Dun dun. Dun dun. Dun dun dun dun dun dun. That’s the classic shark movie music. You know the one. You have to know the one because we can’t say the name of it without having to pay Steven Spielberg A LOT of money.
The Great White at Morey’s Piers is a classic out and back wooden coaster. The ride begins with an exhilarating 25-foot drop into a dark tunnel. Uhh, we’re gonna need a bigger drop. Yeah? Well you get a bigger drop, one that plummets you 105 feet at speeds faster than 50 MPH. Let’s see an animatronic shark do that.
Galvanizing helps ensure the structural safety of the coaster by protecting the steel from damaging corrosion. Specifiers chose hot-dip galvanizing to protect the coaster from the marine environment, as this thrilling roller coaster is located at a New Jersey, beachfront theme park. During high tide, parts of the coaster go out over the water, making the zinc coating even more essential. The ease and speed of construction also made HDG an attractive feature to specifiers. The fabricators of the project were able to rely on the galvanizer to meet tight deadlines and keep materials packaged in the erection sequence.
"Yes, we know the allure of a wooden coaster is that rickety experience you get, especially on those tight twists and turns. But rest assured, the essence of your wooden coaster ride will still be there to awaken all your senses. You will still smell the wood, hear the sounds of the chain lift, and feel the roar as the trains race around the tracks."
In winter of 2021, the coaster underwent a renovation, including a new wooden track (for a smoother rides) and updated controls and elevators. The original hot-dip galvanized steel structure required very little repair or replacement during this process.
Nearly 30 years later, this coaster still stands the test of time thanks to hot-dip galvanizing. Hurricanes, tropical storms, sand storms, brutal winter freezes and thaws, battering from waves and high tides have been no match for the durability and corrosion protection offered by the metallurgically bonded zinc coating. Thanks to the coating and the best maintenance technician team in the amusement industry this coaster will be around for future generations to enjoy.
First and foremost, the rides at Morey's Piers need to be safe. During the winter, rides are disassembled, inspected, repaired, cleaned, painted, and put back together in time for the summer crowds. This includes all of the cars for The Great White Roller Coaster. It is nice that we do not have to worry about recoating the steel for the coaster structure itself. Each season we wash the steel and make some small repairs, but no major maintenance is needed after inspection.
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