Described is an apparatus for securing a boat to a dock or other marine structure that moves with the boat as the boat is raised and lowered by waves or the tide. The apparatus is secured to a dock or other marine structure and includes a track, preferably in a shape similar to that of an I beam, a carriage that moves along the track, and a bumper that is attached to a front portion of the carriage. The boat is secured to either a mooring line or mooring cleat on the carriage. As the boat is raised or lowered by waves or the tide, the carriage is also raised or lowered along the track accordingly. The bumper is secured to the outside of the carriage and prevents the boat from being damaged if the boat collides with the bumper.

A structure includes a bracket and a vertical member. The vertical member includes a vertical member top end and a vertical member bottom end. The vertical member is affixed to the bracket. The structure further includes at least one bumper. The at least one bumper is affixed to the vertical member bottom end via a bumper connecting structure. The structure further includes an arm member. The arm member includes an arm member first end and an arm member second end. The arm member second end is affixed to the vertical member top end. In another aspect, a structure includes a support, and affixed to the support, a bracket. The structure further includes, affixed to the support via a bumper connecting structure, at least one bumper. The structure further includes, affixed to the support, an arm member.

A structure includes a bracket and a vertical member. The vertical member includes a vertical member top end and a vertical member bottom end. The vertical member is affixed to the bracket. The structure further includes at least one bumper. The at least one bumper is affixed to the vertical member bottom end via a bumper connecting structure. The structure further includes an arm member. The arm member includes an arm member first end and an arm member second end. The arm member second end is affixed to the vertical member top end. In another aspect, a structure includes a support, and affixed to the support, a bracket. The structure further includes, affixed to the support via a bumper connecting structure, at least one bumper. The structure further includes, affixed to the support, an arm member.

A mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) comprising a socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) having a seat (15a, 15a; 15b, 15b; 15c, 15c; 15d, 15d) and a connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d), wherein the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is receivable, such as removably receivable, in the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and rotatable on the seat (15a, 15a; 15b, 15b; 15c, 15c; 15d, 15d). A method of configuring a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) wherein the method comprises providing a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) and locating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) in the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and/or on the seat (15a, 15a; 15b, 15b; 15c, 15c; 15d, 15d), and rotating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) until the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is retained by the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d). A method of configuring a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d), wherein the method comprises providing a mooring apparatus (5a; 5b; 5c; 5d) and rotating the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) until the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) is not retained by the socket (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and moving the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) from the seat (15a, 15a; 15b, 15b; 15c, 15c; 15d, 15d).

A method of reserving a mooring beacon includes activating an application programming interface in communication with a database of mooring sites; transmitting a wireless signal from the application programming interface to a first mooring site within the database of mooring sites; selecting the mooring beacon from the first mooring site; receiving a location and availability of the mooring beacon; and reserving the mooring beacon for a desired reservation time. The mooring beacon is attached to each mooring site for purposes of instantaneous confirmation of availability and location. Safety, navigation ease, local weather and drop off and pick up data are also permitted by the mooring beacon enabling the owner to work toward full capacity mooring use.

A method of reserving a mooring beacon includes activating an application programming interface in communication with a database of mooring sites; transmitting a wireless signal from the application programming interface to a first mooring site within the database of mooring sites; selecting the mooring beacon from the first mooring site; receiving a location and availability of the mooring beacon; and reserving the mooring beacon for a desired reservation time. The mooring beacon is attached to each mooring site for purposes of instantaneous confirmation of availability and location. Safety, navigation ease, local weather and drop off and pick up data are also permitted by the mooring beacon enabling the owner to work toward full capacity mooring use.

A system and method for maintaining a connection between a floating dock and a fixed piling during a flood event. The system includes a piling sleeve that is adapted to telescopically and slidably fit over and around a fixed piling, wherein the piling is fixed into the ground below the surface of the water, and extends upwardly through an opening in a floating dock. The piling sleeve includes a catch mechanism attached to an upper portion of the piling sleeve. The catch mechanism is designed to catch or engage the floating dock when the dock rises with the water to a pre-determined level. The piling sleeve may freely slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to both the piling and floating dock, and when flood waters rise, the catch mechanism causes the sleeve to rise with the dock while maintaining an extended connection to the piling.

A system and method for maintaining a connection between a floating dock and a fixed piling during a flood event. The system includes a piling sleeve that is adapted to telescopically and slidably fit over and around a fixed piling, wherein the piling is fixed into the ground below the surface of the water, and extends upwardly through an opening in a floating dock. The piling sleeve includes a catch mechanism attached to an upper portion of the piling sleeve. The catch mechanism is designed to catch or engage the floating dock when the dock rises with the water to a pre-determined level. The piling sleeve may freely slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to both the piling and floating dock, and when flood waters rise, the catch mechanism causes the sleeve to rise with the dock while maintaining an extended connection to the piling.

A single mount, dock supported hammock frame that is removably securable to a pre-existing dock post. A first end of the hammock frame is configured to pivot about the connection with the dock post. A hammock can then be secured to opposing ends of the frame and positioned over a body of water near the dock when in use. The frame rises vertically from the dock and horizontally away from the mounting post to secure a hammock from above the hammock, allowing the hammock to freely swing over the water surface.

A mooring apparatus (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) comprising a socket (15a; 15b; 15c; 15d), a connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d), and an arrangement (25a; 25b; 25c; 25d) for positioning and/or controlling the disposition of the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) relative to the socket (15a; 15b; 15c; 15d), the connection member (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d) being receivable and/or retainable in the socket (15a; 15b; 15c; 15d). A method of configuring a mooring apparatus (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d), wherein the method comprises providing the mooring apparatus (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d), the method further comprising connecting a first portion of a line (35) to a line engaging apparatus (30a) and positioning or extending the line (35) around the positioning arrangement (25a; 25b; 25c; 25d).