Watercraft Launch

Abstract

A watercraft launch for safely launching and retrieving a watercraft in and out of a body of water from an elevated position has a self-adjusting stairway and hull cradle. The watercraft launch is supported for angular movement relative a seawall as the surface of the water moves between different elevations, such as between tides. The self-adjusting stairway has stair treads that move along with the launch in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position. The hull cradle moveably connected for longitudinal movement along launch between its upper and lower ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft launch comprising:
 first and second elongated, rigid frame members connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship for engaging and supporting a watercraft for sliding movement thereon;   a float supported on the surface of water for vertical movement with the surface of the water, wherein upper ends of said first and second frame members are pivotally mounted to a structure at a position elevated from the surface of the water and wherein lower ends of said first and second frame members are attached to said float, whereby said first and second frame members are supported for angular movement relative to the support structure as the surface of the water moves between different elevations; and   a hull cradle moveably connected to said first and second frame members for longitudinal movement along said first and second frame members between their upper and lower ends.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft launch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first track connected to an outward facing side said first frame member and extend along the said first frame member between its upper and lower ends;   a first roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track;   a second track connected to an outward facing side of said second frame members and extending along said second frame member between its upper and lower ends;   a second roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; and   wherein a first end of said hull cradle is connected to said first roller slide and a second end of said hull cradle is connected to said second roller slide, whereby said hull cradle extends between said first and second roller slides at a spaced distance above said first and second frames.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft launch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of stair treads pivotally supported between the first and second frame member in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the said frame members, each stair treads being pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and being pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle.   
     
     
         4 . The watercraft launch system of  claim 3 , wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . A watercraft launch comprising:
 first and second elongated, rigid frame members connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship for engaging and supporting a watercraft for sliding movement thereon;   a float supported on the surface of water for vertical movement with the surface of the water, wherein upper ends of said first and second frame members are pivotally mounted to a structure at a position elevated from the surface of the water and wherein lower ends of said first and second frame members are attached to said float, whereby said first and second frame members are supported for angular movement relative to the support structure as the surface of the water moves between different elevations;   a hull cradle moveably connected to said first and second frame members for longitudinal movement along said first and second frame members between their upper and lower ends; and   a plurality of stair treads pivotally supported between the first and second frame member in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the said frame members and wherein each stair tread moves with said first and second frame members in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position.   
     
     
         6 . The watercraft launch of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first track connected to an outward facing side said first frame member and extend along the said first frame member between its upper and lower ends;   a first roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track;   a second track connected to an outward facing side of said second frame members and extending along said second frame member between its upper and lower ends;   a second roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; and   wherein a first end of said hull cradle is connected to said first roller slide and a second end of said hull cradle is connected to said second roller slide, whereby said hull cradle extends between said first and second roller slides at a spaced distance above said first and second frames.   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft launch of  claim 6 , wherein each stair tread is pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and is pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft launch of  claim 7 , wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft launch of  claim 5 , wherein each stair tread is pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and is pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft launch of  claim 9 , wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion.