Motor lift assembly

Abstract

A motor lift assembly having a first side plate and a second side plate oppositely disposed from the first side plate. The motor lift assembly further includes a motor mount that is selectively moveable relative to the first and second side plates and a ladder assembly disposed on at least one of the first and second side plates. A method of extending a ladder assembly includes the step of pulling the ladder assembly from a motor lift assembly where the ladder assembly is engaged with the motor lift assembly.

1 . A boat comprising:
 a transom;   a motor lift assembly mounted to the transom, wherein the motor lift assembly includes:
 a first side plate defining a first channel; 
 a second side plate being oppositely disposed from the first side plate, wherein the second side plate defines a second channel; 
 a motor mount having a first side end and a second side end that are selectively slidably engaged with the first channel of the first side plate and second channel of the second side plate, respectively; 
 a first actuator assembly having a first actuator body and a first piston, the first actuator body being connectedly engaged with the first side plate and the first piston being connectedly engaged with the motor mount; 
 a second actuator assembly having a second actuator body and a second piston, the second actuator body being connectedly engaged with the second side plate and the second piston being connectedly engaged with the motor mount, wherein the first and second actuator assemblies selectively raise and lower the motor mount in the first and second channels relative to the first and second side plates; and 
   an outboard motor mounted to the motor mount of the motor lift assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A boat as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fitting being in fluid communication with the first and second actuator assemblies and a pump disposed in a rear storage area of the boat, wherein the fitting passes through the transom. 
     
     
         3 . A boat as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator body and the first side plate are monolithic and the second actuator body and the second side plate are monolithic. 
     
     
         4 . A boat as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a ladder assembly disposed the motor lift assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A boat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the ladder assembly is disposed on one of the first side plate and the second side plate. 
     
     
         6 . A boat as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the ladder assembly includes:
 a body;   an extension rod connectedly engaged with the body and adapted for sliding engagement with a rod support disposed between the first and second side plates, wherein at least one of the first and second side plates includes an opening to the rod support; and   a step extender that is pivotally engaged with the body, wherein the step extender includes a step.   
     
     
         7 . A boat as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the step is pivotally engaged with the step extender. 
     
     
         8 . A motor lift assembly comprising:
 a first side plate defining a first channel;   a second side plate being oppositely disposed from the first side plate, wherein the second side plate defines a second channel;   a motor mount having a first side end and a second side end that are selectively slidably engaged with the first channel of the first side plate and second channel of the second side plate, respectively;   a first actuator assembly having a first actuator body and a first piston, the first actuator body being connectedly engaged with the first side plate and the first piston being connectedly engaged with the motor mount; and   a second actuator assembly having a second actuator body and a second piston, the second actuator body being connectedly engaged with the second side plate and the second piston being connectedly engaged with the motor mount, wherein the first and second actuator assemblies selectively raise and lower the motor mount in the first and second channels relative to the first and second side plates.   
     
     
         9 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first actuator body and the first side plate are monolithic and the second actuator body and the second side plate are monolithic. 
     
     
         10 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a ladder assembly disposed on one of the first and second side plates. 
     
     
         11 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the ladder assembly includes:
 a body;   an extension rod connectedly engaged with the body and adapted for sliding engagement with a rod support disposed between the first and second side plates, wherein at least one of the first and second side plates includes an opening to the rod support; and   a step extender that is pivotally engaged with the body, wherein the step extender includes a step.   
     
     
         12 . A motor lift assembly comprising:
 a first side plate;   a second side plate oppositely disposed from the first side plate;   a motor mount selectively moveable relative to the first and second side plates; and   a ladder assembly disposed on at least one of the first and second side plates.   
     
     
         13 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the ladder assembly includes:
 a body;   an extension rod outwardly extending from the body, wherein the extension rod is adapted for selective slidable engagement with a rod support disposed between the first and second side plates; and   a step connectedly engaged with the body.   
     
     
         14 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein both of the first and second side plates include an opening for accessing the rod support. 
     
     
         15 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the step is connected to a step extender that is pivotally engaged with the body. 
     
     
         16 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the step is pivotally connected to the step extender. 
     
     
         17 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a first side end of the motor mount is slidably engaged with a first channel defined by the first side plate and a second side end of the motor mount is slidably engaged with a second channel defined by the second side plate. 
     
     
         18 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a first actuator assembly connectedly engaged with the first side plate and the motor mount and a second actuator assembly connectedly engaged to the second side plate and the motor mount. 
     
     
         19 . A motor lift assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a first actuator body of the first actuator assembly and the first side plate are monolithic and a second actuator body of the second actuator assembly and the second side plate are monolithic. 
     
     
         20 . A method of extending a ladder assembly, the method comprising pulling a ladder assembly from a motor lift assembly, wherein the ladder assembly is engaged with the motor lift assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A method of extending a ladder assembly as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a body of the ladder assembly is pulled away from a side plate of the motor lift assembly such that an extension rod connectedly engaged with the body extends from the side plate; 
     
     
         22 . A method of extending a ladder assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the extension rod is slidably engaged with the side plate. 
     
     
         23 . A method of extending a ladder assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising pivoting a step extender about a pin member, wherein the pin member pivotally engages the step extender to the body. 
     
     
         24 . A method of extending a ladder assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising, pivoting a step about a pivot member, wherein the pivot member pivotally engages the step to the step extender.