World's first Solar-powered ASD Tug Boat!

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  • Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
  • My first video illustrating the core maneuvering characteristics of a ASD (Azimuth Stern Drive) vessel.
    I built this for a few reasons:
    1. Full-blown vessel bridge simulators are expensive ($1M-ish and typically many hundreds of dollars per hour), and while I fully support their use for professionals in the industry (financially sponsored by their companies/unions), it's difficult to justify the cost for private individuals like myself who want to give it a whirl.
    2. The other option is to get your hands on the real thing. But that often takes YEARS for a deckhand (AB) to do, and it isn't so fast for the licensed, non-tug boat people either (you'll need to get hired, complete your TOAR, then have a company actually be willing to let you touch the sticks).
    3. Lastly, this is my jam. I've had my Captain's license since I was 19, but I've been driving boats since I was in middle school (I was raised on a 40' sailboat) and driving is the most fun part of being a mariner. It's what we crave, and this is a new flavor of maritime Brando.
    So thanks for watching, and please feel free to comment or ask questions!
    And yes, I realize the audio is clipped (input gain on camera set too high).

КОМЕНТАРІ • 41

  • @erict.5969
    @erict.5969 10 місяців тому +6

    I’m a Port Captain for a tug company with 11 ASD tug. You were absolutely spot on with your explanations on driving a Z-drive tug. Amazing job in your build too.

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  10 місяців тому +1

      Hey thanks! I'm the Port Captain at Seattle Maritime Academy, but definetly an engineer at heart! I'm a total poser in that I've never had the pleasure of running the real deal, but find azimuth and VSP tugs to be the closest thing to flying a helicopter I could find. Our new baby has slowed the progress on my 12' aluminum tractor ("eTug 3.0"), but it'll be ready by the time she can reach the controls (and sit up without falling over...she's only 6 months old).
      Any chance it's a west coast company that owns the BRAtt? 😃

    • @erict.5969
      @erict.5969 10 місяців тому +1

      @@DanielMakaiBlanchard if you’re ever in Hawaii come by and I’ll let you drive a tug

  • @tugboats_de
    @tugboats_de 8 місяців тому +5

    I NEED SUCH A BOAT FOR MY PERSONAL FUN 😀

  • @lachlancox5
    @lachlancox5 3 місяці тому +1

    Unbelievably well explained! Please make more of these videos or a showcase of the asd punt

  • @hansslob6749
    @hansslob6749 17 днів тому

    The best explanation I’ve ever seen.

  • @AA-co8de
    @AA-co8de 3 місяці тому

    So cool, sounds like it has the vibration like a real tug!

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 місяці тому

      Yeah, she shakes a bit, but it's pretty subtle. More power, more shakes!

  • @o1eksandr653
    @o1eksandr653 Рік тому +2

    Thanks for such a helpful video! The most simple explanation of the ASD vessel's manoeuvring.

  • @hasankose1787
    @hasankose1787 2 роки тому +2

    Can you load a New video which show you from back and ahead at the same time focus on your control

  • @RubenleBacc
    @RubenleBacc 2 роки тому +2

    Hello Danny, I am a deck rating and future tugboat skipper from the Canary Islands. I am aware of how difficult it is to be able to train with this type of propellant. I had in mind to build something like your super boat-tug but I wasn't very clear about how to do it and finding your video has been magnificent! Could you pass me a photo of your boat, its approximate measurements and power of each engine. thank you very much for sharing your video

  • @kramotter4863
    @kramotter4863 4 роки тому +3

    Very interesting and well explained, thank you.

  • @achmadrivaldijulian7257
    @achmadrivaldijulian7257 2 роки тому +2

    Nice And Selamat Pagi From Indonesia 🇮🇩

  • @jjosephm7539
    @jjosephm7539 4 роки тому +4

    This can be a great training aid. Just scale up and slow control response for a real ASD tug
    -former single-screw operator

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому +2

      Yep, slower response is a bit of a technical feat, but one I'm very slowly working on. Scale factors with models is not an exact science, and not all the elements scale very well. From my experience with this one, I don't think a 15-18 second drive rotation will be appropriate like the real-deal because the boat is extremely tender and far more sensitive than full aziumth drives. But slowed down rotation has complications in implementation. My approach is going to be to write some Arduino code and run two independent drives with absolute position encoders on both sticks and drives, and then likely a PWM-controlled reduction gear attached to each drive via a weak-link belt drive. Then I can just add a button or knob to control drive rotation speed within the Arduino code.

  • @JCinematic
    @JCinematic 2 роки тому +1

    Just found this video and this is really cool

  • @djomanchristian6693
    @djomanchristian6693 2 роки тому +1

    Very good lesson, thanks you.

  • @sailortristan
    @sailortristan 3 роки тому +1

    About that TP52 in the background... Looks like one of the converted Pac52s. Love how you can hear the boat shuddering when you're walking, just like a big tractor.

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому +1

      You nailed it! "Smoke" (formerly "Rebel Yell") is our neighbor here in Ballard. Regarding the shuddering, I want more (aka, more power!). The problem with more power is of course, more money. I've got about $1000 into this boat....$100 hull, $400 batteries, $200 in motors, $300 for PWM's/fittings, bilge pump, winch, etc. If I want to hit 5kts and a few hundred pounds of bollard, along with continuous drive rotation....that gets rather expensive. Torqeedo is putting together a unit that'd I'd love to have, but for a dual electric power system it would be around $30k....so that won't be happening anytime soon. : )

    • @sailortristan
      @sailortristan 3 роки тому

      @@DanielMakaiBlanchard Haha thats awesome. I've raced against her a few times :)
      Good luck with the build, I'm really interested in trying something like this as a training platform. I currently work as a mate on tractors in Vancouver and would really love to practice on something like this. much cheaper than a simulator, and certainly cheaper than running a big boat!

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому

      @@sailortristan Thanks! Centerline Logistics got the "BRAtt" back in 2011 and they occasionally use it for training here in Seattle, but I believe the steel version ("Suncor V") is still up in BC if you want to try and track her down. They're both running Olympic drives, some decent-sized Cummins, and are probably the best thing to train with that's actually been produced. My only change to the platform would be to use hybrid diesel-electric for the low-power finesse/idle work, and build them here in the US they could be put to work and not violate our Jones Act regulations regarding foreign hulls used for towing service. Shoot me a message if you're in Seattle and you can come by and give her a whirl.

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому

      ral.ca/series/bratt/

    • @sailortristan
      @sailortristan 3 роки тому

      @@DanielMakaiBlanchard Woah, ever cool! Built by robert allan, too! I for sure will do, cheers!

  • @jojopabendan1757
    @jojopabendan1757 3 роки тому

    Good Capt.ASD

  • @36thstreethero
    @36thstreethero 10 місяців тому +1

    Very cool

  • @isaias7772
    @isaias7772 3 роки тому +1

    Excelente maniobra para reaccion rapido e eficaz

  • @alexisachurra996
    @alexisachurra996 Рік тому +1

    Everybody is asking for the building explanation video, your are welcome to show us your step by step.

  • @beastnicholls4071
    @beastnicholls4071 3 роки тому +2

    What boat was used. I'm looking to biuld similar set up

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому

      It's a Spincraft. Not sure where you're at, but there is one for sale on Craigslist for $1250. susanville.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=spincraft&sort=date&searchNearby=2&nearbyArea=216&nearbyArea=675&nearbyArea=708&nearbyArea=188&nearbyArea=189&nearbyArea=187&nearbyArea=454&nearbyArea=652&nearbyArea=92&nearbyArea=373&nearbyArea=456&nearbyArea=12&nearbyArea=97&nearbyArea=1&nearbyArea=96

    • @beastnicholls4071
      @beastnicholls4071 3 роки тому

      Cool, how where you able to mount the motor thru your hull? What did u use for the seal for the underwater section?

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому +1

      @@beastnicholls4071 Marelon (plastic) hosebarb thru hulls that were a bit under-sized, then I opened them up a bit on my lathe for a slip fit over the Minnkota shafts (which have an OD of....1.138" if I recall?). 4200 to seal, then about a foot of vertical hose from the hosebard up the motor shafts until the top of the hose cleared the waterline by about 6". Super-duper on the cheap, but really effective. Used AGM's (4 group 31's) for a total of about 350 amp-hours at 12v gives me around 7hrs to full discharge (25amps/motor at WOT = 2.5kts average). Victron 25amp Bluetooth charger keeps them topped off, and an automatic bilge pump keeps the 500-ish pounds of boat from sinking from the rainwater. I added a Minnkota Deckhand anchor winch as my "towing winch" and have been able to get a 20,000lb 35' fishing boat up to about 2kts in flat water with no wind. Fun stuff!

  • @djomanchristian6693
    @djomanchristian6693 2 роки тому

    Lovely

  • @pearljademillones3017
    @pearljademillones3017 4 роки тому

    Were can i buy electric motors like that

  • @ryanb7540
    @ryanb7540 2 роки тому

    Dan do you have any pictures of this boat you’re running?

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  2 роки тому

      Yes, but I'm a bit befuddled on how the heck to send them to you. UA-cam no longer has a messaging option, and your profile doesn't have a email address like some do.

  • @grumpy_ken
    @grumpy_ken 4 роки тому

    wow neato

  • @Cpt_Tack
    @Cpt_Tack 4 роки тому +2

    If only your drives moved that fast

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому +1

      Yeah! I always tell folks that big boats are mostly no fun to drive, and that small boats are where it's at. Version 3.0 will probably be around 14'-16', have a rain-proof cab, and drives that aren't physically coupled to the controls (but they'll still be pretty damn fast - I love the speed). And hopefully hit 5+ knots without a massive wake. If I can pull that off I'll probably stop driving my truck to work and just take the tug.

    • @Cpt_Tack
      @Cpt_Tack 3 роки тому

      @@DanielMakaiBlanchard slow hands are a must on ASDs I always tell people to only move your hands as fast as the drives turn. Getting to many moves ahead is pretty common in the beginning. Looks like fun though.

    • @DanielMakaiBlanchard
      @DanielMakaiBlanchard  3 роки тому

      ​@@Cpt_Tack I like the "only move your hands as fast as the drives turn" idea! In this boat's case it's super-fast, but the phrase holds up since it runs at extremely slow power/speed. At work we recently brought online two VRInsight Azimuth controllers to run separate tugs in joint ops for harbor docking simulations with our primary Transas bridge simulator and I love being able to switch between tractor and ASD, and to work in an environment where you can add wind, current, displacement, etc to whatever we're simulating. But I still have the most fun with my little toy tug, and I can get a tan while I do it. : )

  • @paulmahy
    @paulmahy 12 днів тому

    I'd like to build one for over here in the uk, please can you do a video of the boat?