Tugboat Tour

[@tomt9543]

I was a certified welder in a railroad repair shop for 41 years, and the docents remark about changing a connecting rod reminds me of a repair I had to do two or three times over the years on these EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) engines in locomotives. The counterweights on the crankshafts of these engines had the odd design of being narrowed between the counterweight and the actual crankshaft. Occasionally, when a connecting rod failed and flailed around inside the engine, they would get wedged between one of the counterweights and the engine block and break the counterweight off of the crankshaft at that narrowed place! The cylinder walls were typically damaged also, but each cylinder (called “power assemblies”) is a massive steel casting that’s relatively easily replaced, the crankshaft - not so much! The engine blocks on EMD’s being fabricated plate steel, we’d take a torch and cut a temporary access opening big enough to get at the crankshaft, prep the counterweight and crankshaft by grinding bevels, and weld the counterweight back onto the crankshaft! Then weld the plate back in place that we cut out of the block. If you’re ever looking at an EMD engine and see where a large square weld is present on the lower part of the block, there’s a good chance that the same repair has been done to it! As an afterthought, I never had one to fail after being welded back onto the crankshaft, even after years of service!

[@ipfeldspar]

Hi! Thank-You for that incredible comment! I could "see" you doing the repair. I have one bit of confusion. You referenced "counterweights." These were weights like tire balancing, and not flywheels? Thank-You for viewing and commenting!

[@tomt9543]

@@ipfeldspar They’re part of the crankshaft forging, not separate pieces. Each one is a relatively big chunk of steel, but the “web” (that’s what we’ll call it!) that joins the weight to the main body of the crankshaft is smaller than the weight itself. My guess would be that EMD designed them like that so that in the event of a broken connecting rod impacting the weight, it would break off the weight instead of doing heavier, possibly unrepairable, damage to the crank. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[@jjosephm7539]

I can't get over the cleanliness of the boat. Even the shackles are painted

[@ipfeldspar]

The Maritime Museum is a very worth while visit. Even those, who no nothing of water, will come away with new found interests. They run a tight ship and I'm sure they will appreciate your comment. I would like to thank-you for viewing and commenting!

[@bearguy2617]

I worked Harbor tugs for a short period of time but then switched over and went to sea for four plus years. Even though I ended up in the military and made a career out of it, I will always miss being on boats and ships. It was definitely in my blood

[@ipfeldspar]

Thank-You for viewing and sharing. We had some sailors in our family and there are some really great stories from them.

[@blusnuby2]

Thank you for this very THOROUGH tour of this FINE old Tugboat. KUDUS to all those hands who "spruced HIM up" smartly ! So GLAD "he" is now a museum, & not an underwater playground for the fishies.....

[@davidlockwood9192]

blusnuby2 in most languages ships are referred to as “she” irrespective of the actual name of the vessel. Exception is in Russian and other Slavic languages which dies call them a “He”, again irrespective of the actual name.

[@blusnuby2]

@@davidlockwood9192 Am fully aware of that, but referring to a powerful work boat (tug), or a massive battlewagon, such as the U.S.S. Missouri, as a "she" will (never) happen in MY mind. They aint 'pretty, nor 'beautiful,' but rather, HANDSOME, RUGGED, & STRONG !

[@ipfeldspar]

I completely agree with you. This was one of the better tours and I'm glad the tug has been preserved!

[@ipfeldspar]

I did not know that about the Ruskies. I suppose that would be for naval as well as commercial ships?

[@ipfeldspar]

That's OK with me!

[@ManicMechanic82]

Great video! Thanks for the post! I ove these tow boats!

[@ipfeldspar]

You are very welcome. Thank-You for viewing and commenting....!

[@rebeccagorski1247]

I love tugboats though I don't work on one I enjoy seeing many variates of makes and models I raise my glass to the captains and crew members CHEERS!!💖♥️

[@ipfeldspar]

Thank-You for viewing! Yup, there are things that just make you want to look and watch more. I just wish I could do more boats, but I don't dare put out to sea......

[@Sojourning_]

Awesome.....…….. I always love the tugs...…………..

[@ipfeldspar]

Thank-You!

[@wolfgangwind788]

I love this old Typ of a Tug since i was a small Boy in Bathroom 😄 i have to built my Revell Modell soon

[@ipfeldspar]

I was amazed at how large it seemed from the inside. The Engine Room is big enough for a small stage along with a bunch of actors. Hopefully, this video will help your model building ? Thank-You for viewing and commenting!

[@mussahamis6521]

Interested

[@ipfeldspar]

We had a really good tour guide who was well versed in the boat. My big take away was the amount of space inside! Thank-You for viewing and commenting!

[@kingofthepod5169]

Detroit 2 stroke Screaming jimmy's and EMD 567 2 strokes. Sounds like home.

[@ipfeldspar]

I was very impressed with the tour. The engine room almost reminded me of the boiler room at a low rise office tower!

[@cody481]

Now that's a boat.

[@ipfeldspar]

Yup! I'm still impress by how huge it seems on the inside. This is floating power at its best!

[@Drew_379]

If you see those big knife handle switches that's DC power

[@wildebtw]

Most generators produce DC. This one on the close up actually says VDC on the panel lables.

[@ipfeldspar]

Is DC standard for all ships?

[@CurdsFromDaCulvers420]

Dude I didn’t know that Zorran literally pulled tours

[@ipfeldspar]

?????? Zorran? Like the James Bond movie....?

[@thelatenightjupiter]

I think like the one from Thomas’s sister show TUGS

[@nathankaye1577]

The people on the tour look like they are going to prison for the first time. They don't seem interested one bit 😕

[@ipfeldspar]

Interesting observation and use of word "prison." When I was aboard, and down below, I was impressed with the amount of space, but I still wanted to get the heck out of there! Much nicer on deck.

[@totall2952]

class vid thanks would make a cool home

[@ipfeldspar]

I could see that for anyone except me. In five states I have been banned from boats, planes, and carnival rides........