Electric tugs for marine & Boatyards
Move boats on their cradles with one person.
From the workshop floor to the top of the slipway, Tractive Power electric tugs give one operator control of a boat on its cradle. Battery powered, fitted with the coupling that suits your cradles, and built in the UK.
4,000–8,000 kg
Cradles on castors, from the TP250 to the TP500.
TP250 and TP500
20,000–40,000 kg
Cradles on slipway rails, pushed in a straight line.
On rails
1 person
The operator walks behind and steers. The tug does the pushing.
Regardless of load
Moving a boat a few metres shouldn't need a tractor and a crew.
Boatyards and marine workshops move boats on cradles all the time: into the shed for maintenance, between bays, and down the slipway for launch.
A tractor or a boat mover for every short move needs a driver, a banksman and room to turn, which a workshop rarely has. Pushing a cradle by hand is a manual handling risk the Manual Handling Operations Regulations require you to reduce.
Why traditional handling doesn’t fit
Tractors and yard vehicles are built for the hard standing, not a workshop floor with people on foot. Pushing by hand depends on how many people are free, with no control over force or stopping on a slope.
Where Tractive Power fits
A pedestrian electric tug puts one operator in control of each move, at walking pace. The tug couples to the cradle, and the operator walks behind and steers.
The TP250 handles lighter craft on castor cradles. The TP500 takes heavier boats, and both push cradles on rails with the adjustable pushpad.
Where our machines work in marine & boatyards
From the workshop to the slipway.
Coupled to the cradle
The tug couples to the cradle under the bow and steers the boat.
Down the slipway
Boats on cradles moved down the slipway rails for launch.
At the water's edge
Controlled, straight-line pushing to the top of the slipway.
Around the yard
Boats moved between the shed, the yard and the moorings.
Seen on site
A patrol boat moved on its cradle by one operator.
In a marine workshop, a Tractive Power tug moves a police patrol boat on its cradle across the floor and towards the slipway. One operator, walking pace, full control.
Recommended for marine & boatyards
Machines across the load range.
Not sure which machine you need? Start from your load.
Marine & Boatyards couplings
The right connection for your load.
Boat cradles sit on castors or slipway rails. Every tug is fitted with the coupling that suits yours, and if none of the standard options fit, we design one around your cradles.
Adjustable pushpad
Straight-line pushing of loads on rails or skates.
Roll cage coupling
Up to 250 nested cages, pushed as one
5th wheel channel
For wheeled dollies, trolleys and stillages.
Quick latch
One connection point across all your trolleys.
Paper roll
Drums, reels and paper rolls
None of these fit? We design the coupling around your load. Designed in-house around your load, to your drawing.
Built for marine & boatyards handling
Controlled, single-operator handling.
Single-operator control
One person walks behind and steers at walking pace. The tug supplies the force, so nobody has to push.
Battery powered
No fumes and quiet running indoors. A full recharge takes 8 hours, so it charges overnight.
Backed by a UK service team
Built in the UK, with a 2-year warranty and a UK service team for servicing and repairs.
Marine & Boatyards handling FAQs
The questions boatyards ask us.
What's the heaviest boat you can move?
On castors, the TP250 moves up to 4,000 kg and the TP500 up to 8,000 kg. On rails, the TP250 moves up to 20,000 kg and the TP500 up to 40,000 kg. Tell us the boat and cradle weight and we will confirm the right machine.
Can the tug work on a wet slipway?
Tell us about your surfaces, slopes and the conditions the tug will work in, and we will confirm the right machine and drive wheels for the job.
Can you build a tug around our load?
Yes. Our team designs couplings and machines in-house around your load, to your drawing if you have one.
Does pushing a heavy load by hand count as manual handling?
Yes. Pushing and pulling count as manual handling under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, so the risk has to be assessed and reduced as far as reasonably practicable. A tug takes most of the push force out of the job.
How long does charging take?
A full recharge takes 8 hours, so a tug can charge overnight and be ready for the next shift.
Can you look at our site first?
Yes. We visit, walk the routes and look at your loads before recommending a machine and coupling.
Will a Tractive Power tug move your load?
Tell us what you’re moving, how heavy it gets and what it runs on. We’ll tell you which tug and coupling will do the job.
Rather talk it through? Call 01538 360372.
