Accessory retention system for watercraft

Abstract

A retention system for an accessory for use with a watercraft such as a kayak has a bracket configured to be attached to a body of the watercraft and a retainer member attached to the bracket movably between a first orientation with respect to the bracket and a second orientation with respect to the bracket. The retainer member is configured to receive a mounting base, to which a sonar transducer can be mounted. The retainer member is attached to the bracket so that, when the bracket is attached to the body and the mounting base is received by the retainer member, then in the retainer member's first orientation, the mounting base is received by the retainer member so that the sonar transducer is adjacent the elongated body proximate the deck. In the retainer member's second orientation, the mounting base is received so that the sonar transducer is below the hull.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retention system for use with a watercraft, the watercraft comprising an elongated body, comprising a forward end, a rearward end opposite the forward end along the body's dimension of elongation, a hull extending from the forward end to the rearward end and forming a bottom of the body, and a deck extending from the forward end to the rearward and forming a top of the body, the retention system comprising:
 a bracket configured to be attached to the body;   a retainer member attached to the bracket movably between a first orientation with respect to the bracket and a second orientation with respect to the bracket; and   a mounting base received by the retainer member, the mounting base having a proximate end and an opposite distal end;   wherein, when the bracket is attached to the body and the retainer member is attached to the bracket,
 in the retainer member's first orientation, the mounting base is received by the retainer member so that the mounting base distal end is adjacent the elongated body proximate the deck, 
 in the retainer member's second orientation, the mounting base is received by the retainer member so that the mounting base distal end is below the deck, and 
 in the retainer member's second orientation, the mounting base is outward of a side of the body extending between the forward end and the rearward end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a sonar transducer coupled with the mounting base distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft is a kayak. 
     
     
         4 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein the bracket extends outward of a perimeter of the body defined by the forward end, the rearward end, and opposing sides of the body at one of the opposing sides of the body so that the retainer member is outward of the perimeter, wherein each opposing side extends between the forward end and the rearward end. 
     
     
         5 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member comprises a collar that at least partially encloses an outer perimeter of the mounting base. 
     
     
         6 . The retention system as in  claim 5 , comprising a selectively engageable lock between the collar and the mounting base. 
     
     
         7 . The retention system as in  claim 6 , wherein the lock comprises a manually actuatable threaded screw that extends through a wall of the collar so that a distal end of the threaded screw is selectively engageable, upon the threaded screw's rotation, with an outer surface of the mounting base. 
     
     
         8 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member is attached to the bracket pivotably about an axis. 
     
     
         9 . The retention system as in  claim 8 , comprising a first stop between the retainer member and the bracket that blocks rotation of the retainer member with respect to the bracket beyond the first orientation away from the second orientation and a second stop between the retainer member and the bracket that blocks rotation of the retainer member with respect to the bracket beyond the second orientation away from the first orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The retention system as in  claim 8 , comprising a lock between the bracket and the retainer member, the lock between the bracket and the retainer member being configured to resist movement of the retainer member out of the first orientation and to resist movement of the retainer member out of the second orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting base is an elongated, generally cylindrical member. 
     
     
         12 . The retention system as in  claim 11 , comprising a handle attached to an end of the generally cylindrical member opposite the mounting base distal end. 
     
     
         13 . The retention system as in  claim 1 , wherein
 the bracket is configured to be attached to the deck and to extend across and outward of a perimeter of the body defined by the forward end, the rearward end, and opposing sides of the body at one of the sides of the body, wherein each opposing side extends between the forward end and the rearward end,   the bracket comprises a collar disposed at least partially outward of the perimeter;   the mounting base comprises an elongated pole received by the collar so that the collar at least partially encloses an outer perimeter of the pole,   wherein when the bracket is attached to the body and the collar is attached to the bracket,
 in the collar's first orientation, the pole's dimension of elongation is generally parallel to the body's dimension of elongation, and 
 in the collar's second orientation, the pole's dimension of elongation is generally perpendicular to the body's dimension of elongation. 
   
     
     
         14 . The retention system as in  claim 12 , further comprising
 a selectively engageable first lock between the collar and the pole, and   a selectively engageable second lock between the bracket and the collar, the second lock being configured to resist movement of the collar out of the first orientation and to resist movement of the collar out of the second orientation.   
     
     
         15 . A retention system for use with a watercraft having an elongated body with a forward end, a rearward end opposite the forward end along the body's dimension of elongation, a hull extending from the forward end to the rearward end and forming a bottom of the body, and a deck extending from the forward end to the rearward end and forming a top of the body, the retention system comprising:
 a bracket configured to be attached to the body;   a retainer member attached to the bracket movably between a first orientation with respect to the bracket and a second orientation with respect to the bracket, wherein the retainer member is configured to receive an elongated pole; and   at least one watercraft accessory coupled with a distal end of the elongated pole,   wherein the retainer member is attached to the bracket so that, when the bracket is attached to the body and the elongated pole is received by the retainer member,
 in the retainer member's first orientation, the elongated pole is received by the retainer member so that the elongated pole is adjacent the elongated body proximate the deck, 
 in the retainer member's second orientation, the elongated pole is received by the retainer member so that the elongated pole's dimension of elongation is generally perpendicular to the body's dimension of elongation, and 
 in the retainer member's second orientation, the mounting base is outward of a side of the body extending between the forward end and the rearward end. 
   
     
     
         16 . The retention system of  claim 15 , wherein when the bracket is attached to the body, in the retainer member's second orientation the watercraft accessory is below the hull. 
     
     
         17 . The retention system as in  claim 15 , wherein
 the bracket is configured to be attached to the deck and to extend across and outward of a perimeter of the body defined by the forward end, the rearward end, and opposing sides of the body at one of the sides of the body, wherein each opposing side extends between the forward end and the rearward end,   the bracket comprises a collar disposed at least partially outward of the perimeter;   the elongated pole is received by the collar so that the collar at least partially encloses an outer perimeter of the pole,   wherein when the bracket is attached to the body and the collar is attached to the bracket,
 in the collar's first orientation, the pole's dimension of elongation is generally parallel to the body's dimension of elongation, and 
 in the collar's second orientation, the pole's dimension of elongation is generally perpendicular to the body's dimension of elongation. 
   
     
     
         18 . The retention system as in  claim 17 , further comprising
 a selectively engageable first lock between the collar and the pole, and   a selectively engageable second lock between the bracket and the collar, the second lock being configured to resist movement of the collar out of the first orientation and to resist movement of the collar out of the second orientation.   
     
     
         19 . A retention system for use with a watercraft, the watercraft comprising an elongated body comprising a forward end, a rearward end opposite the forward end along the body's dimension of elongation, a hull extending from the forward end to the rearward end and forming a bottom of the body, and a deck extending from the forward end to the rearward end and forming a top of the body, the retention system comprising:
 a bracket configured to be attached to the body; and   a retainer member attached to the bracket movably between a first orientation with respect to the bracket and a second orientation with respect to the bracket, the retainer member configured to receive an elongated pole;   wherein when the bracket is attached to the body, the retainer member is attached to the bracket, and the elongated pole is received in the retainer member,
 in the retainer member's first orientation, the pole is received by the retainer member so that the pole's dimension of elongation is generally parallel to the body's dimension of elongation, and 
 in the retainer member's second orientation, the pole's dimension of elongation is generally perpendicular to the body's dimension of elongation. 
   
     
     
         20 . The retention system of  claim 19 , further comprising a sonar transducer coupled with a distal end of the elongated pole.