Rockin' Tug
Rockin' Tug is a flat ride manufactured by Zamperla. The ride is manufactured in both traveling and park versions. It is the first of a line of new "halfpiperides". Zamperla's Disk'O is another popular ride from that "family". The difference is that the Rockin' Tug has a friction wheel, while the Disk'O is powered driven.
The idea itself is not new. Schwarzkopf made a ride called Shuttle Boat in 1978, in both portable and park versions.
Design and operation
Twenty four riders are loaded into a tugboat shaped gondola, in six rows of four. The rows face into the center of the ride. The ride is driven back and forth along a track shaped in a concave arc, rocking back and forth. While this is happening, the entire tugboat rotates around its center.
The traveling version of the ride racks onto a single 28 foot trailer.
Variations
Several theme variations exist. The most common one is a tug boat, but other versions include a longboat, a pirate ship, and a skateboard.
Appearances
- Australia - Two, a travelling model owned by Better Amusement Hire[1] and Big Red Boat Ride at Dreamworld
- Austria - At least two travelling models (Grubelnik)
- Belgium - At least one travelling model
- Canada - One: Canada's Wonderland where it is known as "Lucy's Tugboat".
- Germany - At least five: one travelling model (Schäfer), and at least four permanent versions in Germany (Kernwasserwunderland, Legoland)
- Ireland - in 2016 a Rockin' Tug (named that way too) was added to Tayto Park
- Japan - At least one permanent version at Toshimaen Amusement Park, Tokyo. Acquired in 2005. [2]
- The Netherlands - At least six: Rolling Stones at Drouwenerzand, Dolle Dobber at DippieDoe, Swampies Swing at Toverland, Moby Dick at Deltapark Neeltje Jans and Koning Juliana Toren, Frogg's Trouble at Attractiepark Slagharen.
- New Zealand - One, a traveling model owned by Mahons Amusements[3]
- Sweden - At least one: Lilla Lots at Liseberg.
- Switzerland - At least one travelling model (Lang)
- United Kingdom - At least five: Rocking Boat at Butlins, Skegness Rocking Tug at Flamingo Land Resort.,[4] Rocking Bulstrode at Drayton Manor's Thomas Land (themed after the Thomas and Friends character Bulstrode the barge), Heave Ho at Alton Towers, Longboat Invader at Legoland Windsor (a Lego/Viking themed longship) and Rockin' Tug at The Flambards Experience, Griffin's Galleon at Chessington World of Adventures, Rockin' Tug at Woodlands Family Theme Park Devon, and "Kontiki" at Paultons Park.
- United States of America - Thirteen: traveling models owned by Murphy Brothers Exposition, Shamrock Shows, American Traveling Shows, and by D & K Amusements; and park models owned by Alabama Splash Adventure[5], Six Flags over Georgia[6], Valleyfair (as Lucy's Tugboat), Edaville (as Rockin' Bulstrode), Knott's Berry Farm (as Rapid River Fun), Knoebels, Elitch Gardens Theme Park[7], Kennywood (as SS Kenny), Trimper's Rides, Waldameer Park (as SS Wally), SeaWorld San Antonio, Oaks Amusement Park and Santa's Village (as SS Peppermint Twist).[8]
References
- ↑ "Better Amusement Hire - Family Rides". Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
- ↑ http://www.toshimaen.co.jp/aboutus/history.html
- ↑ "Mahons Amusements - Show Rides". Mahonsamusements.co.nz. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ↑ "Flamingo Land. Wild Animals, Wilder Rides - Kids Rides". Flamingoland.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ↑ http://www.alabamasplash.com/attractions
- ↑ https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/attractions/rockin-tug
- ↑ https://www.elitchgardens.com/theme-park/kids-rides/m.extendeddirectory/338/view/rockin-tug
- ↑ http://oakspark.com/intermediaterides.html
External links
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