Eiffel 101: Checklist for Buying a Used Tug Boat
Tug boats are used to tow/pull commercial barges and vessels. Buying a used tug boat as opposed to a new one can save you a sizeable amount of money. And, luckily, there are numerous high-quality, used tug boat options out there. If you’re in the market for buying a pre-owned tug boat, here’s a basic checklist to help you out:
1. Figure out the type of tug boat you need. Tug boats can be broadly classified into three types: harbor tug boats, seagoing tug boats, and river tug boats. Seagoing tug boats are usually the largest and most powerful, ideal for work in the ocean or deep sea. Harbor tug boats are medium-sized and powered. And river tug boats (also called inland tug boats) are best-suited for use in rivers and lakes. They’re sometimes referred to as push boats or tow boats. Smaller tug boats are easier to maneuver. The type of tug boat you should purchase will largely depend on where and how you’ll be using it.
2. Assess how much horsepower you need. The diesel engines or twin-screw propellers of harbor and river tug boats produce between around 750 hp to 5,000 hp. Seagoing tug boats can produce up to a whopping 25,000 hp. How much horsepower you need from your tug boat depends on how much verve and power you want it to have when pulling other vessels and sea equipment.
More hp also generally means faster movement on the water and quicker acceleration, which can make a big difference in terms of efficiency. The maximum speed of a tug boat is measured in knots, and tug boats can reach between around 5 and 15 knots. Maximum speed is something you should take in account in addition to horsepower. Generally, the more horsepower as well as speed capability you get with the type of tug boat you’re shopping around for, the better. Used tug boats can vary widely in terms of horsepower, so try to get the most power for your budget.
3. Consider bollard pull. Horsepower isn’t the only indicator of how much and how well a particular tug boat can pull. Bollard pull is also important to consider. Bollard pull is essentially a standard measurement of how much a tug boat can pull/tow, particularly in zero speed pulling scenarios. For medium-sized and powered tugboats, between 35 tons and 65 tons of bollard pull is standard. The more bollard pull, the better if you know you’ll be towing relatively sizeable vessels and barges. Bollard should match up with horsepower in most cases. So, if you’re looking to invest in a seagoing tug boat with a lot of hp, make sure it comes with a lot of bollard pull as well.
4. Factor in extras for crew members. Many tug boats come with living quarters, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. for crew members to use while they’re in the middle of towing projects. Ultimately, these add-ons can help you increase the satisfaction of your crew members and boost the efficiency of your projects. Paying a bit more for these amenities may be a good idea for many tug boat buyers. On the other hand, sometimes these amenities may be superfluous if projects don’t require crew members to stay overnight, for instance.
5. Don’t overlook overall quality/condition. Things like horsepower, bollard pull, and add-ons don’t matter much if the tug boat you invest in is a lemon and can’t get the job done. So, make sure you have a good idea of the condition of its engine and/or propellers, the condition of its exterior, and the condition of any on-board equipment. While a little bit of rust and corrosion may not be a red flag, a lot of it can be. It’s always better to invest in a used tug boat that’s been taken care of well. When buying a used tug boat from Eiffel Trading, we strongly recommend that you inspect the vessel or have the vessel inspected professionally. Our expert sales team is here to guide you through the buying process!
BUY AND SELL WITH EIFFEL TRADING
In addition to used ocean tug boats and used inland tug boats, Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace boasts a wide variety of marine equipment for sale, including used crew boats, used sectional barges, and used spud barges. Furthermore, our material inventory ranges from used barrier wall, to used sheet pile, and everything in between.
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If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.