Patent ID: 7168384

Claim:
A brake apparatus for a water craft which includes a hull, comprising: a craft attachment unit adapted to be attached to the hull of the water craft, at least one hinge assembly/hinge-to-plate connection bracket connected to said craft attachment unit, a brake plate connected to said at least one of said combined hinge assembly/hinge-to-plate connection brackets, and a brake plate control assembly connected to said brake plate, said brake plate control assembly adapted to be operable by an operator of said water craft between a first locked or nonbraking condition and a second braking condition where said brake plate is moved relative to said hull to cause braking of said water craft, wherein said brake plate control assembly includes a brake cable, and a cable winder assembly connected between said brake cable and said brake plate for moving said brake plate, said cable winder assembly including a resilient member for automatically maintaining said brake plate in said first or nonbraking condition.