Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

[ssullivan]

Hello,

First post here. I have a question regarding sizing an outboard for a very specific (and unusual) application.

I just bought a 57' x 14' x 3' barge @40 tons. It is currently engineless, but it has twin rudders. I need to deliver this monster up to Maine from Virginia.

Repowering is probably out of reach for me right now, finanically (but won't be forever out of reach). I am working with the idea of welding an outboard mount on the stern and putting an outboard there to move it up to Maine.

I have heard of outboards with larger props and a reduced gear ratio to make them have more torque and less high end speed. Can anyone suggest an outboard/ lower unit / prop combo that would work to move this vessel at a max speed of around 6 knots?

I'm a sailor, so I'm just about as cluless as they come regarding power. I'm learning though! Please do pitch in some ideas... I can't seem to find the right outboard combo for this application.

Thanks!

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

In two words Tug Boat The rudders are there to help with steiring the barge when docking.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

You had better get some professional help on this.

When I was in high school I spent my last summers as a deck hand on a tugboat. We moved barges from South Texas thru NOLA up the Miss to Vicksburg.

The barges were about twice the size of yours. Our tug had a V16 GMC diesel at 1000 hp. Sometimes we needed all of it. Besides, we could detatch the tug from the barge(s) and move to a different location on the barge for maneuvering; something you can't do with a permanently fixed drive source.

Also, with something like that in wind and currents, you will probably have problems controlling steering. When fighting those two problems, the barge will get away from you and the results could be devastating for others, if not for you.

I'm serious.

Mark

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

total agreement with both post. you need something like this, just spread further across the stern, and controllable separately. the old push pull steerage.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Ha Ha. Tas, I forgot about that baby (grin). Maybe if he divided the engines in half, put half up front pulling and half in the back pushing he will do just fine.....could control the barge regardless of environment.

He'll just have to drag another barge behind him loaded with fuel. Ha.

Mark

 

[MikDee]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Wow! That's an awesome Pic! Do ya think there's enough power there? It seems redundant.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

One of the guys on this forum has a barge that he uses to move heavy equipment around. It's a home-built job using propane tanks with outboard power. I think it's Bond-o; try to give him a PM and see.​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

i'll PM him the link.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Ayuh,....... I found this thread this morning,+ didn't have time to post,......

I'll try to post a few pictures this evening when I get home from the River House,.....
I just got off work,+ I'm burning Daylight here now.... Gotta Go,....

Here's 1 of the 1st summer,......

I'll be back with More Info,+ Ideahs,................

 

[gejandsons]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Power to move it will be minimal compared to the power you'll need to control it. If you get in a cross wind it will blow you off course with no way to stop it.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Park it, get a Liquor license, but a bar it the middle..make a ton of money

 

[Bondo]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Hmmmmm,............ What happened to Sullivan,..??..?......

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

40 tons. I would say about 600hp is bare bones minimum and you would want that split on the two quarters of the barge. You could get by with less under ideal conditions, but obviously that's very risky.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Besides the power and maneuvering issues I would think you would need permits and need to comply with state and federal maritime regulations galore and then there is insurance - - oh and don't forget the school of shark lawayers who will go after everthing you have and ever will own should things go wrong.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Besides the power and maneuvering issues I would think you would need permits and need to comply with state and federal maritime regulations galore and then there is insurance - - oh and don't forget the school of shark lawayers who will go after everthing you have and ever will own should things go wrong.

Yep...I see ya coming at my dock in Puget Sound, ya better have a Tug license..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Originally Posted by Solittle
Besides the power and maneuvering issues I would think you would need permits and need to comply with state and federal maritime regulations galore and then there is insurance - - oh and don't forget the school of shark lawayers who will go after everthing you have and ever will own should things go wrong.

Yep...I see ya coming at my dock in Puget Sound, ya better have a Tug license..

Back when we built the above pictured Barge,.......
Our research revealed that as long as it's used for Private cartage,+ Not commercial work,......

It's licensable as a Recreational Boat,....
With the usual Recreational Boat equipment,+ requirements being the only things needed......
It's registered as a "Home-Made Boat", by New York state + over the years, it's been boarded,+ inspected by NYDEC, the Coast Guard, NY State Police, the Canadian Coast Guard,+ most recently, the Boarder Patrol...........
There's also been No citations or tickets, or warnings Issued......

 

[HoratioHB]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

That home built tug, barge, or whatever it is...lol...is pretty cool. What, may I ask, do you use it for though? Is it just to **** around on or ? LOL...

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

Back when we built the above pictured Barge,.......
Our research revealed that as long as it's used for Private cartage,+ Not commercial work,......

It's licensable as a Recreational Boat,....
With the usual Recreational Boat equipment,+ requirements being the only things needed......
It's registered as a "Home-Made Boat", by New York state + over the years, it's been boarded,+ inspected by NYDEC, the Coast Guard, NY State Police, the Canadian Coast Guard,+ most recently, the Boarder Patrol...........
There's also been No citations or tickets, or warnings Issued......

OK, I'm really confused. YOU built the barge the Sullivan has..??? Or thats a barge you built..big diff if so...I know you know what your doing, but someone inexpierenced in piloting a monster is a whole new story!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

OK, I'm really confused. YOU built the barge the Sullivan has..???

No,.......I ramrodded the building of the Barge in the photo I posted......

A Good friend of mine, Mark was building a New House up on Grindstone Island, just off Clayton Ny....He didn't like the barge Fees he was paying the local river rats,+ decided he could build his own..... 1 day on the jobsite he mentioned it to Me,.... I scratched a few pictures on the back of a piece of paper,+ We were Off,+ Runnin'.......
That winter, after I got my lay-off,... I put together a Welding Crew,+ we moved into 1 of Mark's wharehouses for a few months......
The product is in that photo......

And,.....
Here's a few more......

This is a few winters ago, I rode my 4-wheeler over to the island,+ snapped a few... Those are the original motors......

This is drydocked last year,.... It was getting New Power,+ a longer ramp....

Shortly after that Mark wanted to blacktop the new tennis court he'd built,.....

Here I'm standing on the tip of the ramp, looking back......

Oh,.... This is the New Power Package,...... These 4 strokes are Sweet.........

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Very Unique Outboard Question - Need Help

He didn't like the barge Fees he was paying the local river rats,+ decided he could build his own..... 1 day on the jobsite he mentioned it to Me,.... I scratched a few pictures on the back of a piece of paper,+ We were Off,+ Runnin'.......


Aint that how it always starts? My take too..leaving well enough alone, well, just aint well enough...Re power looks sweet...(giving me thoughts!!...hmmm..need to check the regs for a floating Bar permit...dance floor, hmmm)

PS..we have some pretty neat rigs here that transport dozers/rocks/shoreline bluff rebuild stuff with a crane in the rear..dozer off the front..rocks (BIG) in the middle
looks like a neat ramp in front ya got....ohh, the possibilities!