Field of the Disclosure
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to mounting systems and, more particularly, to mounting systems and associated apparatuses, for example, for surface-mounted accessories for watercraft such as, for instance, fishing kayaks.
Description of Related Art
Some modern watercraft, such as kayaks, particularly fishing kayaks, are constructed and comprised of a molded polymer. In some instances, the kayak may be configured as a “sit-on” kayak, wherein the molded polymer hull forms an enclosed chamber and the user sits in or on a molded depression formed on an upper surface of the hull. The enclosed chamber of the molded hull further functions as an air pocket providing flotation for the watercraft. As such, it is generally desirable to limit water intrusion into the enclosed chamber.
Particular accessories for kayaks such as, for example, rod holders for fishing rods, are generally configured as a tube extending from a rod butt-receiving end for receiving the butt of the fishing rod therein. In some instances, rod holders can be mounted with the rod butt-receiving end flush with the surface through which the tube extends. However, even if sealed, the interface between the rod butt-receiving end and the surface through which the tube extends may be at risk of leaking water into the hull. Further, the end of the tube opposite the rod butt-receiving end can either be open or sealed. However, if the end is open, water may flow freely into the hull. If the end is closed, water may become trapped in the tube, which is generally not desirable. As such, in some instances, rod holders may be configured such that the end opposite to the rod butt-receiving end is implemented to mount the rod holder to the kayak.
In some prior art mounting systems for kayak accessories, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C, a “C” channel (also referred to herein as a “rail” or “track”) element 10 is mounted to a surface of the kayak hull such that the opening 20 in the “C” channel 10 is directed away or outwardly of the surface. A nut, a head of a bolt, or a backing plate 30 may then be inserted into the track such that the threaded portion thereof aligns with the opening 20 in the “C” channel 10. The mountable accessory 40 may thus include a threaded extension or a nut, respectively, configured to engage the complementary portion 30 inserted into the “C” channel” 10, wherein engagement therebetween secures the accessory 40 to the “C” channel 10. More particularly, in such instances, engaging the complementary portions of the fastener secures the portions of the “C” channel 10 on either side of the opening 20 between the complementary portions so as to secure the accessory 40 to the surface by way of the “C” channel (rail) 10.
However, when mounting certain accessories, such as rod holders, to the kayak in this manner, some limitations may be evident. For example, the rod holder is often mounted to the rail by way of the end of the rod holder opposite to the rod butt-receiving end. Therefore, the rod butt-receiving end is cantilevered with respect to the mounting engagement with the rail. The fishing rods received by the rod holder may then extend several feet from the rod butt. For example, typical fishing rods may extend up to 7 or 8 feet in length. When a fish is hooked on the line running from the fishing rod, a moment arm is exerted on the rod by the fishing line running from the distal end of the rod. As a result, significant force (i.e., due to a torque or a moment generated via the accessory) can be exerted on the “C” channel 10 by the fishing rod, via the rod holder and mount therefor, when a fish is hooked on the fishing rod (i.e., when the fishing rod is placed in the rod holder and the kayak used to troll from fish). In some instances, a “point load” or direct stress (i.e., a relatively large force acting on a relatively small surface area) is created on the “C” channel 10 (see, e.g., FIG. 1C) which, in some instances, may be sufficient to deform or permanently damage the “C” channel 10 such that the fastener portion received by the “C” channel is essentially torn out of the channel. In some cases, the entire rod holder may break or become dismounted from the “C” channel and the rod holder, as well as the fishing rod held thereby, may fall from the kayak into the water and be at risk of becoming lost.
Another desirable characteristic of such a “rail mount” or “C” channel type of mounting system is the flexibility to move the accessory devices along the respective rail or “C” channel to the desired position for the particular user. Accordingly, the accessory devices are desirably mounted to the rail or “C” channel to resist horizontal movement. Typically, however, such resistance to horizontal movement is directly proportional to the tightness of the mounting portion of the accessory device. In some instances, acceptable resistance to horizontal movement may be obtained at the expense of over-tightening the mounting portion of the accessory device which may, in turn cause deformation or other damage to the mounting portion and/or the rail or “C” channel. Therefore, advantages of such a rail or “C” channel mounting system may be nullified.
Thus, there exists a need for a mounting system and associated apparatus form mounting various accessories to a surface, for example, a surface of a polymeric molded kayak, that address and overcome the shortcomings of prior art systems as identified herein.