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Two New Concepts from Mack Rides

Rob

TS Team
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Mack held a fan event over the weekend during which they revealed a couple of new concepts; The Rocking Boat and Power Loop:



Looks like a prototype of The Rocking Boat has been built at the factory, certainly looks like an interesting one. The Power Loop could be really fun!
 
Is the Power Loop perhaps compensation to the fact the PowerSplash hasn't exactly been flying off the shelves? Pulsar is surprisingly good fun so I'm sure this will be; it's just down to who will actually buys one.

As for the Rocking Boat, clearly the Macks got the ride op's CCTV footage from various TS stuffed Elfenfahrt laps and have decided to replicate the experience with actual ride hardware. Good on them.
 
God I’d just love Towers to rip out the rapids and install a Rocking Boat. I can just imagine them watching the video and saying ‘too wet too expensive’.
 
Let's be honest here, the Merlin H&S suits will have heart attacks if they see that concept.
 
Let's be honest here, the Merlin H&S suits will have heart attacks if they see that concept.

Why? Looks like there is a lap bar, so the issue that HSE had with Rapids rides that was the major factor at Drayton Manor is not possible.
The only reason the waterfalls are off on the rapids is because the HSE warned against things taking place that may cause riders to stand up and then fall out. If the ride has lap bars then that isn't an issue.

Now whether a water ride is a sensible investment in the British climate is more the issue I think. In my opinion, there are a lot of attractions I would rather see built at UK parks.
 
Why? Looks like there is a lap bar, so the issue that HSE had with Rapids rides that was the major factor at Drayton Manor is not possible.
The only reason the waterfalls are off on the rapids is because the HSE warned against things taking place that may cause riders to stand up and then fall out. If the ride has lap bars then that isn't an issue.

Now whether a water ride is a sensible investment in the British climate is more the issue I think. In my opinion, there are a lot of attractions I would rather see built at UK parks.

I think this lends itself to being a ride with indoor sections/an entirely indoor dark ride. Given that as of this year we have nothing like that in the UK (until Valhalla re-opens with the cost cutting measures implemented), it's something that could easily do well in our climate.

With regards to the Merlin H&S comment, they've been overly anal about everything they do for some years now; I've seen it from both a guest and staff perspective. When I've jokingly shown H&S responsible people within Merlin videos or images of balls-to-the-wall rides or concepts, they've looked horrified at the thought. Not because they personally are shocked, but it's the way the militantly strict H&S standard within the company has honed them to be. It's a consensus in everything they do, not just an approach to water rides.

This concept could be signed off by every single HSE under the sun (after-all, Mack wouldn't even offer it otherwise), but I still don't think Merlin will touch anything like that with a barge pole.
 
I think this lends itself to being a ride with indoor sections/an entirely indoor dark ride. Given that as of this year we have nothing like that in the UK (until Valhalla re-opens with the cost cutting measures implemented), it's something that could easily do well in our climate.

With regards to the Merlin H&S comment, they've been overly anal about everything they do for some years now; I've seen it from both a guest and staff perspective. When I've jokingly shown H&S responsible people within Merlin videos or images of balls-to-the-wall rides or concepts, they've looked horrified at the thought. Not because they personally are shocked, but it's the way the militantly strict H&S standard within the company has honed them to be. It's a consensus in everything they do, not just an approach to water rides.

This concept could be signed off by every single HSE under the sun (after-all, Mack wouldn't even offer it otherwise), but I still don't think Merlin will touch anything like that with a barge pole.

But what is it about a boat on a track with some motion effects that you think is an issue?

There are non-tracked boat rides at the Dungeons (London and Alton) as well as Gruffalo ride.
 
But what is it about a boat on a track with some motion effects that you think is an issue?

There are non-tracked boat rides at the Dungeons (London and Alton) as well as Gruffalo ride.

Personally I don't see any issues at all. I would love to see one utilised properly in this country.

What I am saying however is that an over-zealous Merlin H&S officer (who has palpitations at the thought of fences under 1m tall without 416 DANGER OF DEATH signs), will see that video and choke at the image of a boat climbing a lift hill with copious amounts of water pouring down at riders; as depicted in that concept footage.
 
Personally I don't see any issues at all. I would love to see one utilised properly in this country.

What I am saying however is that an over-zealous Merlin H&S officer (who has palpitations at the thought of fences under 1m tall without 416 DANGER OF DEATH signs), will see that video and choke at the image of a boat climbing a lift hill with copious amounts of water pouring down at riders; as depicted in that concept footage.

As long as it is blocked and controlled properly in the ride design then the roll-back effect isn't particularly controversial. No more than the backwards drop on the Dungeon boat ride. I think there is a difference between designed ride-effects and lawyers being worried about the company getting sued because some-one didn't use common sense.

Danger of Death ride area signs are often more because a lawyer is concerned about getting sued rather than a health and safety issue. The fence solves the safety issue is most cases, but concern over someone climbing the fence and then sueing as they were too stupid to realise there was something dangerous the other side is a different issue.
 
The Rocking Boat isn't a replacement for the rapids, as that long gentle slope doesn't suit a slow moving vehicle designed to tour a smaller well themed footprint.

You could make a fantastic themed ride, well below tree height with that vehicle. Replacing Rita with a slower ride amongst a lake and canals weaving around 13 could look pretty stunning.
 
Is a real shame that more parks haven't installed a Mack Powersplash. Would love to see one in the UK one day.
 
Is a real shame that more parks haven't installed a Mack Powersplash. Would love to see one in the UK one day.
The worry with such a ride is that there is only demand for one in the summer. The ride would therefore run with little-no queue for the colder ends of the season or be SBNO.
Also, why is the title of this thread 'concpets'?
Edit: just noticed the title has been changed
 
Last edited:
Also, why is the title of this thread 'concpets'?

Adamant on pointing out the typo, eh?

The problem with Power Splashes is that they generally take up a lengthy portion of land and capacity can be relatively dire; especially if the park only opt for one boat. I don't think there's use for one being in the UK as it simply wouldn't be operated efficiently, nor does it really lend itself to any of our parks.

Don't get me wrong; they're good fun. We probably spent a good 95 / 100 minutes queuing twice for Pulsar two months after it opened, but I wouldn't be doing that again any time soon.
 
The problem with Power Splashes is that they generally take up a lengthy portion of land and capacity can be relatively dire; especially if the park only opt for one boat. I don't think there's use for one being in the UK as it simply wouldn't be operated efficiently, nor does it really lend itself to any of our parks.
Power splash coasters usually get 950pph which is not bad compared to other UK roller coasters (beats Octonauts and Infusion, ties with Spinball Whizzer)
 
I imagine the rocking boat would be hugely power hungry, possibly prohibitively so cost wise. Takes a lot of energy to move that sort of bulk through water, huge amounts of drag.
 
I've had a thought; could the Rocking Boat potentially be the new ride system for Piraten in Batavia, or at least something similar? We know that Mack often trial new concepts at Europa, and I think Piraten with that ride system could be pretty cool!
 
I've had a thought; could the Rocking Boat potentially be the new ride system for Piraten in Batavia, or at least something similar? We know that Mack often trial new concepts at Europa, and I think Piraten with that ride system could be pretty cool!
You might be on to something there Matt! We'll have to wait and see. :)
 
I've had a thought; could the Rocking Boat potentially be the new ride system for Piraten in Batavia, or at least something similar? We know that Mack often trial new concepts at Europa, and I think Piraten with that ride system could be pretty cool!
Nope. Piraten is 100% just a standard boat ride system as before. Rocking Boat is too new - if it does eventually appear in Europa Park it will be for something else but I don't see it happening anytime soon.
 
Nope. Piraten is 100% just a standard boat ride system as before. Rocking Boat is too new - if it does eventually appear in Europa Park it will be for something else but I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Ah right. Thanks for the clarification @CSLKenny!
 
The Rocking Boat ride system would really suit one of the parks that will happily pay for theming.
It looks a great system for parks wanting a next level water ride.

I could imagine Epic Universe using it, to offer something really different to the Disney Parks in Florida.
When Disney circle back around to Animal Kingdom, that would be a great system for something like an Indiana Jones water ride replacing the Dinoland area.
Nearer home, the likes of Efteling and Europa might find a space somewhere?
Using that ride system for the Frozen ride at WDS Paris would give that park the sort of world class draw it needs.
 
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