Simple and clean towboat design
Z-drives require little space. The complete Z-drives drop in from the top. The absence of long propeller shafts, shaft alleys, steering gears and rudders greatly reduces the required machinery space and weight, thus increasing the usable volume and payload of the vessel. The need for propeller shaft alignment is eliminated.

Towboats with Z-drives are not significantly more expensive than conventional towboats. The initial cost of the Z-Drives is significantly offset by reduced construction costs and installation man-hours. Shipyards have reported that the cost of building Z-drive boats is actually less than building conventional boats.

Robust and Reliable. Designed and built in America.
Thrustmaster knows and understands brown water applications. We have been building brown water propulsion equipment for more than 30 years. Thrustmaster Z-drives are designed based on conservative American standards observing ample safety margins. They are built to last even in the harshest operating environment. The units are built in our headquarters facility in Houston, Texas, using American materials, American components and American labor.

Each Z-drive is equipped with a husky stainless steel propeller running in a nozzle with stainless steel internals. The gears and transmission shafts are generously sized and are protected by a quick release coupling at the input shaft of the Z-drive. This quick release coupling acts as a mechanical fuse whenever the drive line is blocked, for instance when the propeller ingests a log, a tire or a rope. The mechanical fuse can be reset manually after the obstruction is removed out of the propeller.

Easy Maintenance
Routine maintenance is limited to periodic replacement of filter elements for the lubricating oil and the steering hydraulic fluid. Whenever major maintenance or repair is required, the complete Z-drive is lifted out of the vessel while the vessel is afloat. A replacement Z-drive can be dropped in and the boat is back to work within hours