The Tugboat: wheelbarrow from behind at the edge of the bed
The Tugboat is a wheelbarrow position at the edge of the bed. She faces away from him and supports her upper body only on her straight arms, hands flat on the mattress, torso roughly horizontal. Her legs are off the bed: he stands on the floor between them and holds her thighs on either side of his hips, knees bent. He controls the rhythm, penetration is vaginal and deep, and there is no eye contact. It is demanding for both: her wrists and shoulders carry her upper body and his lower back carries her legs.
Also known as: Tugboat · Wheelbarrow at the edge of the bed
Anatomy and biomechanics
She kneels on the bed facing away from the edge, places her hands flat on the mattress with her arms straight, and lets him lift her legs. He stands on the floor at the edge of the bed, feet hip-width apart, and holds her thighs at the height of his hips; her knees are bent and her legs rest on either side of his waist without touching the bed. Her torso stays roughly horizontal, head relaxed forward. Their pelvises are at the same height, so he can penetrate from behind and move with his hips while his hands keep her thighs steady. Penetration is vaginal and can be deep. All her weight is shared between her hands on the bed and his arms.
Why this position works
Some couples like the strength and novelty of the wheelbarrow and the sense of being held. Because her pelvis is suspended and he guides it with his hands, he has a lot of control over angle and depth, and some women enjoy the deep sensation this allows. The bed takes much of the effort out of the classic floor wheelbarrow. It is a short, intense position rather than one to hold for a long time. Sensations vary from person to person.
Variations of this position
Variation 1: on her forearms
The same wheelbarrow, but she rests on her forearms instead of her hands.
Dropping onto the forearms lowers her chest and tilts her pelvis upwards, which changes the angle of entry. It takes the load off her wrists, although her shoulders still work.
- Get into the basic position, with her hands on the mattress and him holding her thighs.
- She lowers herself onto her forearms, one at a time.
- He adjusts the height of her thighs so her pelvis stays level with his hips.
- Continue with slow, controlled strokes.
Variation 2: with circular movements
The same wheelbarrow, but he moves his hips in slow circles instead of thrusting back and forth.
Circular movements keep penetration deep but reduce the impact of each stroke, so the position is gentler on her wrists and on the penis. He keeps holding her thighs steady while his hips do the work.
- Get into the basic position at the edge of the bed.
- He keeps her thighs firmly at his hips.
- He moves his pelvis in slow circles, without pulling out.
- She tells him whether to make the circles wider or smaller.
Variation 3: with her legs crossed around his waist
She wraps her legs around his waist and crosses her ankles behind his back, so he does not have to hold her thighs so hard.
With her ankles locked behind him, her legs hold on by themselves and his arms are partly freed; he can hold her hips instead of her thighs. It takes some strength in her legs and limits how far he can pull back.
- Start in the basic position.
- She wraps her legs around his waist and crosses her ankles behind his back.
- He moves his hands from her thighs to her hips.
- Keep the strokes short; she can tighten her legs to bring him closer.
Variation 4: with her chest on pillows
A stack of firm pillows on the bed supports her chest, so her arms barely carry any weight.
The pillows take the weight of her upper body, so her wrists and shoulders rest and she can hold the position longer. Her pelvis stays suspended in his hands, so the angle is similar to the basic position.
- Stack two or three firm pillows near the edge of the bed.
- She kneels and rests her chest and forearms on them.
- He stands, lifts her thighs one at a time and holds them at his hips.
- Move slowly at first, then adjust the pillows if her pelvis is too high or too low.
✓ Tips
- Use a firm bed at a height that puts her pelvis level with his hips; a very soft mattress makes her hands sink.
- He should keep his back straight and his feet planted, and hold her thighs close to his body rather than at arm's length.
- She can drop onto her forearms or rest her chest on pillows if her wrists or shoulders tire.
- Move with controlled strokes: with deep penetration from behind, a missed thrust can bend the penis. Slow down if it slips out.
- Agree on a signal to stop and lower her legs gently onto the bed; stop at once if either of you feels unstable or there is pain.
- Use lubricant if needed, and a condom to reduce the risk of STIs.
Key facts
- Interaction type
- Vaginal penetration from behind, wheelbarrow at the edge of the bed
- Active anatomy
- Penis
- Receptive anatomy
- Vagina
- Main stimulation
- Vagina, with deep penetration from behind
- Setups and participants
- Couple · 2 people Hetero
Frequently asked questions
Is The Tugboat hard to do?
Yes, it is demanding: she supports her upper body on her arms and he holds her legs. Doing it at the edge of a bed makes it easier than on the floor, but it is best kept short.
How do you get into position safely?
She kneels on the bed facing away from the edge and places her hands on the mattress. He stands behind her, takes one thigh and then the other, and holds them at his hips. To finish, he lowers her knees back onto the bed.
Is it deep?
It can be. If it feels too deep, she can arch her back less or he can hold her thighs a little lower to change the angle.
What if her wrists hurt?
Switch to her forearms or put pillows under her chest. If the pain continues, change position.
Safety and evidence
Scientific context for common terms used on this page. Keeping these terms makes the content easier to understand; the sources clarify what is established and what remains uncertain.
G-spot: what the evidence says
“G-spot” is a widely used term for a sensitive area of the anterior vaginal wall. Scientific literature has not established a discrete anatomical structure with an agreed location, size and nature; sensitivity and response can vary between individuals.
Reviewed by the editorial team ·
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