extending from said first end of said boatlift body toward said second end of said boatlift body, decking on opposite sides of said watercraft-receiving cradle, and an entrance ramp to said watercraft-receiving cradle, said entrance ramp being positioned at said first end of said boatlift body; said first guide rail being positioned adjacent to said first side of said watercraft-receiving cradle and said second guide rail being positioned adjacent to said second side of said watercraft-receiving cradle; said first and second guide rails each comprising an approach portion and a boatlift portion; said approach portions of said guide rails extending from said first end of said boatlift body in a direction away from said second end of said boatlift body to extend over water when said boatlift is positioned in water such that said approach portions of said guide rails have an end which is spaced rearwardly from said first end of said boatlift body such that the approach portions of the guide rails in combination define an approach lane having an approach entrance spaced rearwardly from said entrance ramp and said first end of said boatlift body; said approach lane extending at least from said approach entrance to the entrance ramp of the boatlift body; said boatlift portion of said guide rails extending forwardly along said watercraft-receiving cradle toward said second end of said boatlift body; each said guide rail further comprising at least one grab bar extending generally horizontally along said rail; said at least one grab bar being positioned on said guide rail to be at a height where a boater sitting in a paddle or oar powered watercraft could reach said grab bar; said first and second guide rails being spaced apart from each other a distance sufficient to allow a paddle or oar powered boat to pass therebetween, yet allowing a boater to simultaneously grab the grab bars of both said first and second guide rails.