Adjustable Gunnel - Mount Boat Tower

Abstract

A boat tower is disclosed that includes a boat tower riser fixed at a lower end to a plurality of pivots and that is selectively positionable between a raised position and a lowered position or any position therebetween. At least one linear actuator is further included that includes a piston moveable between a retracted position and an extend position. Each linear actuator has a distal end connected to the riser and a proximal end connected to the boat, or, in an alternate embodiment, to one of a plurality of pivot supports. In such an alternate embodiment, each pivot support includes an upper end engaged at least indirectly to one of the pivots to support same, and a lower end fixed to the boat. The boat tower may further include at least one elongated, rigid riser linkage having an upper end connected to the boat tower riser, and a lower end connected to the distal end of the linear actuator, such that the boat tower riser may travel back and forth between the raised and lowered positions in accordance with the position of the piston of each linear actuator.

1 . A boat tower for a boat, comprising:
 a plurality of pivots;   a boat tower riser fixed at a lower end to each pivot and further including an upper end, the boat tower riser pivotable between a raised and a lowered position; and   at least one linear actuator having a piston moveable between a retracted and an extended position, the linear actuator having a distal end and an opposing proximal end, the distal end connected to the riser and the proximal end connected to the boat;   whereby with the linear actuator in the extended position, the boat tower riser is moved to its raised position, and with the linear actuator in the retracted position, the boat tower riser is in its lowered position.   
   
   
       2 . The boat tower of  claim 1  further including a plurality of pivot supports each engaged proximate an upper end thereof to one of the pivots, and each fixed at a lower end thereof to the boat. 
   
   
       3 . The boat tower of  claim 1  further including at least one elongated rigid riser linkage having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connected to the boat tower riser, the lower end connected to the distal end of the linear actuator. 
   
   
       4 . The boat tower of  claim 3  wherein the upper end of the riser linkage is pivotally connected to the boat tower riser, and the lower end of the riser linkage is pivotally connected to the distal end of the piston. 
   
   
       5 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the linear actuators is a pneumatic cylinder. 
   
   
       6 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the linear actuators is a motor-driven screw drive, the piston having a screw thread for traveling between the extended and retracted positions thereon. 
   
   
       7 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the linear actuators is a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
       8 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein each linear actuator is fixed to an inside surface of the boat in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
   
   
       9 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end of each linear actuator is pivotally fixed to the boat. 
   
   
       10 . The boat tower of  claim 2  wherein the proximal end of each linear actuator is pivotally fixed to one of the pivot supports. 
   
   
       11 . The boat tower of  claim 1  wherein each pivot is generally in the same horizontal plane.