Alignment guide for pontoon boat lift

Abstract

An alignment guide for a pontoon boat lift that includes a pair of laterally spaced rails, where the spacing corresponds to the spacing between the pontoon floats. The rails are attached to the boat lift by adjustable brackets, so they are positioned at an elevation above the waterline of the pontoon floats, and below the deck that is supported by the floats. A stop bar is positioned at an elevation above the boat motor and extends between rail extensions that are directed downwardly and rearwardly from the spaced rails. The alignment guide functions to provide support under the deck of the pontoon boat, to limit movement of the craft from port and starboard, and to stop the craft when it has advanced to the full forward position to keep it properly positioned bow to stern.

1 . A boat lift alignment guide for a pontoon boat having a pair of laterally spaced pontoon floats supporting a deck, and a motor operably mounted to a rear portion of the deck and disposed to extend down below the floats, the guide comprising:
 a pair of laterally spaced rails, the rails being generally horizontally disposed and spaced apart at a distance corresponding to spacing between the pontoon floats;   wherein the rails are operatively attached to the boat lift and disposed at an elevation above a waterline of the pontoon floats and below the deck when the boat lift is in a lowered position, whereby the rails capture and guide the pontoon floats as the pontoon boat advances toward a full forward position on the boat lift, while limiting movement of the pontoon boat with respect to port and starboard.   
     
     
         2 . The guide of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of downwardly directed extensions, each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of one of the pair of extensions is attached to one of the pair of a rails, and the upper end of another of the pair of extensions is attached to another of the pair of rails; and   a stop bar attached to and interconnecting the lower ends of the pair of extensions, wherein the stop bar is disposed at an elevation above a lowermost portion of the boat motor, whereby the boat motor contacts the stop bar when the pontoon boat reaches the full forward position to locate the pontoon boat bow to stern at a desired point on the boat lift.   
     
     
         3 . The guide of  claim 2 , wherein the extensions are directed downwardly and rearwardly. 
     
     
         4 . The guide of  claim 1 , wherein the rails are made of an extrusion having a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The guide of  claim 4 , wherein the extrusion is formed of metal. 
     
     
         6 . The guide of  claim 5 , wherein the metal extrusion is formed of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The guide of  claim 6 , wherein the aluminum extrusion is enclosed in a polymer casing. 
     
     
         8 . The guide of  claim 7 , wherein the polymer casing is extruded. 
     
     
         9 . The guide of  claim 8 , wherein the extruded polymer casing is slid around and onto the aluminum extrusion. 
     
     
         10 . The guide of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer extrusion is formed of polyurethane. 
     
     
         11 . An alignment guide for a watercraft, comprising:
 a pair of elongated laterally spaced rails, the rails being spaced at a predetermined distance apart, and operably attached to a complementary aquatic device;   the predetermined distance being sized to capture and matingly receive a portion of the watercraft as it advances toward a full forward position on the complementary aquatic device, whereby the side-to-side movement of the watercraft is limited.