Boat docking stabilizer

Abstract

An improved boat docking stabilizer device to an economic, compact and reliable boat mooring apparatus that stabilizes a moored boat for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat. An improved boat docking stabilizer device which may be used in pairs for mooring a boat to a dock structure or the like. This boat docking stabilizer device includes an adjustable backboard mounted perpendicularly to a dock structure by fastening means, an adjustable vertical support bracket mounted to the backboard, a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to the vertical support bracket for receiving a ball hitch mounted on a boat, and means for locking the hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved boat docking stabilizer device for mooring a boat to a dock structure that stabilizes a moored boat allowing for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers from the moored boat while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat., comprising: 
 a vertical support bracket mounted to the dock structure;    a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to said vertical support bracket for receiving a hitch ball coupler mounted on a boat; and    means for locking said hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said hitch ball coupler further comprises a handle mounted along the length of said hitch ball coupler as means for manual use of said device.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said vertical support bracket has a parallel row of apertures formed therein as adjustment means for the positioning of said vertical support bracket upon said backboard.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said hitch ball coupler may be adjusted vertically by moving pivot pin to different apertures in vertical support bracket.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said means for locking said hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position further comprises a locking pin received by apertures in the vertical support bracket such that the hitch ball coupler remains in a desired position.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a glide bar mounted on a surface extending away from said pivoting hitch ball coupler in its stored position for providing a bumping surface for the boat prior to mooring.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a pair of the device of  claim 1  positioned apart from each other on a dock such that a boat may be moored between said pair of the device.  
     
     
         8 . An improved boat docking stabilizer device for mooring a boat to a dock structure that stabilizes a moored boat allowing for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers from the moored boat while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat and permits long-term mooring of the boat without damage, comprising: 
 a backboard mounted perpendicularly to a dock structure by fastening means;    a vertical support bracket mounted to the dock structure;    a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to said vertical support bracket for receiving a hitch ball coupler mounted on a boat; and    means for locking said hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position.    
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said hitch ball coupler further comprises a handle mounted along the length of said hitch ball coupler as means for manual use of said device.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said backboard has a parallel row of apertures formed therein as adjustment means for the positioning of said backboard relative to said dock.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a glide bar mounted on a surface extending away from said pivoting hitch ball coupler in its stored position for providing a bumping surface for the boat prior to mooring.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of the device of  claim 8  positioned apart from each other on a dock such that a boat may be moored between said pair of the device such that the moored boat rides on the water without damage to either the boat or the dock.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , such that the pair of the device of  claim 8  could be mounted for use on a larger boat to moor a smaller boat thereto.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a glide bar mounted on a surface extending away from said pivoting hitch ball coupler in its stored position for providing a bumping surface for the boat prior to mooring.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , whereby the hitch assembly can be secured against pivotal movement by use of a locking pin at the pivoting hitch ball coupler.  
     
     
         16 . An improved boat docking stabilizer device for mooring a boat to a dock structure that stabilizes a moored boat allowing for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers from the moored boat while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat and permits long-term mooring of the boat without damage, comprising: 
 a backboard mounted perpendicularly to a dock structure by fastening means;    a vertical support bracket mounted to the dock structure;    a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to said vertical support bracket for receiving a hitch ball coupler mounted on a boat;    means for locking said hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position; and    a handle mounted along the length of said hitch ball coupler as means for manual use of said device.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said backboard has a parallel row of apertures formed therein as adjustment means for the positioning of said backboard relative to said dock.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a pair of the device of  claim 16  positioned apart from each other on a dock such that a boat may be moored between said pair of the device such that the moored boat rides on the water without damage to either the boat or the dock.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a glide bar mounted on a surface extending away from said pivoting hitch ball coupler in its stored position for providing a bumping surface for the boat prior to mooring.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , whereby the hitch assembly can be secured against pivotal movement by use of a locking pin at the pivoting hitch ball coupler.