Water ski towline pay-out and retrieval apparatus

Claim 1

Buoyant apparatus releasably securable to a boat for effecting pay-out and retrieval of an unloaded water skiing towline or like lightweight device exerting relativEly weak drag forces on the apparatus, said apparatus being constructed of lightweight materials and comprising: a vertically upstanding support having a longitudinal axis along its length, said support is rapidly secured to and disengaged from the boat; a main shaft extending transversely to said longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted to and carried by said support; a spool including a central hub attached to said main shaft for rotation therewith and a pair of transversely spaced, sealed flanges affixed to said hub, said hub adapted to receive the towline or like device between said flanges for pay-out and retrieval thereof upon opposite rotation of said main shaft; a drive shaft rotatably mounted to and carried by said support in laterally spaced, parallel relationship to said main shaft, said drive shaft being transversely shiftable relative to said longitudinal axis of said support while mounted thereto; intermeshing gears mounted to said main shaft and said drive shaft to effect rotation of said reel upon rotation of said drive shaft; stop means holdingly engaging said support and said drive shaft for holding the latter in a drive position wherein said gears are intermeshingly engaged, said stop means being movable out of holding engagement with one of said support and said drive shaft to permit transverse shifting of said drive shaft to a free-wheel position wherein said gears are disengaged and said spool is free to rotate in response to weak drag forces imposed on the towline or like device; said stop means including a detent carried within a corresponding blind bore in said drive shaft, said detent being movable radially outwardly to engage said support and hold said drive shaft in said drive position thereof, said detent acting to transmit axial forces imposed on said drive shaft to said support when in holding engagement with the latter, said detent being movable radially inwardly relative to the drive shaft to disengage said support sufficiently to permit said transverse shifting of the drive shaft toward said free-wheel position; and said support, main shaft, spool, drive shaft and gears comprising a portable unit rapidly securable to and disengageable from the boat, said unit being buoyant in water.