The Badger Class 8iinch x 8-inch Cutterhead Dredge is manufactured by DSC Dredge, LLC, at its Greenbush, Michigan, facility, and is ideal for smaller dredging jobs where more compact equipment is required due to work area limitations. With a working width of just under 10 feet and an overall length of 54 feet, including the ladder, the Badger Class dredge can be maneuvered by dredging contractors into harder-to-reach waterways not accessible by larger crafts, yet still dig to a depth of 20 feet at a 60-degree down angle on the ladder. The lateral cut achieved by the Badger Class dredge at maximum depth is approximately 50 feet. The Badger Class dredge is 9 feet, 2 inches tall and can be transported on a single truckload.
Offered in an 8-inch discharge/suction configuration, the sturdy Badger Class dredge leverages a three-compartment hull, centered by the engine and pump compartment, which is molded to the two iron-framed side tanks to form a single heavy-duty piece, reinforced with 10-gauge plate throughout. The unit’s lever room and pump/engine room enclosures are built with 12-gauge plate for long service life.
Major components of the Badger Class dredge are sourced from the leading brands in the industry. Meeting Tier 3 diesel emissions requirements, a Caterpillar C7 ACERT engine provides 250 horsepower at 2,200 rpm, supported by a 150-gallon fuel tank. Sourced from Metso Minerals, the Thomas Simplicity Dredge Pump is rated for 160 feet Total Dynamic Head (TDH) at 2,500 gallons per minute. The five Rotzler winches are rated at 4,500-pound line pull capacity and are used for swinging the ladder, lifting the spuds and lifting the ladder. The swing winches come equipped with 150 feet of 3/8-inch cable.
With an inside diameter at the back ring of 22 inches and an outside diameter of 30 inches, the Badger Class dredge’s cutterhead is designed with five smooth blades constructed of cast steel mounted to a 2-1/2 inch stainless steel shaft and driven by a variable-speed, reversible, Kawasaki HMB-100 hydraulic motor. As with the larger Wolverine Class dredge, the Badger Class uses a three-section Parker hydraulic pump providing service to the cutterhead motor, swing winches, spud winches and ladder winch. The hydraulic system holds up to 100 gallons of fluid, is protected by relief valves, and is equipped with replaceable inline filters. A Burks service pump is provided to supply flushing water to the dredge pump packing gland, water to the cutter drive bearings and for use at a deck connection.
