Shoot the Rapids: "The boats didn't fit the flumes"

Jeff, my only complaint are the ugly headrests. Splash Mountain doesn't have them and I don't see why Intamin needed to reinvent the wheel with this design that has obstructed views for those sitting in rows 2 - 5. I liked Pilgrim's Plunge in the front, not so much in the other rows.

I'm thrilled that the park is putting in StR, I just wish those boats weren't on it. And I'm sure my son will enjoy it since he's stoked that he's tall enough to ride. I'm just annoyed by those boats.

~Rob

The high seatbacks, unfortunately, are there in order to give the lap bar something to attach to. The desire not to do that is why the Timberliners have those weird lap bars that close from the sides.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

In regards to the boats, my thing with having restraints is what if a boat flips accidentally? I am not bothered by the seat belts or velcro belts on most raft rides but when you start mixing a "hard fixed restraint" with a water based ride I think you are potentially looking at trouble. There simply is no way for the rider to remove it in case of an emergency; not having been in these new boats yet can anyone say there is enough wiggle room to get out? I have worked on various flume style rides and can specifically recall two incidents, one with a boat that rode high after the drop and turned sideways on the flume wall and another where a blown pump caused a surge of water forcing one boat on top of another. While these events are rare, I still feel much more comfortable having the freedom of being able to get myself out on my own.

The channel is way too narrow for the boats to flip. I think if you had to wiggle out of them, you likely could with some work.

I'm sure Dave could enlighten us more on this. But, if you could wiggle out of the restraint, wouldn't that violate some ANSI standard? I understand there are older rides where this is possible. I just wouldn't think that would be the case on newer rides.

Some restraints on some rides are there just to make people feel like they shouldn't stand up. I can think of plenty of rides that this is the case. Among them is the Zamperla Balloon Race in Camp Snoopy. I don't think that little plastic clip (like on a fanny pack) would actually prevent larger kids from standing up. It doesn't take much to "pop" it, or "break" it open. It's probably there to remind people that they shouldn't stand up, imho.

Another example is the seat belts on a lot of rapids rides. I seem to remember that they are not very strong. On some of them, they are there to make you think that you can't stand up.

I don't think that StR has restraints like this though. It looks like StR's restraints will keep people in a seated position, because, well, look how high it goes. :p

Making fun of pre-flight spiels...
In the event of an emergency a oxygen mask will pop out of the harness do not be alarmed secure it to your head or hold it over your mouth. Help is on the way.

Wouldn't it be possible to design the boats in such a way that they'd "right" themselves after capsizing?

It isn't necessary. Because, they aren't going to capsize.

I didn't ask if it were necessary.

Anything is possible. But just as there is likely not enough room for them to capsize, I would also assume that if the boats were placed in the flume upside down, that they would not be able to right themselves for the same reason.

djDaemon said:
Wouldn't it be possible to design the boats in such a way that they'd "right" themselves after capsizing?

A lot of larger sailboats are self righting. If there is enough wind to offset the weight of the keel and capsize the boat, once there is no wind in the sails (because they are in the water), the weight of the keel will right the boat. I have never capsized a larger boat but have gotten close enough that the wind spilled off the top of the sails and the boat righted itself. Flipped a lot of sunfish and Hobie Cats but those are definitely not self righting.

I suspect that the STR boats have ballast that is low in the boats which would make them very difficult to flip even if the channel in which they ride was wide enough to actually flip them.

Exactly what I was after. Thanks GB.

Does anyone know how much each boat weights?

Neither the Cedar Point or Holiday World ride stats show a boat weight. Though, I'm sure they are several thousand opounds each.

I don't know... maybe, but that seems high. I mean, a V6 Camry weighs in at just under 3500 lbs.

Is 42" low enough to call it a family ride?

I think it would probably have satisfied me, but my kids have always been freakishly tall---they usually hover in the 90s on the percentile height chart.

GoBucks89 said:
I suspect that the STR boats have ballast that is low in the boats which would make them very difficult to flip even if the channel in which they ride was wide enough to actually flip them.

They do not. They aren't designed to work in the open sea, they're designed to essentially run in a loose track. Fully loaded, they float inches from the bottom of the channel. Look at how they bob around empty.

I don't know if they do or don't. But that they float inches from the bottom of the channel doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any ballast in them. It wouldn't take much ballast at the bottom center of the boats to increase the stability of them. And if you go to a marina you will see a lot of boats bobbing around in the water. That also doesn't answer the question of whether there is any ballast.

I am not laughing at any of the commentors on this topic but does anyone else see the humor in thinking Intamin would put ballast in the flume boats??!?! I mean come on, the boats didn't even fit in the flume for crying out loud! I still keep saying, should have gone with a Mack!

My other thought of the day: can anyone else remember (or am I really old now?) when Geauga Lake allowed riders to be 42" tall for Double Loop and Corkscrew? Even then parents would still complain if their child was 1/2" too short when I think we were the only park that had that low of a height requirement for a looping coaster(s).