Gunnel mount

Abstract

A gunnel mount for a watercraft includes a base portion configured to be detachably mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft, and a top portion extending from the base portion. The top portion is configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gunnel mount comprising:
 a base portion configured to be detachably mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft;   a top portion extending from the base portion, the top portion configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The gunnel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises at least one adjustable clamp arm. 
     
     
         3 . The gunnel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a width that is greater than a width of the gunnel, and a plurality of fasteners that releasably engage with one or more side surfaces or bottom surfaces of the gunnel. 
     
     
         4 . The gunnel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a first adjustable clamp arm and a second adjustable clamp arm. 
     
     
         5 . The gunnel mount of  claim 4 , wherein the first adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially parallel to the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The gunnel mount of  claim 4 , wherein the first adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The gunnel mount of  claim 6 , wherein the first adjustable clamp is configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft and the second adjustable clamp is configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft. 
     
     
         8 . The gunnel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel. 
     
     
         9 . The gunnel mount of  claim 8 , wherein the transverse member comprises a lower surface comprising a non-slip material. 
     
     
         10 . The gunnel mount of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the of the gunnel mount is adjustable to fit different gunnel widths. 
     
     
         11 . A gunnel mount comprising:
 a base portion configured to be mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft with one or more attachment members;   a top portion configured to be detachably coupled to the base portion, the top portion configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.   
     
     
         12 . The gunnel mount of  claim 11 , wherein the gunnel mount further comprises at least one fastener configured to detachably connect the top portion to the base portion. 
     
     
         13 . The gunnel mount of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a spring clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The gunnel mount of  claim 13 , wherein the spring clamp comprises a head and a tip, wherein the head comprises a pivotable tension arm and the tip comprises a flange, wherein the pivotable tension arm is configured to engage an upper side of the top portion and the flange is configured to engage a lower side of the base portion. 
     
     
         15 . The gunnel mount of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a first adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a first direction, and a second adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a second direction, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         16 . The gunnel mount of  claim 15 , wherein the first adjustable clamp is configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft and the second adjustable clamp is configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft. 
     
     
         17 . The gunnel mount of  claim 11 , wherein the base portion comprises a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel, the transverse member comprising a slip-resistant or padding material. 
     
     
         18 . The gunnel mount of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the of the gunnel mount is adjustable to fit different gunnel widths. 
     
     
         19 . A method of connecting a gunnel mount to a gunnel of a watercraft, the method comprising:
 positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel with portions of the gunnel mount facing an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top surface of the gunnel;   operating at least one attachment member carried by the gunnel mount to engage at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the gunnel to releasably secure the gunnel mount to the gunnel, the gunnel mount being configured to releaseably mount at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment to the gunnel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel include arranging a portion of the gunnel mount facing a downward facing surface of the gunnel, and operating the at least one attachment member includes engaging the downward facing surface of the gunnel.