Tugboat Controls (How We Maneuver The Boat)

Brief tutorial about the Z Drive units 

[@makutzo]

I have no idea how i ended up on one of your videos... But after two minutes i was like "PLEASE let this guy have a video explaining how the steering works!" - and here we are! :D Thank you Sir! I didnt even know i was into this but i will now go and watch more of your videos. Really interessting!

[@tugboatwilly843]

Much appreciated! 🤙

[@TaylorTaylor-yi4qd]

Next video can you show the throttles and explain commands you get involving throttles from the pilot. Your channel is one of my favorites. Thank you for doing this! 🤟🇺🇸

[@tugboatwilly843]

Will do!

[@sky173]

So awesome. Glad I found this channel. Microphones are fairly cheap. It'll really help with the volumes issues. Thanks again for sharing.

[@willardroad]

I was going to add that. These days, you can get ones that clip on your shirt and go Bluetooth to your phone. Awesome video * check * awesome sound * almost there * ...

[@nathanarcher6764]

You could model a tugboat interior for a spaceship movie, and i'd be sold. It'd be pretty cool tbh. Just watching tugboats in action could hold my attention all day. God Bless You! Thank you, for taking the time to explain a little bit.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Much appreciated!! Thanks for riding along!! 🤙

[@hazel-vf7on]

I am also a cockpit lover, and Willy's cockpit, if made bigger, would serve perfectly for a spaceship movie. Lol

[@willardroad]

Super-helpful and interesting! I usually see tugs from the other end of the rope, so it was great to get a quick tutorial and demonstration from your perspective. Props for the video quality, as well. Crispy.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Much appreciated!

[@HayesTheCraze]

Can you show the full start up procedure... from walking on to undocking... for the uneducated looking to borrow a tug for a joy ride in the harbor for a few hours

[@tugboatwilly843]

😁I’ll do my best!

[@bgd73]

Thaks for sharing. I had learned a quick explanation of these years ago..never seen one from inside. this one looks cozy with electronic. The old ones had these valves you could feel, like floating ball hydraulic or like hevy equipment, etc... a little closer to manual steering I guess. Awesome tugs. Very powerful.

[@nedkent5239]

So cool! Sorry for all the questions I had in later videos. I just found this vid… Hey Know!

[@richardarmogida9316]

Thank you for taking time, I really appreciate it 😊

[@tugboatwilly843]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@utahrusty7555]

Awesome chanel, can't wait to see more, such a fascinating look at a working tug actually working!

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thanks for that!

[@SevenseasB]

Awesome stuff Capt. Willy way to break it down into bite size pieces. Love the content ☸️🌊

[@tugboatwilly843]

Appreciate it! Happy Saturday bro 🤙

[@jerrycarroll4581]

Fantastic. Thank you very much for that. I know its second nature to you but to many of us its another world. Great job explaining that part and I look forward to more. Props to ya my friend.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thank you my friend! Appreciate you!!

[@willardroad]

Ooooo! Props! Get it? Props! Why didn't I think of that. * high five to Jerry *

[@jcataclisma]

Nice, really nice! Now it will be even more interesting to watch you "regular" maneuvers videos. Cheers! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tugboatwilly843]

I appreciate that!

[@adamleanyvari5215]

Nicely packed video! The Z drive is from Schottel? I learned like this: Where the throttle point, that is the direction where the ship stern will move. For some its easier to remember like this. Cheers from a river cruise ship :)

[@tugboatwilly843]

Hey now! Yes they are. Much appreciated 🤙

[@cpl_0503]

I was just wondering how that worked since you seem to have such a tremendous control with just tiny movements but no ordinary wheel and throttle control. Thanks. Love the videos and explanations.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thank you!!

[@fhussainmajid]

awesome videos would love to see the power units and the engine room too

[@ThamesShips]

Very interesting and informative video 👍

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thank you!

[@robertgillis7633]

Very cool love it

[@garlenseong38]

Keep up the good work

[@JonCarney]

Fascinating! 🖖

[@magnusmyhre8540]

Thank you so much!😃 What I am curious to see on those controls is what you do when you crawl sideways?🤔 Maybe its possible to show some day😊 Love your channel👍🏻

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thanks! I’ll make one coming and going from the dock.

[@brutus7319]

Thanks a lot, very interesting!

[@trr9230]

Great video, as always! I am a captain of a 110 m car ferry with Schottels, just like your tug. However, she's a shuttle-ferry, so one Shottel in each end. That makes walking sideways really easy. Could you please show us how you'd walk the tug sideways? I think I have an idea about it, but it'd be nice to see👍

[@tugboatwilly843]

Sure will! Thanks for watching!

[@AlexKall]

Very good video! 👍

[@tugboatwilly843]

🤙

[@BxCortez2050]

awesome I need to see more pls

[@tugboatwilly843]

Will do! Thanks for watching! 🤙

[@This.is.EllisMcPickle]

Bro very nice videos !! What camera gear are you using ?

[@makkaklaris]

thank you very much sir!

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thank you!

[@tecwzrd]

Are there bow thrusters also or is everything just controlled from those two inputs? How many liters per hour do you go through with "normal" operation?

[@brucehobbs1734]

Can’t wait to hear about all your other toys.

[@tugboatwilly843]

They coming! Thanks for watching!

[@drumset09]

That is so cool

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thank ya! 🤙

[@karlmartin8756]

Really like your channel. Would like it even more if you could start using a mike close to your mouth ffor clarity and cancelling out much of the surrounding noise.😀

[@MrJP425]

Thanks. Z pods are great for close quarter control. Do you know of any tugs that use Voith Schneider Propulsion?

[@tugboatwilly843]

I have not yet thanks for watching!

[@matthewdavidmunson]

Awesome video the controls seem super far away compared to heavy equipment where they put a lot of thought into ergonomics.

[@tugboatwilly843]

They are. It does not take long to get use to tho. Thanks for watching!

[@ShainAndrews]

I'm one more video away from getting my ticket! Hope you and yours have a good weekend. Looks like you might be on shift though.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thanks for that and thanks for watching! Enjoy your weekend as well!

[@marinho2000pt]

What about the rest of the buttons and knobs? 😅 Got curious about that lever behind the zdrives controler. Keep it up, always wondered on the how's of tugboating!

[@tugboatwilly843]

That’s the winch. I will make a short video on that as well. Thanks for watching!

[@davebighos8370]

Cool

[@reviewsandprojects]

what are the little switches on top of the steering things? We see you move them sometimes.

[@xavier-bm3if]

that's the throttle!

[@tugboatwilly843]

Correct!

[@MikeyDee25]

Cap'n, how long does it take to become proficient at piloting a Z drive tug as opposed to a regular tug? Do you see Z controlled tugs taking over the industry?

[@shamook1]

Depending on previous ship handling experience but everyone is different some take a few months others can take a few years. Z drives or ASD's pretty much have dominated in Europe for years. Voiths are still used but the Horsepower needed to produce the bollard pull compared to a Z drive is a lot higher :)

[@tugboatwilly843]

I agree! Towing tugs will always be around for moving barges and what not but when it comes to ship docking I believe it will be mostly tractor tugs.

[@tracktronics]

Is there individual engines for each z-drive so you have split throttles as well?

[@ShainAndrews]

Two propulsion engines. Throttle is on the thumb.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Correct! I will make one showing the engines and pods

[@tracktronics]

@@tugboatwilly843 That will be awesome, thanks.

[@stableapproach]

hell yeah

[@tugboatwilly843]

Hell yeah!

[@matthiasgraveel9191]

Nice I kinda know now where you steering if I watch the you

[@tugboatwilly843]

Nice!!

[@wilwa6546]

Have you forward and reverse gear?

[@tugboatwilly843]

The drives spin 360 degrees

[@ThumperKJFK]

CUOTO👍✌

[@tugboatwilly843]

🤙💯🫡

[@marineyacht]

So basically Neutral is the pods shooting water to port and stat port ❓🤔

[@tugboatwilly843]

I know that sounds weird but when the boat is running and clutched in that’s neutral. You can clutch them out but you don’t wanna do that during a job. You don’t want to do that approaching the dock either. Thanks for watching!

[@roconnor01]

Love your videos, but you need to buy a clip on mic, as the background noise hampers what you are saying.

[@350zvince]

Is a Z Drive the same as an Azipod?

[@wfoj21]

If I recall correction for Azipod - the electric motor is in the pod outside the ships Hull - Only through hull is wires carrying electricity and turn signals. For a Z drive - probably a diesel - perhaps reduction gearing then transmission has 2 near 90 degree turns - hence the Z. What he is in is a Harbor tug - docks ships. Z-drives or Azipods are taking over the harbor tugs, Probably not taking over ocean-going tugs. Azipods are being used some in some very large seagoing ships.

[@TheAidanLeee]

Have you ever tried voiths?

[@tugboatwilly843]

I have not. Would love to tho! Thanks for watching!

[@andrew5184]

I always hate it when water starts shooting out of my stern.

[@tugboatwilly843]

🤣😂🤣

[@ivendagsv]

How fast do the Z drives Turn?

[@tugboatwilly843]

Probably a 2 second or so delay from when you turn them. Thanks for watching!

[@ivendagsv]

@@tugboatwilly843 Oh thats fast, thanks for answering

[@treashurehunter800]

He's to scared to show you about the throttles...hah

[@tugboatwilly843]

Yeah I am

[@fredorji1]

love your videos but cant here what your saying witch is a shame

[@brucemerrett5462]

Agree.... I clicked off. Tried turning sound off but ....

[@ahbushnell1]

The sound is bad.

[@tugboatwilly843]

🫡

[@furbyoats1]

It's fine, calm down

[@ahbushnell1]

@@furbyoats1 I'm calm. Just thought he would like to improve.

[@bcmineresearch]

Never start a video with a rhetorical question. You may want to look that word up.

[@tugboatwilly843]

Thanks for watching 🤙

[@TheHumanMass]

your audio sux get a mic

[@tugboatwilly843]

Hell yeah! Thanks for watching 🤙

[@TheHumanMass]

@@tugboatwilly843 i like watching you tug boat content but you need to step up your game and get a wireless mic, there not expensive and it will up your production, thanks for creating

[@tugboatwilly843]

You can’t hear the boat noises when I wear the mic. The video up sailing a car ship I’m wearing the mic. Thanks again 🤙

[@TheHumanMass]

@@tugboatwilly843 i think what im saying is when you were telling us how the stering/Drive works witch was very intresting, i had to put your volume at 100% it was just hard to hear your explination, not that it wasent clear it was just low, nothing else was interfearing and i stoped watching there, my bad if there was more,