Thought this might be a good subject to discuss. I remember when Pirate ships first started coming out in the early 80s. In this area the first one I remember was at Six Flags over Georgia, big ad campaign that spring.

The first portable one I saw was from afar going by the Upper SC State Fair one year, couldn't go that year because of my dad's health issues, but we rode by and saw it swinging. Then I saw my first one in person in 85 on Strates midway in Anderson. After that saw a Viking Ship on Deggeller in 86, then his Pirate later on and came across a Sea Ray on Larry's Amusements and the Sea Dragon on Reithoffer.

I guess my favorite was always the Huss Pirate, beautiful ride and then a Sea Dragon. We had a Sea Ray on our show and it was nice, easy to operate and not bad on tear down/set up. Course there are those of you that have had much more experience.

How about the Pharaoh's Fury, is that one pretty easy to move, how is the R&M on it?

Loved putting a cup of water in the center and running the ride while watching the people watch it scared to death it was going to splash them.

Rode Strates Pirate one time and went higher than I have ever gone. I noticed there were a couple of ride jocks on the ride with us and the guy in the dog house was grinning so I figured he took it higher than normal, but yes that was the only time I got a little nervous with how high it was.

You all have any good stories?

IMO the Fury is the easiest to move. We had a Fury on the former McDonagh's Amusements that I moved during our last year there. It was down on average in just over 2 hours. Up in 3.5 hours. We now own a SeaRay and while I find it more appealing in the cosmetic area, it is a bit harder to move and does not compare to the capacity and presence of the larger Fury.

IMO the Fury is the easiest to move. We had a Fury on the former McDonagh's Amusements that I moved during our last year there. It was down on average in just over 2 hours. Up in 3.5 hours. We now own a SeaRay and while I find it more appealing in the cosmetic area, it is a bit harder to move and does not compare to the capacity and presence of the larger Fury.

Yes, agree that the Fury is much more eye appealing on the midway, but thought the boat was a little smaller, guess not.

Thought this might be a good subject to discuss. I remember when Pirate ships first started coming out in the early 80s. In this area the first one I remember was at Six Flags over Georgia, big ad campaign that spring.

The first portable one I saw was from afar going by the Upper SC State Fair one year, couldn't go that year because of my dad's health issues, but we rode by and saw it swinging. Then I saw my first one in person in 85 on Strates midway in Anderson. After that saw a Viking Ship on Deggeller in 86, then his Pirate later on and came across a Sea Ray on Larry's Amusements and the Sea Dragon on Reithoffer.

I guess my favorite was always the Huss Pirate, beautiful ride and then a Sea Dragon. We had a Sea Ray on our show and it was nice, easy to operate and not bad on tear down/set up. Course there are those of you that have had much more experience.

How about the Pharaoh's Fury, is that one pretty easy to move, how is the R&M on it?

Loved putting a cup of water in the center and running the ride while watching the people watch it scared to death it was going to splash them.

Rode Strates Pirate one time and went higher than I have ever gone. I noticed there were a couple of ride jocks on the ride with us and the guy in the dog house was grinning so I figured he took it higher than normal, but yes that was the only time I got a little nervous with how high it was.

You all have any good stories?

I think I was moving States' Pirate when you rode it in '85. As I remember it, there was really not was for the operator to control the height of the swing, it was just a timer with a start button. That said, if you road it in the morning when the oil was cold, it would always swing a little higher.

I really liked moving it. Running it was okay, but unless you were in the air-conditioned doghouse, you were in the sun and rain, unlike a nice sleigh ride.

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I think I was moving States' Pirate when you rode it in '85. As I remember it, there was really not was for the operator to control the height of the swing, it was just a timer with a start button. That said, if you road it in the morning when the oil was cold, it would always swing a little higher.

I really liked moving it. Running it was okay, but unless you were in the air-conditioned doghouse, you were in the sun and rain, unlike a nice sleigh ride.

Nope, it was in the evening, so I guess I imagined it, just remember thinking it seemed a lot higher than normal, I did always sit on the ends.

Yeah Strates used one of his ticket boxes for the Pirate doghouse didn't he? One thing I always thought was really nice on his ship was that pirate face scenery above the sign, that was pretty sharp and he still has now as well.

Nope, it was in the evening, so I guess I imagined it, just remember thinking it seemed a lot higher than normal, I did always sit on the ends.

Yeah Strates used one of his ticket boxes for the Pirate doghouse didn't he? One thing I always thought was really nice on his ship was that pirate face scenery above the sign, that was pretty sharp and he still has now as well.

Yes, the ride did not come with a doghouse, we used one of the ticket boxes.

The head above the sign on the axle did not come with the ride either, it was originally a flat panel, We pulled the head out of on old funhouse (dark-ride?) trailer. The jaw was separate as it used to open and close, so we fiberglassed the jaw on permanently and mounted it to the original flat panel. Bill Browning painted it, the doghouse and (I think) the panels on the front corners of the base.

Not sure if we added the head and painted the doghouse the first year or not..

Browning later repainted the wall and the other scenery. He was great.

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For you Huss Pirate fans, Strates Pirate will be running at the Erie County Fair, Hamburg, NY August 7-18.
Huss Enterprise and Huss Frisbee will be there too.

Huss ridefest !!

For you Huss Pirate fans, Strates Pirate will be running at the Erie County Fair, Hamburg, NY August 7-18.
Huss Enterprise and Huss Frisbee will be there too.

Huss ridefest !!

Boy that Enterprise looked rough last year.

It's gotta be pushing 40 years old

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That Enterprise is a 1977 model, first appeared on Frankie's East Coast Shows in 1978. Purchased by Strates in 1982.

That Enterprise is a 1977 model, first appeared on Frankie's East Coast Shows in 1978. Purchased by Strates in 1982.

So 41 years old and still ginning money...

I remember he got it from Frankie's, the foreman (Jim) came with it. He was a good guy...

Around the same time (I think) Frankie's "rebuilt" Strates' Skydiver. It was a really crappy job.

He picked up a lot of big iron in the late '70s and '80s

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When rides were built to last, yeah that Enterprise has made a lot of money, Strates told me one time that it would beat the TriStar every week, one of the reasons he parted with the TriStar.

Yes Bill Browning is a great artist, he painted a fun house for us one year.

Bill P I guess that will be the first time in a while that Strates has 3 Huss rides on the lot again at one time. Used to be a regular thing and for a few years he had 4 with the Top Spin, Enterprise, Pirate, and Rainbow.

I know one year at the NCSF he had the Pirate, Enterprise, TriStar, Rainbow, and the Huss Ranger booked from Deggeller.

When rides were built to last, yeah that Enterprise has made a lot of money, Strates told me one time that it would beat the TriStar every week, one of the reasons he parted with the TriStar.

Yes Bill Browning is a great artist, he painted a fun house for us one year.

Bill P I guess that will be the first time in a while that Strates has 3 Huss rides on the lot again at one time. Used to be a regular thing and for a few years he had 4 with the Top Spin, Enterprise, Pirate, and Rainbow.

I know one year at the NCSF he had the Pirate, Enterprise, TriStar, Rainbow, and the Huss Ranger booked from Deggeller.

The Tri-Star was a nice piece, but it never did win much money, cycles were just too long.

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