Six Flags Over Texas' Aquaman: Power Wave water coaster will open March 11

AQUATRAX, FINALLY!!!1!!

Seriously though, I wonder how they'll introduce the splash. They could move the track and up and down, but that seems weird given the way it curves. Maybe the wheel channel sits above water normally, then drops lower for "boat mode."

I think the splash pool fills rapidly with water for the splash effect at the end of the ride cycle.

I believe the "splash zone" is a shallow pan (imagine a rimmed cookie sheet floating at water level) that has an oversized pump dedicated to filling and purging it. As you pass by on the last dry pass, the pump quickly fills the pan, enabling the splash. Then it empties the pan during the ride reset.

The storage basin is higher than the splash pool, so they simply open the valves to flood the pool while the car is on the reverse spike. Then the water is pumped back out of the splash pool between ride cycles.

During the delay, they added the turntable that allows them to run 2 units.

This ride is something I’ve had my eye on for a while- its concept is so creative. I’ve “designed” a lot of rides in my head but this is one I don’t think I’d ever come up with. I also have no interest whatsoever in riding it as getting soaked to the underpants is pretty far from my favorite thing these days. Which is too bad for me as it appears we’re all going to be counting it as a coaster credit. So I’ll have to tough it out.
And to be fair I usually give unusual or well-themed water rides at least one spin. That was the case when I went to Europe, there were many I just couldn’t resist and the weather was conducive. And I’d definitely take a turn on those super raft rides that have appeared at SWO and SDC due to their uniqueness. I have Ripsaw Falls on my list (once) but never Bluto’s so it’s like that.
Anyway, I can’t wait to at least see this one in action, it’ll draw huge crowds I’m sure. I can’t help but notice there have been several new ride concepts that have hit major theme parks with much fanfare only to be removed in a season or two due to poor performance. I certainly hope this isn’t one of those.

In Texas in particular, anything that gets you wet will be a huge hit. It's miserable in that park (or anywhere outdoors) between mid-May and late Sept.

RCMAC:

I also have no interest whatsoever in riding it as getting soaked to the underpants is pretty far from my favorite thing these days.

ApolloAndy:
In Texas in particular, anything that gets you wet will be a huge hit.

That's what she said. (You guys can't throw up softballs like that and expect them to be ignored.)

Pulsar provides an acceptable level of wetness. The last row or two seem to take the brunt of the splash, so get an inside seat closer to the front if you want to stay relatively dry.

Pulsar is a great ride. Sure there will be more of these cropping up in the US before long.

This video shows some of the mechanics behind the splash.

I’ve got a pin on SF StL for one of these.
A few years ago, not unlike Over Texas, they removed their boat chute ride and there’s land around and behind that location. Plus it’s waterpark-adjacent so there may be some kind of tie in or shared use available. Or if that doesn’t work there’s always that weird spot in front of The Boss where go karts ran.
And lastly, that poor red headed step child of the major metropolitan Six Flags parks deserves a spectacular new ride. It’s been years.

That's impressive, and I didn't know there was another one out there. Seems like a pretty simple solution. Much of the water is splashed out, and the volume inside the channel is only as big as it has to be in terms of having to pump out.

Indeed, Intamin would have done it the way you initially outlined.

ApolloAndy:

It's miserable in that park

You could have actually stopped right there.

Rick_UK:

Indeed, Intamin would have done it the way you initially outlined.

Intamin had also bid on the project when Compagnie des Alpes (owner of Walibi Belgium) went to tender with specific requirements for what became Pulsar. In the case of Pulsar, it went into an existing pond that they modified and that also dictated how the splash zone was constructed.

After a few years, Intamin went public with their Ultra Splash concept, which is similar in layout and launches as the Power Splash, but using a boxed track instead. Mack instead used a new version of their Super Splash track, beefed up and brought up to the latest european design standards. Wheels were a challenge: given the load of a heavy 20 passenger boat at 60 mph, they designed one of the largest road wheel for the Power Splash.

https://www.intamin.com/product/ultra-splash/

I had SFoT as a homepark for 11 years, so maybe not the fairest judge, but I always thought it was a perfectly fine park. A decent selection of coasters, flats, family rides and operations were acceptable.

It's a really nice park, and I say that as a one-time visitor in the wort conditions: early September, near 100° and humid, hungover from previous night's bachelor party.

I must have had dumb luck both times I visited. The last time we were only able to ride NTG, Batman, and Runaway Mountain before calling it a day. Everything was an hour plus wait with lines moving at a snail's pace. It didn't help that Titan, Mr. Freeze, Joker, and Shockwave were down.