Yoyo Barge Winch News

Patterson Manufacturing follows its substantial success in the barge winch markets with an equally impressive boat-to-barge coupling system. In 2008, Pittsburgh-based Patterson Manufacturing Company developed the YoYo Barge Winch, a revolutionary design that reflected a total re-thinking of the way winches do their job. Fast forward to 2015 and the YoYo has penetrated North American inland markets in a big way, in just a few years. Even as the “YoYo” winch has arguably become the inland standard in barge winches – especially considering the 10,000th YoYo unit sale was recorded last year – Patterson has plans to engineer the same sort of revolution in the niche boat-to-barge coupling markets.

Our annual Ferry and Passenger Vessel edition kicks off the New Year in high gear, even if oil prices aren’t necessarily following suit. As vessel operators – our ferry drivers included – celebrate lower bunker prices, another maritime subset frets over what might happen to the offshore service market if the downturn in crude oil prices continues unabated for a significant length of time. That said; if your market focus is ferries and/or passenger vessels, then you won’t find another more comprehensive or diverse look at this sector than that which is depicted in the pages that follow. It turns out that the passenger vessel and ferry industry is a forward-thinking, innovative and problem solving group of businesses.

President & CEO: David B. The Patterson Manufacturing Company began operations in 1858 on the banks of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh. In the 1950s, they began designing and manufacturing towboat and barge winches, something which the firm is now best known for. In the beginning, Patterson made just a few sizes of winches, but now offers winches with capacities from 20 tons to 90 tons and in three operating formats: manual, electrical, and hydraulic. Over the years, Patterson has improved the winch by listening to the needs of the end user.

For decades, barge owners and operators had no reason to think twice about their rigging. There were only a few choices when it came to winches, and there were ratchets as well. Because of the simplicity of these machines, few people in the industry were compelled to think critically about how such a basic item might be improved. But winches and ratchets have their downsides: fouling and birdnesting can and do happen. Wire rope is heavy, and traditional rigging takes a lot of it. And old-fashioned winches require a good amount of time and effort to operate. But what else was there?

Patterson’s YoYo Barge Winch transcends efficiency, while creating a markedly safer workplace. In business since 1858, the Patterson Company of Pittsburgh, PA has shown the staying power like few others in the ever-changing and always competitive marine industry. A barge and towboat winch manufacturer more than a half century, the company is primarily known for their contributions to that market even today. Their newest entry into the winch market – the Patterson YoYo Winch – may be their most important ever.