Apparatus for securing a watercraft to a dock

Apparatus for securing a watercraft to a dock, said apparatus comprising:

• a beam having means thereon for mounting said beam to a dock, said beam comprising a pair of adjacent, generally parallel legs, each leg having a free end and outwardly facing sides, each said free end having an end section, each said end section being bent towards the other leg;
• a channel member slidably carried by said beam for movement there along, said channel member comprising a channel web and a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom, said channel member being sized and configured to receive said beam between said flanges such that said end sections of said legs of said beam lie adjacent said channel web of said channel member;
• and a plate attached to but spaced apart from said channel web such that at least a portion of said end sections lie between said plate and said channel member such that said plate slidably engages said end sections of said legs, whereby said channel member is slidably attached to said beam;
• a first arm and a second arm, each having first and second ends, said first end of said first arm being attached to said channel member;
• a flexible connector having a first end attached to said second end of said first arm and a second end attached to said first end of said second arm;
• and
• an attaching means attached to said second end of said second arm, said attaching means having means thereon for attaching said apparatus to a watercraft.