Boat rope controller

A boat rope controller for a boat rope which is used for water skiing or other related water sports, anchoring and general marine towing, said boat rope controller comprising:

• mounting means attached to the rear of a boat for providing occupants of the boat with an uninterrupted view;
• a framework including two substantially parallel support arms, one end of said framework engaging said mounting means at an angle to extend said framework generally upward from said mounting means and rearward of the boat;
• a reel means mounted for free rotation to said framework between and near the central portion of said two support arms for containing said boat rope;
• a pulley mounted for free rotation to said framework between and at the end of said two support arms opposite said mounting means, said pulley and said reel means being substantially aligned whereby said boat rope can readily pass to or from said reel means via said pulley;
• mode control means operable with said reel means for selectively securing said reel means to prevent its rotation and for releasing said reel means to allow its rotation;
• driving means attached to said reel means for rotating said reel means, said driving means being removable from said rope controller and said driving means and said mode control means being operable from a safe position with the boat;
• rope guide means cooperatively associated with said reel means and said pulley for restricting the movement of said boat rope relative to said reel means and said pulley and, thereby, preventing malfunctions due to tangling and knotting of the boat rope within the rope controller;
• a service cover mounted to said framework, said service cover, together with said framework, forming a substantially contiguous outer surface around said contained boat rope and any internal parts whereby said service cover and said framework protect the occupants of the boat form the potential danger of internal moving parts, shield the occupants from spewing water from rotating internal parts and the boat rope, deter unauthorized tampering and dismantling of the rope controller, and protect internal parts and the boat rope from environmental elements;
• and
• cover locking means operable with said service cover for locking said service cover to said framework, said cover locking means including drive locking means for securing said driving means while allowing for removal of said driving means and said service cover being not removable when said driving means is secured, whereby inadvertent or unauthorized access to or dismantling of said rope controller is prevented.

A rope controller for a boat rope which is used for water skiing or other related water sports, anchoring and general towing, said boat rope controller comprising:

• mounting means attached to the rear of a boat;
• a framework comprising two substantially parallel support arms for engaging said mounting means at an angle to extend generally upward from said mounting means and rearward of the boat;
• a reel means comprising
• a shaft mounted for free rotation to said framework between and near the central portion of said two support arms and
• a reel firmly mounted to said shaft and having a central channel for receiving said boat rope;
• a pulley mounted for free rotation to said framework between and near the end of said two support arms opposite said mounting means, said pulley and said reel means being substantially aligned;
• control means operable with said reel means for selectively securing said reel means to prevent its rotation and for releasing said reel means to allow its rotation, said control means comprising
• a gear connected to said shaft and
• a ratchet assembly connected to said framework for selectively engaging said gear;
• ratchet locking means connected to said framework for preventing said ratchet assembly from disengaging said gear, said ratchet locking means comprising a first rod inserted through said framework and connected to said ratchet assembly, said first rod including a first eye external to said framework;
• driving means inserted through said framework and removable from said rope controller for rotating said reel means;
• drive locking means connected to said framework for securing said driving means while allowing for removal of said driving means, said drive locking means comprising a second rod inserted through said framework and selectively engaging said driving means to prevent its removal from said controller, said second rod including a second eye external to said framework;
• and
• a third eye firmly mounted to said framework and aligned with said first and second eyes when said ratchet locking means and said drive locking means are in their respective locked positions whereby a lock can be inserted through said first, second, and third eyes to prevent operation, access or theft of said rope controller.