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One of the oldest fair attractions was a swing ride which held
several passengers and was powered by people standing on the
ends, swinging higher and higher until the gondola was nearly
perpendicular to the ground below. Often these rides were boat
shaped, though limited in capacity by the amount of weight the
attendants can move. In the late 1970's INTAMIN took the concept
of the singing boat and added modern technology, creating large
boats that could hold dozens of riders, driven by computer
controlled electric motors. The modern swinging ship ride has
become a staple of fairs and parks around the world.
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Through the years, Six Flags has always been on the cutting
edge of thrills, introducing the latest and greatest rides in
parks from coast to coast. In the late 1970's when the modern
swinging ship style ride was introduced, Six Flags was quick to
introduce the rides in all of their parks, with Great Adventure
receiving one of the very first.
The Buccaneer was added
to the park for the 1980 season along with the adjacent
Adventure Theater, with both attractions replacing the Grand
Prix electric go-kart ride which had been in the park since
opening day in 1974.
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When the Buccaneer was
introduced it was a marquis attraction, drawing long lines of
riders. The swinging ship ride was a novelty and Six Flags Great
Adventure was the first park in the area to feature one.
The Buccaneer was an INTAMIN Bounty ride, featuring an elaborate
pirate ship theme complete with mast and furled sails and a
crows nest at the center along with a figure head on the bow and
skull and crossbones at the stern.
Part of the thrill of
the Buccaneer was waiting in line, and as guests got closer to
the ride they were practically under the ship as it swung back
and forth, feeling the breeze as it passed overhead. As they
made their way toward the ride, those who were apprehensive got
a further test of their nerves as the powerful motors would
propel the ride higher and higher, shaking the ground with each
direction change.
Originally the line split as it snaked
around the back of the ride, with half the crowd going toward
the ship's bow and the other half toward the stern. Often there
was a mad dash for seats when the gates were opened, with the
bravest thrill seekers making a beeline towards the end row
seats, and those with weaker stomachs heading for the center of
the ship where the arc of the swing was more tolerable and the
view less scary.
The seats at the ends have always been
the most coveted since the ends of the ship swing past the 90
degree point and offer the terrifying view into the pit below
the ride.
Like many of the park's flat rides, the Buccaneer was
originally designed for the European fair circuit, and featured
an elaborate lighting package which was intended to draw guests
from far off daytime or night. The hundreds of lights lining the
front legs of the structure and the ride sign blinked in
patterns chasing and flashing in alternating colors.
In 1985, the Buccaneer was overshadowed by its sister ride,
Looping Starship, another INTAMIN ride creation which took the
concept to the next level with complete 360 degree rotations
using a nearly identical design and drive system.
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Technical Information |
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Manufacturer: |
Intamin - Germany |
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Ride Type: |
Pendulum ride |
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Ride Model: |
Bounty |
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Number of
Seats: |
10 rows (5 each side of
center) |
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Number of
Guests per Seat: |
5 people |
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Number of
Guests per Cycle: |
50 people |
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Ride Duration: |
90 seconds |
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Loading Time: |
70 seconds |
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Unloading
Titme: |
20 seconds |
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Cycle Time: |
3 minutes |
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Approximate
Capacity: |
1000 guests per hour |
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Dimensions of
Ride Base: |
55 feet x 40 feet |
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Height of Ride: |
44 feet |
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Height of Boat
in Full Swing: |
66 feet |
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Length of Boat: |
46 feet |
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Width of Boat: |
9 feet |
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Safety
Restraint: |
Centrally controlled locking
lap bars |
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Description: |
The passengers of the Bounty ride in a beautifully |
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themed fiberglass boat which appears to be constructed |
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of old wooden planks. The swinging ride starts with a |
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smooth back and forth motion
with increasing speed |
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in both directions. The
swinging motion results in |
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an angle of up to approx. 75
degrees. As the arc |
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of the pendulum increases to
total operating height, |
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the riders experience
sensations of speed, rocking |
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motion, and relative
weightlessness. |
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Click the placard below to view video of
Buccaneer:
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To go along with the ship theme a small pond
was constructed in front of the ride complete with a gangplank
style exit ramp over the water. This water feature also
reflected the lights after dark.
The ride platform and
area was further themed with old telephone poles designed to
look like pilings. For many years one of the piling in the front
of the ride platform still had bands of red, white and green
which were remnants of a telephone pole mounted fire call box
from the pilings previous life. The old telephone poles creosote
coating leant an authentic smell of a wharf.
The pond in
front of the ride and the gangplank featured pilings and rope to
serve as railings, with wooden railings later being added to the
gangplank for safety. During the 2009 season the landscaping in
front of the Buccaneer was enhanced with a small sand dune style
look and additional pilings. |
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