Project Location: Indonesia
Project Date: June 2024
Ride Type: 40-Seat Pirate Ship Ride
Application: Outdoor Amusement Park
Project Support: Customization, Manufacturing, On-Site Installation, Commissioning and After-Sales Service
In June 2024, Carnee Rides completed a 40-seat pirate ship ride project for an amusement park in Indonesia.
The client wanted to add a higher-capacity attraction that could create a more exciting experience without limiting the ride to only extreme-thrill visitors. The available site was large enough for a full-size pirate ship, but several practical questions had to be answered before the investment was confirmed.
Would 40 seats match the expected visitor flow? Was the site suitable for a larger swinging ride? How would the ride be installed after arriving in Indonesia? What should the client look for in the structure, ship body and overall manufacturing quality? Could the appearance be customized to match the park? What after-sales support would be available? And from an operator’s point of view, how long might it take to recover the investment?
These concerns shaped the project from the beginning.
The Client Needed More Than Just a New Thrill Ride
The park already had a strongly themed outdoor environment, so the new attraction needed to serve two purposes: provide a compelling ride experience and become part of the surrounding visual landscape.
Capacity was also important.
A smaller pirate ship would require less space, but it would also carry fewer passengers per cycle. Because the client had sufficient land available and expected steady visitor traffic, the project could support a larger model.
At the same time, the client did not want an attraction aimed only at a narrow thrill-seeking audience.
The selected ride needed to be exciting enough for teenagers and visitors looking for stronger sensations, while still being recognizable and accessible as a classic amusement park attraction for families and groups.
Why a 40-Seat Large Pirate Ship Amusement Ride?
The decision was closely connected to the client’s available space, expected passenger demand and target visitors.
The site had enough room to accommodate the main supporting structure, ship movement area, boarding platform and required operating space. This made a large-capacity configuration practical rather than simply choosing a larger model for appearance.
With 40 passenger seats, the ride can accommodate more visitors in each operating cycle, which is useful for parks that experience heavier traffic during weekends and holidays.
The larger pirate ship boat ride also creates a more noticeable swinging motion and stronger visual impact than a small family ride model. As the ship gains height during operation, the experience becomes progressively more exciting.
This gives the attraction relatively broad visitor appeal. Families and groups can enjoy the shared swinging experience, while younger adults and thrill-oriented visitors can still get the stronger sensation they expect from a pirate ship ride.
For this project, the 40-seat configuration made sense because four conditions came together:
the site was large enough, higher capacity was needed, the client wanted a more exciting ride experience, and the target visitor group was relatively broad.
Appearance and Theme Customization
Because the ride would be installed inside an existing themed area, a standard factory appearance was not enough.
The ship was finished in a combination of yellow, red, blue and green, with pirate-themed anchor decorations, railings and contrasting panels. Decorative lighting was also integrated into the ship body to increase its visibility during operation.
The objective was not simply to change the color.
For a commercial amusement park, customization needs to consider how the attraction looks beside surrounding buildings, how visible it is from visitor walkways and whether the overall design fits the character of the park.
In this project, the completed swing ship ride works as both a ride and a visual feature within the themed outdoor area.
Manufacturing Quality Was an Important Buyer Concern
Before placing the order, the client also paid attention to the parts that are less obvious in a finished promotional photo.
For a large commercial pirate ship, buyers naturally want to understand the condition of the main load-bearing structure, ship body, mechanical system, braking components, electrical system and finishing workmanship.
During production, the main structural and ship components were manufactured and prepared before international shipment. The project photos record the ship body during factory work, surface finishing, themed decoration and lighting installation.
The underside of the ship was fitted with multiple lighting units, while decorative panels and other visible details were completed before delivery.
Completing as much inspection and assembly preparation as possible at the factory is particularly useful for an overseas project. A manufacturing or fitting issue is much easier to address before a large component has been packed and transported to another country.
For the customer, quality therefore meant more than how the finished pirate ship looked. It also meant reducing avoidable problems during installation and later operation.
One of the Client’s Biggest Concerns: Who Would Install the Pirate Ship Ride in Indonesia?
For many overseas amusement park buyers, installation becomes one of the biggest concerns after purchasing a large ride.
A 40-seat pirate ship amusement ride requires more than simply unloading the equipment and assembling several visible components. The supporting structure, large Viking ship ride body, mechanical connections, drive and braking systems, electrical controls and operating tests all need to be coordinated correctly.
The client did not want to rely only on drawings or remote video instructions.
After the equipment arrived in Indonesia, Carnee Rides sent an engineering team to the amusement park to support the on-site installation and commissioning.
The work included the main structural assembly, positioning of the ship body, mechanical connections, drive and braking system checks, electrical connections, control-system testing and trial operation.
Having engineers familiar with the equipment at the site allowed technical questions to be addressed during the actual installation rather than being passed back and forth remotely.
For this project, on-site engineering support was an important part of moving the ride from delivered equipment to an operating amusement park attraction.
What About After-Sales Support?
The client’s concerns did not end when installation was completed.
A commercial amusement ride will continue to require routine inspection, maintenance, adjustment and replacement of wear parts during its operating life. For an overseas park, being able to contact the original supplier after commissioning is therefore an important part of the purchasing decision.
After the swinging ship ride entered operation, the project continued with technical and after-sales support for maintenance questions and equipment operation.
This was especially relevant because the customer was purchasing a large amusement ride from China rather than from a local supplier.
The practical question was not only:
“Can the manufacturer deliver the ride?”
It was also:
“Will there still be technical support after the engineers leave the site?”
One Month Later: The Client Sent Us an Operating Video
The most useful feedback came after the ride had been operating for about one month.
The customer sent Carnee Rides a video showing the 40-seat pirate ship amusement ride in actual operation at the park. According to the client’s feedback, the attraction had become popular with visitors and was generating considerable operating revenue.
Based on the performance during the first month, the client estimated that the investment could potentially be recovered in around six months if similar operating conditions continued.
This feedback is important because it reflects the experience of this specific project after opening, rather than a theoretical ROI calculation made before installation.
However, a six-month payback period should not be treated as a standard result for every pirate ship ride. Actual return on investment depends on factors such as:
- Local ticket price
- Daily passenger volume
- Number of operating days
- Ride utilization rate
- Labor costs
- Electricity and maintenance expenses
- Seasonal visitor patterns
- Overall park attendance
The approximately six-month estimate was the client’s assessment based on the early operating performance of this particular Indonesia project.
The Result: From Equipment Purchase to an Operating Attraction
By the end of the project, the customer had received much more than a 40-seat pirate ship boat ride delivered from China.
The complete process covered:
ride selection and site discussion → appearance customization → manufacturing → factory preparation → international delivery → engineer installation in Indonesia → commissioning → trial operation → commercial operation → after-sales technical support
The completed pirate ship became part of the park’s themed outdoor area and entered normal operation.
More importantly, the feedback received one month later showed that the attraction was not only successfully installed but was also attracting riders and contributing to the park’s operating revenue.
That is the point at which an amusement ride project moves from being an equipment purchase to becoming part of the park’s actual business.
What Can Other Amusement Park Investors Learn from This Project?
This project does not mean that a 40-seat pirate ship ride is automatically the right choice for every amusement park.
The more useful lesson is that ride capacity and configuration should match the site, expected visitor flow and operating model.
If the available area is limited, choosing a large-capacity ride may create unnecessary difficulties with foundations, installation space and operating clearance. On the other hand, a park with sufficient space and higher visitor volume may find that a small model does not provide enough capacity during peak periods.
Before selecting a pirate ship ride, operators should clarify several practical questions:
Is the available site large enough for the ride and its operating area?
What passenger capacity matches the expected visitor flow?
Are the target visitors mainly families, teenagers or thrill-seeking guests?
How are the main structure, ship body and mechanical components manufactured and inspected?
Can the appearance be adapted to the existing park theme?
Who will handle installation and commissioning after the equipment arrives?
What technical support and spare-part service will be available later?
Based on realistic ticket prices and expected passenger numbers, what payback period makes sense for the project?
The answer will be different for every park.
For this Indonesia project, sufficient site space, a broad target visitor group and the need for higher capacity made the 40-seat configuration appropriate.
Planning a Similar Pirate Ship Ride Project?
Carnee Rides can develop a customized pirate ship configuration based on the customer’s site size, required passenger capacity, target visitor group, park theme and local operating conditions.
Appearance, color combinations, decorative lighting and other details can also be adapted to suit different amusement park environments.
For customers developing a larger project, Carnee Rides can also provide a one-stop amusement park solution, covering ride selection, customization, manufacturing, shipping coordination, installation support and after-sales service.
Contact Carnee Rides to get a free project consultation and the latest quotation for your pirate ship ride or amusement park project.
