Anyone know when/if Black Buccaneer will be coming back? When I visited on the 22nd the boat was sat by the carnival games and the entire support structure for the ride had been removed. It's still listed as an attraction on the website and the music track still plays in the area, but it's definitely not in an operational state.

I was there last Saturday (28th April) and there were what looked to be new supports in the pit for Black Buccaneer laid down flat. I'm hoping that this means we'll soon see it make a return, although there isn't any firm news as to when that coud be. 

Well hopefully if it looks like things are going into the site rather than being taken out, there should be a more positive chance of it being reinstated.

Surprised me how small the boat felt with it sat out on the side. Always felt much larger in the pit.

Yes, the two supports that connect the boat to the top pivot have been replaced.

Tussauds were quite clever in making some rides seem larger than they are - Rameses is another example.

There's no sign of construction having started on the site, but I did spot what looks like the new supports in the area behind Griffin's Galleon whilst riding Dragons Fury.

Does anyone know why it's taking so long for them to put it back together?? All sounds a bit lazy to me...

I saw it testing yesterday, so hopefully it will open again soon.

According to the website, the ride has reopened today.

Whooo! I really like that ride. To me it feels a little more forceful than Blade

Ah that's good to know as Black Buccaneer's one of my favourite rides at Chessington and a great pirate ship

Chessington released a short video of the ship being put back into place.

https://twitter.com/CWOA/status/1000300327193792513

As posted by SouthParks, Black Buccaneer has been removed from the Chessington website, with the only reference to it remaining as a map marker and info page on the Resort's app.



Whilst the attraction had previously been listed both online and on park information boards as still undergoing winter maintenance, could this mean that Black Buccaneer will not return this season, or perhaps ever again?

I thought Rameses would have been the next removal, not this - Buccaneer's younger than Blade and there were no problems refurbing the latter to basically new condition 

Damn that's upsetting, Black Bucaneer was the only swinging ship I enjoyed, I hope it's only temporary...

From what I gather, ride staff there have been told that Black Buccaneer is now gone for good :/

And it is now confirmed Black Buccaneer will not be operating throughout the 2019 season.

I'm nervous of the language the Resort has used, saying to keep watch to see if it returns.

If it doesn't return, I wonder if they will sell it or move it to another Merlin park. If it is going to end up being moved, I wonder  if it will make an appearance at Thorpe Park. My Monkeys is getting rather old now and it is the sort of flat ride that could be a good addition for the park.

If it isn't being moved or sold, I wonder if they will use it for spare parts for Blade

If it does return, will it be rethemed? so many question!

I’m sure it would be easier and cheaper to fix it rather than remove/move it elsewhere for some other park to then fix. It’s such a shame. I’ve not been on a better swinging ship.

No doubt it will be used for spares and repairs. After the trouble it had last year, I can't see it returning. I do hope that they get a replacement though as I really enjoyed that ride!

Justin wrote:

No doubt it will be used for spares and repairs. After the trouble it had last year, I can't see it returning.  I do hope that they get a replacement though as I really enjoyed that ride!

Was it down quite a lot last year? I only visited Chessington once in 2018