New Perilous Plunge boats

For those that didn't already recently find out, a few days ago Knott's Berry Farm was cleared to put two brand new boats into operation on their Perilous Plunge flume. The new boats have a completely different seat/headrest/restraint setup and have a slightly different exterior build. Reportedly, the ride's gigantic record 45-foot tall splash is all but gone, but ironically, riders get just as wet as before.

The dispatch times have increased two-fold (if not more) now that the old boats have been taken out of service.

New boats: http://www.coasterrealm.com/Pictures/Knotts/07112006/KBF6.jpg

http://www.coasterrealm.com/Pictures/Knotts/07112006/KBF2.jpg

http://www.coasterrealm.com/Pictures/Knotts/07112006/KBF7.jpg

Old boats:

http://img77.exs.cx/img77/1339/IMG_5972.jpg

Thanks, kRaX!

Honestly, that's a much better solution than the 4-points AND lapbars. I don't think anyone could reasonably argue that the previous lapbar design was flawed to start with.

Still overkill, but I can't believe they had that ridiculous setup for so long.

Looks nice and easy except for the seatbelt.

Anything is better than those 4-points, they just took waaaayyy too darn long to check / put on... there was no issue about safety with them, they just seemed way too "overboard", clunky, and time consuming.

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kRaXLeRidAh said: ...The dispatch times have increased two-fold (if not more) now that the old boats have been taken out of service...

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So now it takes twice as long? ???

;)

Crappy solution, yet best solution at the same time. It's crap that you would need an OSTR on a water ride, but I'm sure the loading times will be more bearable since you won't have to be wrapped into your seat by a ride-op.

I think it would be better for Intamin in the future to not only design a Chute ride with somewhat better restraints, but also with a drop that doesn't provide so much negative g's to warrant the use of extreme restraints.

~Rob Willi

That drop was the point to the whole ride. Without it wouldn't be any different than a log flume.

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boblogone said:

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kRaXLeRidAh said: ...The dispatch times have increased two-fold (if not more) now that the old boats have been taken out of service...

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So now it takes twice as long? ???

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Ooops! I meant load/unload efficiency has increased two-fold --- not the wait times. ;)

^ boblo knew what you meant, he was being a smart-azz... ;)

Next time I'm at KBF, I'll probably get another ride on it, weather permitting. There's still the blow-dryers in the restrooms next to Xcelerator, right? :)

Maybe Knott's should put in Xlerator blow dryers near Perilous Plunge.

-edit dryer brand name. ;) *** Edited 7/13/2006 10:05:33 PM UTC by boblogone***

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Dutchman said:
That drop was the point to the whole ride. Without it wouldn't be any different than a log flume.

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Exactly, can ride the smaller tamer versions at any other park. PP's drop is one of the most insane ejector drops anywhere, coaster or otherwise, wouldn't trade it for any other generic chutes ride.

Glad to see capacity will now be improved, the previous wait times running only one boat with those 4 point restraints was torturous!