Watercraft stabilizing paddle holder

Abstract

A watercraft stabilizing paddle holder and a water craft stabilizing paddle holder kit, the kit comprising a shaft brace having a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement, a shaft holder having a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement, and a mounting stand.

1 . A water craft stabilizing paddle holder kit comprising:
 a shaft brace having a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement;   a shaft holder having a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement; and   a mounting stand.   
   
   
       2 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces comprise frictional surfaces for inhibiting axial shaft displacement therein. 
   
   
       3 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the shaft brace comprises a rigid elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the kit includes a clamp for securing the mounting stand to a watercraft. 
   
   
       5 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein said mounting stand comprises a portion of a watercraft. 
   
   
       6 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein said mounting stand comprises a shape that conforms to a section of a coaming of a watercraft. 
   
   
       7 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces of said shaft holder form a set of axially extending ears that are spaced from each other to permit inserting of a paddle shaft therebetween. 
   
   
       8 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  including:
 a bolt having a free end extending from said shaft brace;   a bolt having a free end extending from said shaft holder; and   
     a first locking member rotatably mountable to said bolt of said shaft brace and a second locking member rotatably mountable to said bolt of said shaft holder for securing said shaft holder and said shaft brace to said watercraft. 
   
   
       9 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces of said shaft brace comprises a paddle shaft-supporting slot. 
   
   
       10 . The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of  claim 1  wherein the kit includes an adhesive for securing the shaft brace and the shaft holder to a watercraft. 
   
   
       11 . A watercraft paddle stabilizing system for transversely securing a paddle shaft thereon without the aid of tools comprising:
 an elongated watercraft having a central axis;   a shaft brace; and   a shaft holder and the shaft brace secured to the top side of the watercraft so that when a paddle shaft is placed in said shaft brace and said shaft holder the paddle shaft extends transverse to the central axis of the watercraft.   
   
   
       12 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  wherein the shaft brace and the shaft holder are spaced from each other. 
   
   
       13 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  wherein the shaft brace and the shaft holder include frictional surfaces for inhibiting axial slippage therein. 
   
   
       14 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  wherein the shaft holder includes a set of axially extending ears that are spaced from each other to permit inserting of a paddle shaft therebetween. 
   
   
       15 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 14  wherein the set of axially extending ears extend past each other so that when a shaft is inserted between and past the ears the shaft can be rotated into a condition to prevent a vertical release of the paddle shaft. 
   
   
       16 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  wherein the shaft brace and shaft holder are integral to the watercraft. 
   
   
       17 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  including an adhesive securing the shaft holder and the shaft brace to the topside of the watercraft. 
   
   
       18 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  wherein the shaft brace includes at least one paddle shaft-supporting slot for supporting said paddle shaft thereon. 
   
   
       19 . The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of  claim 10  including a mounting stand securing the shaft holder and the shaft brace to the watercraft. 
   
   
       20 . A method of temporarily securing a stabilizing shaft to a watercraft without the aid of tools comprising the steps of:
 extending a portion of a paddle shaft past a set of spaced apart ears;   rotating the paddle shaft until the paddle shaft is vertically restrained by the spaced apart ears and is transverse to a central axis of the watercraft; and   lowering a further portion of the paddle shaft into a slot in a shaft brace to prevent lateral displacement of the paddle shaft so that the spaced apart ears and the shaft brace coact to hold the paddle shaft transverse to the central axis of the watercraft to enable the paddle shaft to form a ground stabilizing leg as a person enters or exits the watercraft.