Pirate ship (ride)

A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola (usually in the style of a pirate ship or galleon) which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of centrifugal and gravitational force.

In the traditional pirate ship ride, the rider is never inverted (turned upside down) - the ride is designed so that the ship is perpendicular to the ground at the uppermost point of the swing. However, there are several variations on the pirate ship, some of which do invert the rider (these versions require some form of restraint or harness to prevent the rider falling out).

The pirate ship may be regarded as a form of motion platform, the difference being that the "platform" rotates about an axis instead of remaining parallel to the ground.