Boat lifting device

#The present invention relates to devices for lifting boats or personal watercraft. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hydraulicly operated platform that may be secured to a boat or a structure. Further still, the present invention improves upon available boat lifts by providing a boat lift that is capable of raising and lowering the platform in a substantially horizontal manner.

#Boat lifts have long been available for use with large luxury watercraft such as personal yachts where boat lifts are utilized to raise and lower a smaller boat or dinghy that could be used to transport people to and from shore where the yacht had to be anchored offshore. With the increased popularity of personal watercraft such as JetSkis® or Waverunners® there is an increased need for a boat lift that is capable of raising and lowering these personal watercraft in and out of the water. Although there are many boat lifts available, many have substantial shortcomings or are too large to be attached to a pleasure craft such as a yacht or a house boat. Further still, many of the boat lifts were designed to raise and lower small inflatable boats or dinghies where weight distribution is not an important consideration.

#Many of the presently available boat lifts utilize at least one hydraulic cylinder, or more likely two hydraulic cylinders operating in tandem to raise and lower the platform. Although, the two hydraulic cylinders are capable of providing the forces necessary to raise and lower the platform, many times the platform is not sufficiently rigid. Thus, when a personal watercraft is disposed upon the platform and the hydraulic cylinders are activated to lift the platform, many times the platform will lift at an angle due to the unbalanced weight disposed on the platform. This unbalanced condition makes it difficult for a person to stand on the platform because the unbalanced condition makes it unsafe.

#The features of the present invention are illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein like numeral have been utilized to denote the same or similar features, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a top view of the lifting device in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an end view of the lifting device in accordance with the present invention.

#In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lifting device configured to be connected to a boat. The lifting device includes a platform, wherein the platform is configured to receive a boat or personal watercraft thereon.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of the lifting device 100 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting device is configured to be attached to the transom of a boat 10. The boat 10 may be a pleasure craft such as a luxury yacht, sailboat, or other similar types of boats.

#Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an end view of a boat 10 including the lifting device 100 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting device 100 is fixedly attached to the transom of the boat 10 through attachment members 160 and 165. The lifting device 100 is shown disposed in a raised position, wherein the first platform 120 is raised to a position that is substantially parallel to the deck surface of the boat 10 to which the lifting device 100 is attached.