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Everyone says bigger dredge buckets mean faster work but I think they're missing something

I've been running a 10 inch cutterhead for 6 years now on the Mississippi near Baton Rouge, and I keep hearing guys swap to 14 inch buckets thinking they'll double their output. In my experience, a bigger bucket just clogs faster in mixed material, and you spend half your shift clearing jams. Last month I watched a new guy lose 3 hours on a single sand and gravel pocket with his oversized setup. Has anyone else found that sticking with a smaller bucket and higher RPM actually gets you cleaner results in the long run?

2 comments

2 Comments

taragrant4d ago

Is it just me, or is that how everything goes these days? Everyone thinks bigger is always better, whether it's a truck engine or a phone screen, but they forget about the trade offs. I see it at the boat ramp too, guys show up with the biggest outboard they can bolt on, then spend the whole weekend fixing a fuel line because they pushed it too hard. Your bucket situation reminds me of my neighbor who bought a monster lawn mower, only to find out it can't turn around in his tiny yard without tearing up the flowerbeds. Sometimes the best tool is the one that fits the job, not the one that looks impressive on paper.

anna_shah94d ago

Laughing at the guy who spent 3 hours wrestling with sand and gravel. Bigger bucket, bigger problems I guess.