Patent ID: 7036451

Claim:
An apparatus for mounting underwater marine detection equipment on a waterborne vessel comprising: a baseplate having means to be secured to the side of the waterborne vessel, the baseplate extending outward from the side of the waterborne vessel, over the surface of the water; a shaft holder bracket rotatable mounted to the baseplate, such that the shaft holder bracket may rotate in a plane parallel to the forward and reverse direction of the waterborne vessel from a first position to a second position, the shaft holder bracket having a through passageway to receive a shaft; an elongate shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions being rotatable joined and separable, the elongate shaft being slidably engaged through the passageway in the shaft holder bracket, such that the elongate shaft can rotate and slide within the shaft holder bracket, the shaft holder bracket having means to secure the elongate shaft from rotation and sliding, the elongate shaft having an end above the shaft holder bracket, the end above the shaft holder bracket having a handle; the elongate shaft being long enough to extend below the bottom surface of the waterborne vessel when the shaft holder bracket is in the first position, the elongate shaft being totally out of the water when the shaft holder bracket is rotated to the second position; a marine detection equipment mount rotatably and adjustably attached to the lower portion of the elongate shaft, such that the marine detection equipment mount can rotate 360 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the water, the marine detection equipment mount having means to secure marine detection equipment; a first shaft catch mounted to the baseplate and aligned below the rotatable shaft holder bracket when the shaft holder bracket is in the first position, the first shaft catch having an opening to receive and to frictionally hold the elongate shaft, such that the elongate shaft may be frictionally held when the shaft holder bracket engaging the elongate shaft is rotated to the first position, and whereby the elongate shaft may be released from the first shaft catch if a force strikes the elongate shaft below the surface of the water; and a second shaft catch mounted to the baseplate on the forward side of the baseplate and aligned with the passageway of the shaft holder bracket when the shaft holder bracket is in the second position, the second shaft catch having an opening to receive and frictionally hold the elongate shaft when the shaft holder bracket engaging the elongate shaft is rotated to the second position.