US20050066869A1

US20050066869A1 - Boat dock bumper & dockline storage system

Info

Publication number: US20050066869A1
Application number: US10/745,127
Authority: US
Inventors: Brad Alan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-29
Filing date: 2003-12-22
Publication date: 2005-03-31

Abstract

A bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for a dock facility includes an elongated bumper and mooring line receptacle for one or each mooring line, wherein each bumper and mooring line receptacle is connected with the dock facility; and further includes an abutment member connected with each mooring line at a distal end thereof. The bumper and mooring line receptacle has an interior hollow defined by a sidewall, having a slot therein along its entire length. The sidewall opposite the sot is attached to the sidewall of a selected dock facility via threaded fasteners or suitable. One bumper and mooring line receptacle can be located at the port bow, another at the starboard bow, another at the port stern and another at the starboard stern. Preferably, each of the sets of port and starboard bumper and mooring line receptacles end near each other at a generally amidship location on the gunwale where the skipper and crew/passengers enter and leave the watercraft. The mooring line is composed of conventional material used for nautical moorage, and has an abutment member at its distal end. The slot has a width either smaller than the cross-section of the mooring line such that the mooring line is forced through the slot into the interior hollow of the bumper and mooring line receptacle or is larger than the cross-section of the mooring line such that the mooring fine easily passes through the slot. Thereupon, the mooring line rests storingly in the interior hollow for storing the mooring line when not in use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent Application No. 60/506,970 Sep. 29, 2003 Confirmation #2282
A bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for a dock facility includes an elongated bumper and mooring line receptacle for one or each mooring line, wherein each bumper and mooring line receptacle is connected with the dock facility, and further includes an abutment member connected with each mooring line at a distal end thereof. The bumper and mooring line receptacle has an interior hollow defined by a sidewall, having a slot therein along its entire length. The sidewall opposite the sot is attached to the sidewall of a selected dock facility via threaded fasteners or suitable. One bumper and mooring line receptacle can be located at the port bow, another at the starboard bow, another at the port stern and another at the starboard stern. Preferably, each of the sets of port and starboard bumper and mooring line receptacles end near each other at a generally amidship location on the gunwale where the skipper and crew/passengers enter and leave the watercraft. The mooring line is composed of conventional material used for nautical moorage, and has an abutment member at its distal end. The slot has a width either smaller than the cross-section of the mooring line such that the mooring line is forced though the slot into the interior hollow of the bumper and mooring line receptacle or is larger than the cross-section of the mooring line such that the mooring line easily passes through the slot. Thereupon, the mooring line rests storingly in the interior hollow for storing the mooring line when not in use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to mooring lines used for mooring watercraft to dock facilities, and more particularly to a boat dock bumper containing a receptacle located on the dock facility for storing the mooring line in a ready to use outstretched configuration when the mooring line is not in use.
Watercraft, such as motor and sailboats, utilize fore and aft mooring lines at each of the port and starboard sides thereof to secure the watercraft to a dock facility. In this regard the dock facility generally has a number of cleats or other structures, such as pilings, to which the mooring lines of the watercraft may be connected.
Typically, a watercraft will have a mooring line for being connected with cleats on the watercraft in anticipation of future and present docking needs. Cleats are usually provided fore and aft at each of the starboard and port sides of the watercraft, whereupon four mooring lines would be needed to be connected to these four cleats.
Problematically, when a skipper leaves dock, the mooring lines may be loosely placed on the dock facility, where after they may slide off and then dangle into the water. Dangling mooring lines are, of course, unsightly, unsafe, and pose other problem on the dock facility. On the other hand, if the mooring lines are secured to some component of the dock facility to prevent potential dangling, then when the mooring lines need to be made ready for docking considerable time and effort must be expended to free the lines. This lost time could be critical if a skipper is in need of a fast securement to the dock in the event of an untoward docking situation, such as when other boats may limit free navigation or high seas or winds make docking particularly tricky.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is some effective, simple and easy to use way to hold mooring lines in a stored state; yet be instantly available when docking is imminent.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a damage preventing bumper attached to a fixed docking facility to cushion boats and the like against engagement with the structure and also provides and effective, simple and easy to use way to hold mooring lines in a stored state with respect to the dock facility, yet the mooring lines are instantly available when docking is imminent.
A bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus according to the present invention includes an elongated bumper and mooring line receptacle for each mooring line, wherein each bumper and mooring line receptacle is connected with the dock facility; and further includes a mooring line have an abutment member connected to the distal end thereof.
The bumper and mooring line receptacle has an interior hollow formed by a sidewall composed of a durable or resilient material having a longitudinal slot therein. The sidewall opposite the slot is attached to the dock facility via threaded fasteners. One bumper and mooring line receptacle is located on the dock facility near the port bow, another at the starboard bow, another at the port stern and another at the starboard stern of the watercraft. Preferably, each of the sets of port and starboard bumper and mooring line receptacles end near each other at a location on the gunwale where the skipper and crew/passengers enter and leave the watercraft, generally aship of the watercraft. The mooring line is conventional nylon or other rope material used for nautical moorage. The slot has a width larger than the cross-section of the mooring line, such that the mooring line can be easily passed through the slot into the interior hollow of the bumper and mooring line receptacle. Alternatively the slot can contain flaps composed of a resilient material that will deform when the mooring line presses up against and passes through into the interior hollow. The flaps will rebound to their original shape when the mooring line is removed from the interior hollow. The abutment member abuts the end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle to thereby prevent the distal end of the mooring line from sliding into the interior hollow.
In operation, each mooring line is then respectively slipped into its bumper and mooring line receptacle progressively along the slot thereof. When docking, the skipper or a crew member grabs a mooring line, via the abutment member thereof, on the side of a dock facility, and then pulls upon the mooring line to thereby free it from its bumper and mooring line receptacle via exiting progressively along the slot thereof. The person then secures that mooring line in a conventional way to the their respective cleat on the watercraft. Other of the mooring, lines are then grabbed at their respective abutment member, freed and tied as was done with the first mooring line. When it is time to shove-off, the mooring lines are then slipped into through the slot of the bumper and mooring line receptacles for later use when docking is to again take place.
The mooring line freely passes through the slot and is not forced there through. Alternatively when flaps are utilized, the mooring line will pass through the deformed flaps into the interior hollow The mooring line simply lays in the interior hollow of the bumper and mooring line receptacle and is held substantially taught by an abutment member which is snappably engageable into the slot. Preferably, the abutment member is adjustably positionable on the mooring line to thereby be positioned to abut the far end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle when the mooring line is resident therein. A guide member at the near end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle can aid to guide the mooring line into the slot when the mooring line is being stored there inside. Alternatively the mooring line can be secured to a hardware member (eyebolt), which is affixed to the dock facility.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for a dock facility, which provides for easy, Simple, outstretched storage of mooring lines in readiness for use when docking the watercraft. It is another object of the present invention to prevent damage to cushion boats and the like against engagement with the dock facility.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus, which provides convenient grabbing of mooring lines for rapid deployment during dockage of the watercraft. It is a further object of the present invention to provide attractive storage of mooring lines accompanied by quick ability to access the mooring lines when needed.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide simple and easy storage of mooring lines without any possibility for the mooring lines to become tangled. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide protection on the dock facility for the watercraft.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 & 2 are a plan view of a dock facility equipped with a bumper and mooring line receptacle according to the present invention in the process of docking.
FIG. 1 a is a plan view of a dock facility equipped with a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus with the guide according to the present invention in docked position.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a dock facility equipped with a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus according to the present invention utilizing an eyebolt in docked position.
FIG. 2 a is a plan view of a dock facility equipped with a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus with the eyebolt according to the present invention utilizing an eyebolt in docked position.
FIG. 3 is perspective view of the far end of a bumper and mooring line receptacle abutting the distal end of a mooring line with the eyebolt in a manner according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a detail view showing the abutment member.
FIG. 5 is a section view of a dock facility equipped with the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dock facility equipped with the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus utilizing the guide member.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view a dock facility equipped with the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus utilizing the eyebolt guide member.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a dock facility equipped with the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus with the eyebolt guide member and a clasp at the end of the mooring line.
FIG. 9 is a section view of a dock facility equipped with the integral bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawing. FIG. 1 generally depicts the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus according to the present invention in operation with respect to a dock facility 1 and a watercraft 3, wherein a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus 7 is depicted by way of example. FIG. 3 depicts the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus 7, apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown by FIGS. 1, 1 a, 2, 2 a & 5 the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus 7 for mooring line 8. The bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 is secured to the dock facility 1 thereof, preferably at a location with respect thereto which is adjacent the watercraft bumper 3 a.
Preferably, the abutment member 5 shall be located on dock facility adjacent to the port and starboard sides of the watercraft 3 where the skipper and crew/passengers enter and leave the watercraft, generally aship of the watercraft. Each bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 has an interior hollow 13, which communicates with a slot 14, running the length thereof.
As indicated by FIGS. I, 1 a, 2, & 2 a it is p to provide four bumper and mooring line receptacles 7, at each of the port bow A, starboard bow B, starboard stern C, and port stern D. In this, regard, there is one bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 , at each mooring line 8, of the four locations (port bow A, starboard bow B, starboard stern C, and port stern D) of the watercraft cleats. The proximate end of each mooring line 8 is connected conventionally (by a loop or a knot) wit a respective cleat 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The bumper and mooring line receptacles 7, each have a near end 7 a, and a far end 7 b, wherein the near end is located adjacent a respective dockcleat 2. There is preferred to be a small separation between the bumper and mooring line receptacle. Further, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is preferred for the port bow A and starboard bow B bumper and mooring line receptacles 7, to be longer than the starboard stern C and port stern D bumper and mooring line receptacles so that the far end thereof is located at midship further toward the stern, preferably about two thirds the length of the water craft as measured from the bow (indicated by point P in FIGS. 1 and 3) where the skipper and crew/passengers enter and leave the watercraft.
The mooring lines 8 are composed of any nautically suitable mooring line material, such as three-strand nylon. The mooring lines 8 each have a proximate end 8 a, which can be connected to a respective cleat 2, of the dock facility 1, as discussed hereinabove. The mooring lines 8, each have an opposite distal end 8 a, which includes an abutment member 5. The abutment member 5 is structured to interface with the far end 8 b, of a respective bumper and mooring line receptacle 7, whereby the distal end 8 b, of the mooring line 8 is abuttingly prevented from sliding into the interior hollow 13, and then becoming “lost” inside the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7. The abutment member 5 further serves as a convenient handle for a person to grab hold of to pull upon the mooring line 8, to thereby pullingly free it from storage within its bumper and mooring line receptacle 7.
As shown by FIG. 4, a preferred form of abutment member 5 is a plastic shape containing 2 halves, having a hollow through which the mooring line 8 is passed. The two halves can be connected together with adjustment screws, fasteners or clips, thus applying pressure to the mooring line 8 and preventing the distal end 8 b from passing back therethrough. In its simplest form the abutment member 5 could be an appropriately sized knot tied in the distal end of each of the mooring lines. Adjustability of position of the abutment member 5 allows for easy and simple accommodation of a new mooring line installation and possible changes in mooring line length occasioned by weather or dock conditions.
Each mooring line 8 and its respective bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 are dimensionally paired such that the distal end Bb, of the mooring line has only a relatively small overlap beyond the far end of its respective bumper and mooring line receptacle when each mooring line is connected with its respective cleat 2, as generally indicated by FIG. 2 as generally more overlap being advisable where an adjustable abutment member 5 is used). As shown in FIG. 2, the abutment member 5 abuts the far end 8 b, of the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 such that the distal end 8 b of the mooring line 8, cannot enter into the interior hollow 13.
The bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 is formed of an elongated sidewall 12, composed of a material, preferably plastic. The sidewall 12 forms the interior hollow 13 and the slot 14, provided in the sidewall communicates with the interior hollow and runs the length thereof. A preferred cross-sectional shape of the sidewall 12 is cylindrical; if, however, added stability is desired, a flattened face may be provided at the exterior or the sidewall where It interfaces with the dock facility 1.
As depicted by FIG. 5 the sidewall 12 opposite the slot 12, is attached to the dock facility 1, via a number of spaced apart threaded fasteners 15 such as screws. It is preferred to connect the bumper and mooring line receptacles 7 to the sidewall of the dock facility. This is out of the way and easily reached; however, the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 could be placed elsewhere. Wherein the slot would be oriented so that a person on a dock facility pull on the mooring line and thereby cause it to be released from the interior hollow 13, via exiting along the slot 14.
As further depicted by FIG. 9 the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus include bumper and mooring line receptacle 7, which can be integral with the dock facility 1. FIG. 9 shows an integral interior placement. Conceivably, the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus may include the guide member 9 or 16, which can be similarly integral with the dock facility 1.
In operation, each mooring line 8 is received into the interior hollow 13 of a bumper and mooring line receptacle 7, through the slot 14 thereof, wherein the mooring line 8 is thereafter removed therefrom via the slot 14 in order to be used for moorage of the watercraft 3, as shown.
The particular structure and function of the bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus 7 will now be described with greater specificity.
The bumper and mooring line receptacle 7, has an interior hollow 13 which has an inside diameter exceeding the cross-section S of mooring line 8. The slot 14 of each bumper and mooring line 8 has a width W that is larger then the cross-section S of the mooring line 8, such that the mooring line can easily slipped into the slot 14 into the interior hollow 13 of the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7. Or alternately the slot 14 can contain a flap 14 a which is composed of a resilient material. The slot flat 14 a will deform and will spread allowing the mooring line 8 to be located into the interior hollow 13 where it will be trapped therein such that the mooring line 8 cannot fall out of the hollow 13 through the slot 14.
The mooring line 8 is then respectively slipped into its bumper and the mooring line receptacle 7 via the slot 14 thereof, as shown in FIG. 6; the abutment member 5 then abuts the far end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 b.
When docking, the skipper or a crew member grabs a mooring line 8 via its abutment member 5 on the dock facility 1 facing the watercraft, and then pulls upon the mooring thereby free it from its bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 via exiting of the mooring progressively along the slot 14 thereof. The person then secures that mooring line in an normal way to the watercraft cleat 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 & 1 a and other of the mooring lines are then grabbed at their respective abutment member, freed and tied as was done with the first mooring line.
When it is time to shove off, the mooring lines 8 tied to the watercraft cleat 4 are released therefrom and then slipped through the slot 14 progressively along the subject bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 with finally the abutment abutting the far end of the bumper and mooring line receptacles, for later use when docking is to again take place.
In order for the mooring lines 8 to commence entry into the slot 14 at the near end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle a guide member 9 can be utilized as a mooring line guide.
As shown at FIG. 6 first form of guide member 9 can be in the form of a guide arm 9 a which includes a guide surface 9 b which interfaces with the mooring line 8, such as to cause the mooring line 8 to enter the slot 14 when pulled thereupon. The shape of the guide surface 9 a maybe any which facilitates guidance of mooring line 8 to enter the slot 14 at the end of the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7, as for example straight, convex, or concave otherwise manipulating the mooring line 8 may help in this regard. The guide arm 9 a may be connected to the dock facility 1 and/or the near end 7 a of the receptacle 7 such a threaded fastener 15 or other fastener such as adhesive. Alternatively, the guide arm 9 a may be integrally connected with the receptacle member 7 as indicated in FIG. 9.
Alternatively, as shown at FIG. 7, a second form of guide member 16 can be in the form of a round eyebolt, which is located at one end to the receptacle member 7 at the interior hollow 14. The mooring line 8 is fastened to the guide member 16, either by tying, looping, or splicing. In operation, the mooring line 8 is brought into the interior hollow 13 at the opening of the near end 7 b so that a user need only pull on the mooring line to cause it to pass progressively into the slot 14.
As shown in FIG. 9 the bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 members can be integral with the dock facility 1, the guide member 9 or 16 is also integral with the dock facility 1.
As shown at FIG. 8 a clasp 17 can be attached to the near end of the mooring line 8 a by either looping, tying, or splicing. The clasp 17 is any shape that can opened to allow it to be attached to the eyebolt 16 and also can be released off the eyebolt 16 thus allowing the skipper or crew member to take the mooring line with him on the watercraft 3.
In operation each of the port bow, port stern, starboard bow and starboard stern mooring lines 8 are looped or otherwise connected with their respective cleat on the dock facility 1. Each mooring line is then respectively passed into its bumper and mooring line receptacle via the slot 14 thereof. Thereafter, its abutment member 5 is secured to the far end 8 b of the bumper and mooring line receptacle member 7, wherein preferably, the abutment member has been located on the mooring line so that mooring line is now generally taught in the bumper and mooring line receptacle so as to not fallout anywhere along the slot.
When docking, the skipper or a crewmember grabs a mooring line via its abutment member 7 on the dock facility 1 facing the watercraft 3, and then pulls upon the mooring line to thereby free it from its bumper and mooring line receptacle 7 via exiting of the mooring line 8 from the slot 14 thereof. The person then secures the mooring line 8 in a conventional way to the watercraft cleat 4, as shown in FIG. 2. Other of the mooring lines 8 are then grabbed at their respective abutment member 5, freed and tied as was done with the first mooring line 8.

Claims

1. A boat dock bumper securable to a peripheral surface of a dock facility, said boat dock bumper comprising:

an elongated sidewall, said sidewall having a near end and an far end for preventing contact between a watercraft and the dock facility.

a bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for receiving a mooring line of a watercraft, comprising:

a mooring line having a predetermined cross-section, approximate end and a distal end;

an elongated sidewall, said sidewall having a near end and an opposite far end,

said sidewall forming an interior hollow having a predetermined inside diameter, said sidewall having a slot therein which communicates with said interior hollow, said slot extending from said near end to said far end, said slot having a predetermined width;

means for connecting said sidewall to a dock facility, wherein said sidewall is connected to the dock facility lengthwise between said far and near ends thereof wherein said slot is not occluded by the dock facility; and

abutment means connected with said mooring line for preventing the distal end or said mooring line placed into said interior hollow from sliding into said interior hollow, said abutment means having adjustment means for selectively repositoning said abutment means along said mooring line;

wherein said slot has a width less than said cross-section of said mooring line and said inside diameter is larger than said cross-section of said mooring line such that said mooring line is slipped into and pulled out of said interior hollow of said bumper and mooring line receptacle by resiliently deforming said sidewall adjacent said slot, wherein said mooring line is placed into said interior hollow to thereby store at least a majority of said mooring line when not being used too or the watercraft, peripheral surface of a dock facility, said boat dock bumper,

wherein said slot has a width larger than said cross-section of said mooring line and said inside diameter is larger than said cross-section of said mooring line such that said mooring line is slipped into said slot, wherein said mooring line is placed into said interior hollow to thereby store at least a majority of said mooring line when not being used too or the watercraft, peripheral surface of a dock facility, said boat dock bumper;

wherein a guide means for helping said mooring line to be placed into said interior hollow;

2. The boat dock bumper as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has an outer surface and an inner engagement surface, said outer and inner surfaces formed substantially parallel to the docking facility to which said bumper is attached.

3. A dock facility, bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for receiving a mooring line of the watercraft, comprising:

a dock facility having a side wall; and

at least one bumper arid mooring line receptacle integrally formed with said dock facility, said bumper and mooring line receptacle comprising an elongated sidewall said sidewall having a near end and an opposite far end, said sidewall forming an interior hollow having a predetermined inside diameter, said sidewall having a slot therein which communicates with said interior hollow,

said slot extending from said near end to said far end, said slot having a predetermined width;

wherein, a mooring line of said watercraft is placed into and pulled out of said interior hollow through said slot, wherein the mooring line is placed into said interior hollow to thereby store at least a majority of the mooring line when not being used to moor the water-craft.

4. A bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus for receiving a mooring line of a watercraft comprising:

an elongated sidewall, said sidewall having a near end and an opposite far end, said sidewall forming an interior hollow having a predetermined inside diameter, said sidewall having a slot therein which communicates with said interior hollow, said slot extending from said near end to said far end, said slot having a predetermined width;

means for preventing the distal end of said mooring line placed into said interior hollow from sliding into said interior hollow;

wherein said slot has a width greater than said cross-section of said mooring fine and said inside diameter is larger than said cross-section of said mooring line such that said mooring line is placed into and pulled out of said interior hollow of said bumper and mooring line receptacle through said slot, and wherein said mooring line is placed into said interior hollow to thereby store at last a majority of said mooring line when not being used to moor the watercraft,

wherein said slot has a width smaller than said cross-section of said mooring line and said inside diameter is larger than said cross-section of said mooring line such that said mooring line is placed into and pulled out of said interior hollow of said bumper and mooring line receptacle through said slot, and wherein said mooring line is placed into said interior hollow to thereby store at least a majority of said mooring line when not being used to moor the watercraft.

5. The bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 4, further comprising guide member means for guiding entry of said mooring line into said slot adjacent said near end.

6. The bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for preventing comprises:

an abutment member connected to said mooring line;

and adjustment means for repositoning said abutment member to selectable fixed locations along said mooring line.

7. A bumper and mooring line remade apparatus comprising:

a dock facility;

at least one bumper and mooring line receptacle connected with said dock facility, said bumper and mooring line receptacle comprising:

an elongated sidewall said sidewall having a near end and an opposite far end, said sidewall forming an interior hollow having a predetermined inside diameter, said sidewall having a slot therein which communicates with said interior hollow, said slot extending from said near end to said far end, said slot having a predetermined width; and

means for connecting said sidewall to a dock facility;

wherein said sidewall is connected to said dock facility lengthwise between said far and near end thereof wherein said slot is not occluded by the dock facility;

at least one mooring line have a predetermined cross on smaller than said width and smaller than said inside diameter,

at least one mooring line have a predetermined cross-section smaller than said width and smaller than said inside diameter,

wherein a mooring line of said at least one mooring line is placed into and pulled out of said interior hollow through said slot wherein is paced into said interior hollow to thereby store at least a majority of the mooring line when not being used to moor the watercraft.

8. The bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 7, further comprising;

a guide member means for guiding entry of the mooring line into said slot adjacent said near end.

9. The bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 8, further comprising;

a second guide member means for guiding entry of the mooring line into said slot adjacent said near end.

10. The dock facility and bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for preventing comprises an abutment member connected to said as least one mooring line.

11. The dock facility bumper and mooring fine receptacle apparatus of, claim 10, wherein said dock facility further comprises:

a sidewall;

a plurality of cleats connected with said dock facility,

wherein said at least one bumper and mooring line receptacle comprises four bumper and mooring lines receptacles comprising:

a first bumper and mooring line receptacle connected with said dock facility at substantially a port bow location of the watercraft;

a second bumper and mooring line receptacle connected with said hull at substantially a port stern location of the watercraft

a third bumper and mooring line receptacle connected with said hull at substantially a starboard bow location of the watercraft, and

a fourth bumper and mooring line receptacle connected with said hull at a substantially starboard stern loction of the watercraft

12. The dock facility bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of, claim 10, wherein said abutment member of said at least one mooring line further comprises adjustment means for repositioning said abutment member to selectably fixed location along its respective mooring line.

13. The dock facility bumper and mooring line cl apparatus of claim 11, wherein said dock facility has a sidewall; further wherein said at least one bumper and mooring line receptacle is connected to said dock facility substantially adjacent to, and substantially parallel with, said sidewall.

14. The dock facility and bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of cleats comprise:

a first cleat located on dock facility adjacent the port bow of said watercraft;

a second cleat located on dock facility adjacent the starboard bow of said watercraft;

a third cleat located on dock facility adjacent the port stern of said watercraft;

a fourth cleat located on dock facility adjacent the starboard stern of said watercraft;

wherein, said near end of said first bumper and mooring line receptacle is located substantially adjacent said first cleat;

wherein said near end of said second mooring line receptacle is located substantially adjacent said second cleat;

wherein said near end of said third mooring line receptacle is located substantially adjacent said third cleat, and

wherein said near end of said fourth mooring line receptacle is located substantially adjacent said fourth cleat.

15. The dock facility bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one mooring line comprises four mooring lines comprising;

a first mooring fine having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, wherein when said proximate end of said first mooring line is connected, with said first cleat and said first mooring line is placed into said hollow interior of said first bumper and mooring line receptacle, then said distal end of said first mooring line is located outside said first bumper and mooring line receptacle such that said abutment member of said first mooring line is abuttable with said far end of said first bumper and mooring line receptacle;

a second mooring line having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, wherein when said proximate end of said second mooring line is connected with said second cleat and said second mooring line is placed into said hollow interior of said second bumper and mooring line receptacle, then said distal end of said second mooring line is located outside said second bumper and mooring line receptacle such that said abutment member of said second mooring line is abuttable with said far end of said second bumper and mooring line receptacle;

a third mooring line having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, wherein when said proximate end of said third mooring line is connected with said third cleat and said third mooring line is placed into said hollow interior of said third bumper and mooring line receptacle, then said distal end of said third mooring line is located outside said third bumper and mooring line receptacle such that said abutment member of said third mooring line is abuttable with said far end of said third bumper and mooring line receptacle;

and a fourth mooring line having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, wherein when said proximate end of said fourth mooring line is connected with said fourth cleat and said fourth mooring line is placed into said hollow interior of said fourth bumper and mooring line receptacle, then said distal end of said fourth mooring line is located outside said fourth bumper and mooring line receptacle such that said abutment member of said fourth mooring line is abuttable with said far end of said fourth bumper and mooring line receptacle.

16. The dock facility bumper and mooring line receptacle apparatus of claim 15, wherein said far end of each of said bumper and mooring line receptacle members are proximate each other substantially amid ship of said watercraft, and wherein said far end of each of said second, third, and fourth bumper and mooring line receptacle members are approximate each other substantially amidship of said watercraft in docked position.

17. The dock facility bumper and mooring line apparatus of claim 16, wherein said abutment member of each said mooring line further comprises adjustment means for repositioning said abutment member to selectably locations along its respective mooring line.

18. A method for storing a mooring line of a watercraft when the mooring line is not being used to moor the watercraft, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mooring line having a cross-section, proximate end and an opposite distal; forming an elongated member having a sidewall having a near end and an opposite far end, wherein said sidewall between the near and far ends thereof;

wherein the slot has a width that is smaller that the cross-section of the mooring line;

wherein the slot has a larger that the cross-section of the mooring line; connection the elongated member lengthwise between the near and far ends thereof to a watercraft, wherein the slot is unobstructed by the sock facility;

placing the mooring line into the interior hollow so that at least a majority of the mooring line is situated storingly in the interior hollow.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of prevention the proximate and distal ends of the mooring line from entering the interior hollow at the near and far ends, restectively.