By Peter F. Olesen, P.E.
While bumper boat ponds do not currently have the widespread popularity of miniature golf and concession go-karts, the many operators that recognized their potential are reaping the benefits of having included them in their attraction mixes. Bumper boat ponds provide an impulse attraction that appeals to a wide demographic, plus they occupy a small footprint and can generate sizable through-put and have a reasonable cost both in construction and maintenance.
A Great Impulse Attraction:
While they may not be magnet attractions, modern, well designed bumper boat ponds provide a great impulse attraction for most FECs. They attract a broad age demographic from pre-teens through adults, and also provide a great attraction for parents with younger children.
Bumper boat ponds have been used as impulse attractions for many years, beginning as rectangular concrete ponds or wood frameworks lined with plastic liners and using gasoline powered bumper boats. Many early operators used existing ponds or lakes, establishing boundaries with floats or buoys connected to lines to establish boundaries. The use of lakes and ponds with deep and murky water in some cases resulted in drowning when young guests fell into the water. Fortunately innovations in pond design have relegated open water ponds almost extinct.
A great warm weather attraction that provides a fun experience for a wide age demographic, bumper boats are an ideal impulse attraction when included in an outdoor attraction complex. With the more recent creation of islands, chase channels and supplemental water elements including shore mounted water cannons, shore mounted coin operated squirt guns, fountains and overhanging waterfalls, the modern ponds have proven more attractive to adult guests.
Modern Improvements:
The introduction of battery powered bumper boats in the early 90s revolutionized bumper boat ponds by enabling pond designers to incorporate swimming pool quality into the ponds and thus enabling boat manufacturers to install water-squirt guns on the boat controllers, greatly increasing the entertainment value. Modern ponds have become a strong impulse attraction benefiting their bottom line. The clean pond water eliminated early reluctance on the part of many to ride in bumper boats stained with oily residue and ponds with oil slicks on them as a result of using gasoline powered boats. The result has been increased impulse sales contributing to longer guest stays and increased return visits.
For many years, most ponds were designed with a straight dock face and either a bump tower in the middle which drops water from buckets, bump actuated water “cannons” that blast water from the shore line and/or coin operated shoreline squirt guns. Some had islands to increase boat activity. A few also included waterfalls dropping water from over the pond.
When your guests walk up to your bumper boat pond and see others riding in your battery powered bumper boats on a crystal clear pond, chasing each other around an island, squirting each other with boat mounted squirt guns, they will want to join the fun. This has become a great impulse attraction when combined with miniature golf and go-karts. Note that we refer to boats as an impulse attraction rather than a destination or anchor attraction. The success of stand-alone bumper boat attractions has not been notable. However, when added as impulse attractions alongside miniature golf courses, we’ve seen boats bring revenues of 50% or more of what adjacent miniature golf courses that cost twice as much or often much more, to construct and occupy more than twice the ground area on the physical site. Similar results also occur when placed alongside go-kart tracks.
Obvious Impulse Benefits:
The advantages of adding bumper boats to any outdoor facility includes the provision of a ride attraction for parents with smaller children that do not want to bring them on go-karts. With the provision of chase channels and the inclusion of squirt guns on the battery powered boats, the attraction also becomes more entertaining, both as a participant and as a spectator event, thus further improving the total visit experience. For larger ponds we now add “Battle Zones” where coin operated shore mounted squirt guns can include spectators in the action as well. These areas are located so that more timid boaters can avoid the added soakings that may occur in the “zones.”
A great warm weather companion to bumper boat ponds is the addition of a WaterWars (water filled balloon catapult attraction) unit adjacent to the pond area to increase the warm weather entertainment experience at a moderate cost and small footprint...
Modern bumper boat pond design, coupled with the battery-powered boats now on the market has taken the industry to newfound success. They are no longer the dirty and unappealing oil slick covered boats and ponds of the 90s. Gasoline powered bumper boats that had turned into a lagging industry due to unimaginative square pond design and the ever-present oil slick on the water, pond sides and on the boats themselves have been relegated to “road kill.”
Many early operators actually used bumper boats on murky natural ponds with very poor murky visibility and in some cases extreme depths which introduced serious potentials for drowning. The lack of good filtration systems and creative pond design did nothing to encourage people to ride in the boats. In the past it wasn’t unusual to see bumper boats and pond edges covered with oil. It was common to see oil slicks on the water and algae growing on the surface. As a result bumper boats were not a success in terms of revenues and many facilities filled them in and constructed alternate attractions in their place.
Pond Design Concepts:
Current electric (battery powered) bumper boats can operate in a depth of 3 feet, so there is no reason to have ponds with water no deeper than approximately 3 to 3 1/2 feet with a freeboard of one foot. Battery powered bumper boats operate in clear, swimming pool quality water, as they do not generate oil slicks. It is therefore easy to design relatively inexpensive water filtering and treatment packages that provide clear safe water in the ponds.
Common approaches today include utilizing either a salt water system or a chlorine treatment systems This ability to operate in clear water has allowed boat manufacturers to incorporate squirt guns on the boats as well as establishing shore based firing points to increase the entertainment value of the attraction.
Properly designed bumper boat ponds are safe facilities when staffed properly. With the pond water being in the range of 33 to 36 inches deep and filtered, the staff can be in the water immediately, should anyone fall out of a boat. To facilitate faster emergency response, ECI designed ponds have a safety walk all around the pond to facilitate the attendant getting to the far side much faster than wading across. With the clear water, you can see a dime on the bottom. Our ponds are illuminated at 20-foot candles on the water surface to provide a safe night time environment.
By eliminating the combustion engined boats of yesteryear, bumper boat ponds now allow guests to ride in bumper boats without worrying about oil stains on clothing and being sprayed with less than sanitary water has brought the attraction back into favor at many facilities.
Beginning in 1993, Peter F. Olesen and Associates, Inc. (now Entertainment Concepts, Inc. ECI) created a new pond configuration that incorporated flexible fiberglass pond liners into a free form shaped pond with islands that created chase channels for increased entertainment value. The introduction of a flexible fiberglass pond wall allowed ECI to design individual docking pockets to make loading and unloading of the boats easier and a lot safer, with the boats being held against a curved pocket to eliminate boats from swinging out and possibly dunking guests.
By incorporating the new battery powered boats and charging systems into their free form bumper boat pond designs, ECI turned the bumper boat pond into a very successful attraction at many of the family entertainment center facilities (FECs) designed by the firm. With the combination of chasing each other around the islands and shooting water streams at each other, the bumper boat pond has been elevated to an attraction that has a strong entertainment value for both children and adults.
In 2013 as result of requests for larger fleets of bumper boats we expanded the concept of chase channels to include a separate “combat zone” where boats could compete with land based water cannons operated by friends and others. This concept is now used on numerous ponds around the country and overseas.
As an attraction, bumper boats have a high through-put, coupled with a low staff to guest requirement, they require a small footprint and have reasonable costs when compared with other attractions with similar through put. They have not proven to be a good stand alone attraction. Their value proves itself when offered as a strong impulse attraction when placed adjacent to miniature golf and go-karts in an outdoor environment. People drawn to the facility by the destination attractions become impulse riders.
Most bumper boats can seat one adult and one or two toddlers, making it an ideal attraction next to a go-kart track, enabling parents to take toddlers on a ride other than go-karts. Bumper boats serve as a good birthday party and group package attraction and should be marketed to groups as well as single riders.
Water Quality:
Today’s modern pond construction materials and systems and water purification systems enable operators to offer clean ponds minus yesteryear’s oil slicks on the boats and docking areas. All bumper boat ponds should be equipped with water treatment equipment providing “swimming pool quality” water in the pond with sufficient effective recirculation and filtration. These features all greatly enhance the entertainment value, increase impulse and repeat sales and repeat visits.
Creative designers today are developing bumper boat ponds to be more than just a place to keep bumping into other boats in an uninspiring pond. By creating experiences that go beyond guests just bumping each other the designers have developed an attraction that has proven to not only increase the number of guests purchasing rides but greatly expanding the purchase of subsequent rides and contributing to expanding the frequency of return visits.
The development of fiberglass walls for lazy river and bumper boat pond walls permits both pond and lazy river walls to be curved for added visual and operational appeal. Our firm, Entertainment Concepts, Inc. has been designing free form fiberglass wall pond configurations with islands, chase channels and individual docking pockets for bumper boat ponds since 1992.
In 2010 the firm developed a more complex pond configuration with multiple islands and chase channels, including specific “battle zones” where boats squirt water at each other and at guests manning coin operated squirt guns on the shore squirting water at the boats, while also having areas where only the boat mounted squirt guns can be used for the more timid guests.
Pond Placement Makes a Difference:
The placement of attractions within a facility can have a sizable impact on the usage and overall. This is doubly important for impulse attractions. . Magnet attractions, such as go-karts, miniature golf, laser tag, bowling and trampolines draw people to FECs and their fans will find them as a part of their destination motivation. Impulse attractions such as bumper boats need to be placed to maximize their visibility
Impulse attractions such as bumper boats, bumper cars, WaterWars and game rooms are far more dependent on impulse decisions. They depend on being visible to as many guests as possible in order to generate impulse sales. Lack of high visibility for impulse attractions will greatly reduce the rides or plays they can achieve with strategic placement.
Creating attraction clusters that make it easier for guests to be exposed to the maximum number of attractions has proven to be a positive method for increasing the entertainment value and increased per attractions /capita spending. Having attraction exits and entrances to adjacent attractions next to or near to each other also adds to impulse sales.
Another step that can be utilized to improve impulse sales is strategic placement of viewing stands and/or open areas next to the attraction to make use of the entertainment value watching guests enjoying the bumper boat attraction. This approach has also proven to be true for go-karts, bumper cars, trampolines and WaterWars.
Upgrading Existing Ponds:
When reviewing existing ponds that may have been constructed years ago for possible renovation there are several elements that need to be considered, including the following:
Condition of the existing pond structure:
This includes a careful evaluation of the sidewalks, pond walls and floor, filtration and water and fixtures, battery charging system, safety elements including non-slip loading area walkway,, safety fencing and gates, lighting and signage.
Condition of the water purification system:
Check out controls, alarms, tanks, mixers, piping, electrical components, equipment security and related elements.
Evaluate pond boat capacity:
Assume a minimum 300 s.f. pond surface per boat. Providing a minimum of 300 s.f. surface capacity per bumper boat assures room for boats to maneuver on the pond. Greater space allows for more boat activity and resulting fun.
Existing queue line capacity:
The provision of a reasonable defined queue line (single rail pipe structure, 2.5 feet wide, allowing for reasonable spacing during non pandemic times) with capacity for 2 to 3 times the capacity of the boat fleet, will assure less confusion and simplify guest control. Should pandemic spacing requirements remain in effect, sidewalk surface marking, separated by 6 feet should be painted (fastened) within the defined queue line.
Remodeling Existing Ponds:
There will be instances where replacing the existing pond and water treatment system could cost less than rehabilitating the existing. The major questions to be considered include a decision concerning the resulting boat capacity against potential demand and whether the specific location of the existing pond fits into a guest flow pattern that will maximize future sales.
For some locations the existing pond capacity is far short of the desired capacity and physical constraints at the existing location render modification impossible. The decision to relocate the pond should consider the ramifications in terms of impact on the other attractions on the site, a serious review of the fiscal impact the decision will have on the overall planning and operation of the overall facility. If it doesn’t make sense from a cost/future revenue sense the concept should be dropped.
Conclusions:
For many facilities, bumper boat ponds have proven to be a desirable impulse attraction generating sizable revenues, provide a family friendly attraction that also appeals to teen agers and adults. Additional entertainment elements will increase popularity, return visits and a broader age appeal.
New bumper boat pond should take advantage of modern, creative design for maximum revenue generation. The modern guest has much higher expectations when determining which attractions to use at tomorrow’s successful FEC.
Bumper boat ponds require small foot prints, have good guest appeal during comfortable through very warm weather periods, long term durability, easy maintenance and low staffing requirements. Definitely popular during warm weather, they are not a good fit in cooler climates that don’t have extended periods of warm weather.
If we can be of assistance or provide answers to your questions, feel free to contact us by phone at 847-561-7013
Bumper Boats for Fun and Profit
For both safety and security, the entire pond is protected by a four-foot high chain link or childproof fence with the only access being through entrance and exit gates controlled by the pond attendant. Depending on the volume of people in line a typical pond can be operated by one to three staff members.
As with any outdoor attraction, the placement of a bumper boat pond within the overall master plan of a facility takes careful consideration to assure it is exposed for maximum guest usage. Failure to do so will result in lost revenues.
If you are planning a new facility or considering the addition of a new attraction to an existing facility you should definitely consider the addition of battery powered bumper boats in a well-designed pond. If you have further questions, you can contact the author at 847-561-7013 or by e-mail at
May all of your experiences in the family entertainment industry be enjoyable and profitable.
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Mr. Olesen is a registered professional engineer in Illinois and President of Entertainment Concepts, Inc. (formerly Peter F. Olesen and Associates, Inc.) of Mount Prospect, Illinois, which he founded in April 1984. During the past 39 years he has been responsible for more than 650 family entertainment projects spanning site selection, concept development, feasibility studies, business plans, master plans, final design, construction plans and specifications, construction engineering and ongoing consultation for existing operations. These projects have spanned 46 states, Angola, Brunei, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan), Cuba (Guantanamo Bay), Kazakhstan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
He has written countless articles on go-karts, tracks, miniature golf courses, bumper boat ponds and related attractions for both outdoor and indoor FECs. Many have been printed in industry magazines and internet publications. He has made seminar presentations at industry tradeshows, including International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions annual attraction Expos, Fun Expo, Leisure Expo and Kart Expo. He has been a speaker at 49 Foundations Entertainment University Seminars. You can get more information at www.fecdesigners.com, by contacting him by phone at 847-561-7013 or by e-mail at
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