Patent ID: 6928949

Claim:
A combination boat and stabilizer comprising: (a) a small boat having a forward end, an aft end, first and second sides connecting the forward end to the aft end, a top rail extending along the first and second sides of the boat, and a transverse axis extending between the first and second sides of the boat; and (b) a boat stabilizer system which includes first and second stabilizer units, each stabilizer unit including: (1) a body with a distal end and a proximal end, (2) a float fixedly mounted on the distal end of the body wherein the float includes a main float portion, at least one adjustable float portion, and a strap with fastening means structured to secure the at least one adjustable float portion vertically relative to the main float portion, (3) a lock unit on the body between the proximal and distal ends of the body, the lock unit including an over-center clamping means, and (4) a connecting joint structured to connect the proximal ends of the bodies of the first and second stabilizing units to each other; and (c) wherein each strap of the first and second stabilizer units includes an orifice for receiving the distal end of the respective body therethrough, the orifice being spaced such that the fastening means of the strap is located above the respective float as the strap secures the at least one adjustable float portion vertically relative to the main float portion; and (d) wherein, in use: (1) the proximal ends of the bodies of the first and second stabilizer units are connected together at the connecting joint and are located inside the boat, (2) the stabilizer system extends across the boat in the direction of the transverse axis of the boat and the distal ends of the bodies of the first and second stabilizer units are located outside the boat, and (3) the lock units of the first and second stabilizer units releasably engage the top rail of a respective side of the boat.