The Pirate Ship

Lore & Background

Height requirements for this type of ride vary from park to park. For example, Hersheypark, which has a Huss Pirate Boat, has a height requirement of 42 in (107 cm) or more to ride, while at LaRonde, which also has a Huss Pirate Boat, riders must be 52 in (132 cm) or taller. Huss recommends that the lowest a height requirement should be is 39 in (99 cm), but parks can make it higher if they choose to.

In Their Own Story

There are a number of Swinging Ship-type rides, and multiple manufacturers. Chance Rides' original version is known as the Sea Dragon which are permanent or two trailer portable models. The later version is known as "Pharaoh's Fury" and could be permanent or transported on one 53-foot trailer. Fabbri's version is known as the Pirate Ship, and can hold 40 passengers. HUSS' version is known as the Pirate Boat, and can hold up to 54 passengers in 9 rows. Intamin's version is called Bounty. Mulligan's version is known as the Sea Ray. SBF Visa's version is known as Pirate and can accommodate 32 passengers. SDC makes a version called the Pirate Ship. Zamperla's version is known as the Galleon, and has four sizes available, which can hold 33, 42, 54 or 84 passengers. Zierer's version is known as the Viking Ship and can accommodate 40 passengers. Metallbau Emmeln's version is known as the Schiffsschaukeln and can accommodate 24/40 passengers. Helmut Hauser, DAL Amusements, and Staudenmeyer & Weidmann's version was most iconic from Wicksteed Park's double pirate ship. Variants include the Looping Starship, manufactured by Intamin, which is similar to a pirate ship except that it goes upside down, giving the rider a feel of zero gravity for a moment as it swings back down while making 360° loops. Manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf, the Shuttle Boat is a pirate ship ride which instead of swinging back and forth rides on a half pipe track. This idea would later be adopted by Zamperla and turned into the Rockin' Tug, featuring a ship that rotates about its own axis also. Some traveling fairs in Europe have pirate ships in which the riders can choose to stand up in cages located at the ends of the ships. These do not go upside down, but do swing to a horizontal position. The names listed are given by the manufacturers, and individual parks may change the name of the ride itself. Many parks use a Viking Ship theme for their ride. Smaller versions of the ride are often called "Swingboats".

Did You Know?

• Huss recommends the lowest height requirement for a Pirate Boat is 39 in (99 cm), but parks can set it higher.
• Zamperla's Galleon comes in four sizes holding 33, 42, 54, or 84 passengers.
• The Looping Starship by Intamin goes upside down, giving riders a moment of zero gravity.
• Anton Schwarzkopf's Shuttle Boat rides on a half pipe track instead of swinging.
• Some European traveling fairs have pirate ships where riders can stand up in cages at the ends.