Pirate ship (ride)

A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride based on pirate ships, consisting of an open, seated gondola (usually in the style of a pirate ship) which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum. A variant where the riders must pull on ropes to swing the ride is known as a swing boat.

The first known predecessor of the ride was invented by Charles Albert Marshall of Tulsa, Oklahoma between 1893 and 1897. This ride was originally called "The Ocean Wave".

The Ocean Wave was first used in the Marshall Bros Circus in 1897. The circus was run by Charles and his brothers Mike, Will, Ed, Tim, friends, and family.

Height requirements

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.

Pirate ship rides

A ride with Viking theme at Linnanmäki

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.^[1]
HUSS' version is known as the Pirate Boat, and can hold up to 54 passengers in 9 rows.
Intamin 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.^[2]
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
Staudenmeyer & Weidmann's version was most iconic from Wicksteed Park's double pirate ship.

Variants

The Looping Starship, manufactured by Intamin is similar to a pirate ship, except that goes upside down. This gives 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.

Swingboat on the Roonkarker Mart-fair (German) in northern Germany.

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".