A wheeled boat trailer

A wheeled boat trailer of the type used to tow a boat to a body of water is provided with a walkway leading to a dock ramp hingedly coupled to the rear end of the trailer for rearward extension into the body of water after the boat has been launched. Downwardly extendable support legs are mounted to the end of the dock ramp furthest from the trailer to support the dock ramp above the water surface. A pulley mounted atop a mast removably secured to the trailer near the rear portion thereof allows a conventional front-mounted trailer winch to elevate the dock ramp while the trailer is backed into or pulled from the water. When not in use, the dock ramp may be pivoted about its hinged coupling to a stowed position extending forwardly across the trailer. The dock ramp may be positioned along the longitudinal axis of the trailer, and the underside of the dock ramp may incorporate rollers for engaging and supporting the keel of the boat when the dock ramp is in the stowed position. One or...

What is claimed is:
1. A boat trailer and portable dock apparatus for towing a boat to a body of water and for providing a dock after the boat is launched, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a wheeled boat trailer for carrying a boat and having a front end from which said apparatus may be towed by a motorized vehicle and having a rear end from which the boat may be launched into a body of water;
b. a main dock ramp having a first end hingedly connected to the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer and a second end opposite the first end thereof, said hinged connection permitting said main dock ramp to be extended outwardly from the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer in an extended position over the body of water;
c. first support means coupled to said main dock ramp proximate the second end thereof for supporting the second end of said main dock ramp above the surface of the body of water in a substantially horizontal position;
d. elevating means secured to said wheeled boat trailer and coupled to said main dock ramp for pivoting the second end of said main dock ramp upwardly about said hinged connection to allow said apparatus to be backed into or pulled from the body of water by moving said wheeled boat trailer while said main dock ramp extends rearwardly from said wheeled boat trailer;
e. said hinged connection between said main dock ramp and said wheeled boat trailer allowing said main dock ramp to lie substantially horizontally across said wheeled boat trailer in a stowed position with the second end of said main dock ramp directed toward the front end of said wheeled boat trailer when the boat is being carried by said wheeled boat trailer; and
f. pivoting means secured to said wheeled boat trailer and coupled to said main dock ramp for pivoting said main dock about said hinged connection from said stowed position toward said extended position, said pivoting means comprising:
i. a lever arm having a first end secured to said main dock ramp proximate said hinged connection, said lever arm extending generally downward when said main dock ramp is in its stored position, said lever arm having a second end opposite the first end thereof;
ii. a winch secured to said wheeled boat trailer;
iii. a first cable extending between said winch and the second end of said lever arm for pulling forwardly and upwardly on the second end of said lever arm as said winch is tightened to pivot said main dock ramp away from its stowed position.
2. An apparatus as recited by claim 1 including a second cable having a first end secured to the second end of said main dock ramp and having a second end engaging said first cable at a point thereof between said lever arm and said winch, said second cable remaining relatively slack as said main dock ramp is pivoted away from its stowed position but becoming taut after the second end of said main dock ramp passes behind the first end thereof to facilitate the lowering of said main dock ramp toward said extended position.

3. A boat trailer  and portable dock apparatus for towing a boat to a body of water and for providing a dock after the boat is launched, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a wheeled boat trailer for carrying a boat and having a front end from which said apparatus may be towed by a motorized vehicle and having a rear end from which the boat may be launched into a body of water;
b. a main dock ramp having a first end hingedly connected to the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer and a second end opposite the first end thereof, said hinged connection permitting said main dock ramp to be extended outwardly from the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer in an extended position over the body of water;
c. first support means coupled to said main dock ramp proximate the second end thereof for supporting the second end of said main dock ramp above the surface of the body of water in a substantially horizontal position;
d. elevating means secured to said wheeled boat trailer and coupled to said main dock ramp for pivoting the second end of said main dock ramp upwardly about said hinged connection to allow said apparatus to be backed into or pulled from the body of water by moving said wheeled boat trailer while said main dock ramp extends rearwardly from said wheeled boat trailer;
e. a pair of stabilizer legs downwardly extendable from opposite sides of the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer for engaging the bed of the body of water to stabilize the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer;
f. fastening means for locking said stabilizer legs in an extended position to support the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer above the surface of the body of water; and
g. lifting means for lifting the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer relative to the bed of the body of water and thereby raising the wheels of said wheeled boat trailer above the surface of the body of water, said lifting means including:
i. a winch secured to said wheeled boat trailer near the front end thereof for allowing said winch to be used to pull the boat from the body of water into said wheeled boat trailer;
ii. a lifting leg slidably coupled to said wheeled boat trailer proximate the rear end thereof and downwardly extendable therefrom;
iii. a pulley secured to the uppermost end of said lifting leg; and
iv. a cable extending from said winch over said pulley and secured to said wheeled boat trailer rearwardly of said lifting leg, wherein tightening of said cable through operation of said winch causes said lifting leg to engage the bed of the body of water and to pull the rear end of said wheeled boat trailer upwardly for allowing said stabilizer legs to be extended downwardly until they engage the bed of the body of water.