Apparatuses and Methods Useful for Centering Watercraft

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods useful for helping to center watercraft—such as personal watercraft, ski boats, fishing boats, luxury boats, and the like—as they are docked (such as on trailers or watercraft-lifting systems), especially in rough waters and/or strong crosswinds.

1 . An arm that floats in water, the arm having (a) a surface that is configured to contact a watercraft hull, (b) a length, and (c) a passageway that is not centered along the length.  
   
   
       2 . The arm of  claim 1 , where the watercraft hull is part of a watercraft that has a longitudinal watercraft axis, and the passageway is substantially parallel to the longitudinal watercraft axis.  
   
   
       3 . The arm of  claim 1 , where the surface has a pre-contact shape that is substantially flat or bowed inwardly.  
   
   
       4 . The arm of  claim 1 , where the arm is made substantially completely of synthetic material.  
   
   
       5 . The arm of  claim 1 , where the passageway extends between two rotation-restricting openings.  
   
   
       6 . An arm that floats in water and that has a surface that is configured to contact a watercraft hull, the surface having a pre-contact shape that is either substantially flat or bowed inwardly, and the arm being configured to be pivotally coupled to a watercraft docking structure.  
   
   
       7 . The arm of  claim 6 , where the arm also has a second surface that is configured to contact a watercraft hull, the second surface having a pre-contact shape that is either substantially flat or bowed inwardly.  
   
   
       8 . The arm of  claim 6 , where the arm is made substantially completely of synthetic material.  
   
   
       9 . The arm of  claim 6 , where the arm has (i) a length and (ii) an opening that is not centered along the length.  
   
   
       10 . The arm of  claim 9 , where the opening is a rotation-restricting opening.  
   
   
       11 . The arm of  claim 6 , where the arm has a length, a longitudinal axis oriented along the length, and a passageway that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       12 . An arm that floats in water and is configured to (a) contact a watercraft hull with a surface that is generally wider than long, and (b) be pivotally coupled to a watercraft docking structure.  
   
   
       13 . The arm of  claim 12 , where the arm also is configured to contact a watercraft hull with a second surface that is generally wider than long.  
   
   
       14 . The arm of  claim 12 , where the arm is made substantially completely of synthetic material.  
   
   
       15 . The arm of  claim 12 , where the arm has (i) a length and (ii) an opening that is not centered along the length.  
   
   
       16 . The arm of  claim 15 , where the opening is a rotation-restricting opening.  
   
   
       17 . The arm of  claim 12 , where the arm has a length, a longitudinal axis oriented along the length, and a passageway that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       18 . An arm that floats in water and is configured to (a) contact a watercraft hull with a surface that is non-rolling, and (b) be pivotally coupled to a watercraft docking structure.  
   
   
       19 . The arm of  claim 18 , where the arm also is configured to contact a watercraft hull with a second surface that is non-rolling.  
   
   
       20 . The arm of  claim 18 , where the arm is made substantially completely of synthetic material.