摘要 |
A mooring apparatus having an elongated tubular housing wherein the housing is adapted for positioning between a boat and a dock while providing positive control in two directions. A pin for fixing an elongated helical spring within the housing is disposed adjacent the dock engaging end thereof. An end cap, including a pair of spaced apart cable guiding apertures, is provided at the dock end of the housing. A cable, for engagement of a dock stanchion or piling, is looped through the end cap apertures and around the pin for slideable movement thereabout. A second cable, looped through a pair of guiding apertures in an end cap at the boat end of the housing, engages the elongated spring at the end opposite the fixed end, the second cable being adapted for attachment to a boat cleat. Bumpers, fixed at each end of the elongated housing help pad points of contact between boat, dock and apparatus, thereby substantially reducing shock to the inner housing of the apparatus. In operation, the combination of spring, cables and cable guiding end caps cooperate to dampen sudden boat movements and, even under extreme conditions, to transfer loads away from the spring and cables by achieving a slow load transfer, thereby stabilizing the boat and preventing damage to boat and dock.
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