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"Three Zero harbour tugs just to pull two barges? Warrior and I have got you licked - two of us can pull that much!"
Big Mac to Zorran, Zebedee and Zak ("Warrior")

Big Mac is Captain Star's second tug, who sports a distinctively broad Glaswegian accent. He is used for a variety of tasks around Bigg City Port. As of his strength, he often hauls heavy loads. Big Mac is based on the tugs of San Francisco waters from the 1920s.

Biography

Tugs

Big Mac's first appearance was in the first episode of Tugs (Sunshine). Since he was the strongest tug in the Star Fleet, Zorran asked Zip and Zug to put him out of action by stranding him on a mudbank, as a result allowing the Z-Stacks a chance for the Duchess contract. He was later rescued and looked for Sunshine. In the episode Pirate, Big Mac looked for who the thief was and defended Ten Cents when he was falsely accused of stealing barges.

In Trapped, Big Mac was trapped behind an old tramper by Zorran. He stayed there until Billy Shoepack came and blasted through the tramper. Then he along with the rest of the Star Fleet and Zug laughed at Zorran when he was trapped on some rocks. Later on in Regatta, Big Mac helped Top Hat, Ten Cents, and some other members of the Star Fleet save Grampus when he was going to be blown up in Navy practice by Bluenose. Afterwards, he enjoyed the Regatta parade. He had a minor appearance in the episode Munitions.

Audio Files

As opposed to his gruff personality, he is fitted with a rich and melodic chime whistle.

Basis

Big Mac is a freelance design, and isn't/is not based on any specific tugboat, though he may resemble a Baltimore tug.

Livery

Big Mac is painted in the Star Fleet's corporate livery. This consists of a black hull, a yellow superstructure, white mast and an American flag-styled red white and blue funnel. His name is painted on the sides of his bow in white and he has the number "2" on his funnel. He wears a navy blue cap.

Personality

Big Mac can come across as a rude and stubborn tug, but he has a heart of gold, despite his tendencies to be gruff at times. He is very much willing to set aside his own safety for the sake of others, and usually remains level-headed when undergoing a strategy. Big Mac works mainly with his brother Warrior, and the two tugs have an extremely close friendship. Even though Warrior's clumsiness and simple thinking occasionally frustrate him, he still respects and cares for him. He also stands up for Warrior if anyone (especially the Z-Stacks) makes fun of him.

Appearances

Episodes

Books and Annuals

Salty's Lighthouse

  • Mixed Signals (cameo)
  • Too Young to be Included
  • Taking Off (cameo)
  • Let's Party (cameo)
  • Black Out
  • Eight is Too Much (cameo)
  • One Bad Day
  • Hands Off (cameo)
  • Salty Come Lately (cameo)
  • It's Magic
  • Count on Me
  • Knot so Nice (cameo)
  • Taking My Turn (cameo)
  • Backwards Day (does not speak)
  • Banana Splits (cameo)
  • Clear the Decks
  • Claude in Charge (cameo)
  • The Favorite (cameo)
  • Strike Up the Band (cameo)
  • Blankety Blank
  • Farley Frog
  • Boss Man
  • High Spirits (does not speak)
  • Treasure Hunt (does not speak)
  • Who Turned Off the Lights
  • If the Clue Fits, Wear It
  • Desperately Seeking Sadie
  • Big Birthday Bash (cameo)
  • Stop the Music
  • Let's Wing It
  • No Strings Attached
  • Guilty Gull

Trivia

  • Big Mac appears and speaks in every episode excluding Quarantine. However he does not speak in the TV versions of Pirate and Munitions.
  • After Tugs' production ended, Big Mac's model was purchased by The Star Tugs Company, an organization which showcases the models.
  • His name is based on Big Mac, a food sold by McDonald's, an American fast food restaurant.
  • Prior to his sale, Big Mac's deck, superstructure, and wheelhouse were severely cracked. He was so damaged that his deck had split off the hull, which completely separated from the rest of his body. Thankfully, he was repaired shortly before the sale.
  • He was only sold with his seething face, but he was later reunited with his other facial expressions when the owner attended one of The Star Tugs Trust events at the Battlefield Line Railway in March 2014.
  • He is renamed Big Stack in Salty's Lighthouse, likely to avoid legal issues with McDonald's fast-food chain.
  • He (along with O.J.) were composer Mike O'Donnell's favourite characters.
  • Big Mac is also the name of characters Mighty Mac since the tenth series in the German dub of Thomas & Friends, Tugs' sister series.

Quotes

""Cut that out about Ten Cents!"/"Yeah, watch it, see?!""
— Big Mac and Warrior berating Zip and Zug for accusing Ten Cents of stealing barges (Pirate)
""All you worry about is keeping that piece of glass in your eye clean!"/"Not only my monocle, all of me."/"'Cause you always get out of nasty jobs, don't ye (you)?!""
— Big Mac and Top Hat (High Tide)
"One of Zorran's little schemes? Hrrgn, I thought as much..."
— Big Mac (Trapped)
"Listen, we can't let this happen. I'll handle the barges, you go off and find O.J., tell him about Grampus. He'll know what to do. We'll save our mate Grampus if it's the last thing we do."
— Big Mac to Ten Cents (Regatta)
""You think I'd better go, then?"/"Yes, you'd better! You've done enough for one day, nothing'll stop them now! Call that a controlled explosion, do ye (you)?!""
— Billy Shoepack and Big Mac (Up River)

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