- Rockin' Tug
Rockin' Tug is a
flat ride manufactured byZamperla . The ride is manufactured in both traveling and park versions. It is the first of a line of new "halfpiperides". Zamperla'sDisk-O is another popular ride from that "family". The difference is that the 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.
Appearances
* Australia - One; a travelling model owned by Better Amusement Hire [cite web |url=http://www.joylands.com.au/index.php?x=familyrides_block |title=Better Amusement Hire - Family Rides |accessdate=2007-01-26]
* Austria - At least two travelling models (Grubelnik)
* Belgium - At least one travelling model
* Germany - At least five; one travelling model (Schäfer), At least four permanent versions in Germany (Kernwasserwunderland, Legoland)
* New Zealand - One; a traveling model owned by Mahons Amusments [cite web |url=http://www.mahonsamusements.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145833535 |title=www.mahonsamusements.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145833535 ]
* Switzerland - At least one travelling model (Lang)
*United Kingdom - At least four; "Rocking Tug" atFlamingo Land Resort . [http://www.flamingoland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=16] , "Rocking Bulstrode" at Drayton Manor's Thomas Land (themed after the Thomas and Friends characterBulstrode the barge ), "Heave Ho" atAlton Towers , "Longboat Invader" atLegoland Windsor (a Lego/Viking themed longship)
* United States of America - At least eight; travelling models owned by Murphy Brothers Exposition, Shamrock Shows, and by American Traveling Shows; and park models owned bySix Flags over Georgia ,Six Flags Great America ,Valleyfair ,Knott's Berry Farm , andOaks Amusement Park . [See http://oakspark.com/intermediaterides.html]References
External links
* [http://www.zamperla.com/scheda_prodotto.asp?ID=436 Zamperla page on Rockin' Tug]
* [http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESshuttleboatGF.htm Schwarzkopf.Coaster.net]
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