How the steering works on a towboat 

I come from a Navy family and years ago learned on the late "Old River Bill" Bill Zumwalt's website that 'wheel' was the common towboating term for what the navy types term 'screw', and that word usage was connected to the original use of paddle wheels before screw propellors began to be used. Apparently it was a logical case of wheel being carried over as the name for 'that rotating thing in the water which uses engine power to apply thrust to your boat' even though it was now a screw propellor instead of a paddlewheel.

I used to be Pushboat Captain back in the 80's. I always enjoyed it a great deal, primarily we worked the ICWW and would occasionally trip barges back and forth between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Did go up the through Mobile a couple of times up as far as the Tombigbee River.

I always enjoy your videos, even when I don't comment. Thanks for the lessons. You're never too old to learn something new.

Great job explaining the tillers...!! 👍✅

Always enjoy your videos. My boat is probably about as big as your pilot house but I still learn something from every one of your videos.

I've always wondered how you steer barges thanks for the Info!!

I use to work on the fuel flat in Baton Rouge, LA Economy/ Stone.

4 rudders! I didn't know! Thank you!

Another puzzle solved, thank you Captain. You are teaching us well. When running forward, what prevents the flanking rudders from getting caught in the current and snapping over to one side?

Well explained Cap!

I am an ocean-going mariner, and this is very interesting to see! I wonder if any ocean guys ever make the jump over to the river? I know the river stuff and ocean stuff are different, and as such require different experience. Still, I'd love to work on a pushboat for a season...

Hey Brother, im a River Pilot on the European Rhine. Watch some Videos how our Cockpits are. Mostly we're mutch more modernized. And our Big Towboats have headrudders on theyre Barges...

Hey Kyle, think you can do a video explaining duties, days on and off, shifts of each members of crew? Maybe explain difference between a Pilot and a Capt. and how long it takes to move up to Capt. Know by following your post about deckhands, tanker, engineer, cook, pilot and Capt. what am I missing?

Hey thanks for the video! Your videos are helping me tremendously on my radio controlled towboat project. I've got my stern rudders linked up and am working on my flanking rudders now. One question, when flanking, are you running the screws in reverse to provide propwash to the flanking rudders for steering? Or only while backing?

nice video

Thanks I was wondering about that

Now, this is INTERESTING! Instead of it a Pretty Day!

Ok answered my questions!

Hey Capt- Just wondering..when trying to pivot tighter do you "split" the rudders or put them over to one side? Just curious..I've driven smaller tows than what you do for sure, but with tows as long as you push I'm wondering if it helps, makes a difference or not at all. As usual, great video!

What about the poles I see tied the the front of the barge that's sticking down into the water. Are those just depth finders?

How about a video explaining making sharp bends going up river against hard currents.

Yo Mark, Or any other cool ass Captains. I need a tow boat ride/tour please. On the Ohio. I'll pay or work for it. Can meet anywhere within 50miles up or down of Chester WV / East Liverpool OH. Thanks a bunch. This will be so cool.

I'd love to see what a towboat looks like when it's out of the water. Is there any protection around the wheels (nozzle, beavertail, ???) and rudders?

I would love to own a push boat barge

That's a lot less complicated than I thought it was going to be.

My dads a push boat pilot

So it's really a push boat not a towboat.... correct

Deckhand story: "This ain't no shit..."

Do you have any other social media channels?

I feel like the little barge had a better opportunity to avoid or correct.

Hay how r you doing

that