tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post7787986336655914982..comments2024-03-28T07:41:39.861-07:00Comments on The Gondola Blog: Unique Features and Operation of a "Venetian" BoatGondola Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13851059697312050099noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post-63654358792799406532010-03-18T13:18:59.141-07:002010-03-18T13:18:59.141-07:00Hey, Greg! This is Wayne a former Gondola Adventu...Hey, Greg! This is Wayne a former Gondola Adventures gondolier AND a former gondolier from that Vegas hotel depicted.<br /><br />If I may, I'll answer some of the questions posted.<br /><br />First, at the canal design stage, they considered some method of fixed operation. But, there are portions of the canal that have space for only one gondola at a time. If there where railings or cables, they would have to cross. So, it would never work.<br /><br />Second, to clarify the pedals, the original design was a forward pedal that only propels while pressed and a reverse pedal that would cause the same forward facing motor to run in reverse. Not a great beaking system! When they opened the outside ride, the conditions where more difficult and they decided to mount two motors, one in the aft facing forward, one forward facing backward, much more effective. I don't know for certain. But, I believe they have retrofitted the inside gondolas to match. <br /><br />Lastly, the original reason for the motors and the seatbelts, actually came from the Clark County Fire Department. They were charged with safety regs for any "ride" in Las Vegas. The specs for the Gondola Ride where treated like the Roller Coaster at NY, NY. hence the seatbelts. Also, by Clark County rules, the gondolas must be able to be evacuated in a certain time frame, which is the original reason for the motors. Of course, now that it is a money making venture, they use the motors to full advantage! <br /><br />Sorry for my waxing nostalgic, but I love to share! lol<br /><br />If you have any other questions about the hotel's methods, let me know.<br /><br />wrmoflv@hotmail.comWayne R Mortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06322953748941411790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post-87147783016909467472010-03-16T23:53:08.307-07:002010-03-16T23:53:08.307-07:00Many thanx Greg. It's interesting to see how t...Many thanx Greg. It's interesting to see how those boats have been modified to fit the needs to navigate in those canals.<br />The seat belts are awesome.<br />Nereostaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07528827868175353818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post-40808799888093116792010-03-15T13:17:04.938-07:002010-03-15T13:17:04.938-07:00> The path through the canal is set, why not ju...> The path through the canal is set, why not just put the whole shebang on rails and let a Disney ride controlling computer replace the gondoliers?<br /><br />Actually I've been thinking about something similar, but for Venezia proper, not the Vegas casino. Everbody complains how the reaction force from ship-screws, especially the big vaporetti damages the Canale Grande palaces.<br /><br />Considering the Canal Grande route is fixed, why not install a permanent underwater cable drag system for vaporetto? I mean something like the famous cable tramcars of San Francico.<br /><br />The systems's cables and guide rollers should be anchored into the bottom of the canal to avoid being an eyesore. The motoscafo could latch onto the steel cable at will to obtain propulsive pull.<br /><br />There would be no need to run the ships' onboard engines during normal operation and thus, ship-screw induced "moto ondoso" would not erode palace walls.<br /><br />The power to drag the underwater steel cable loops would come from electric motors installed in a few pierside stations, so there would be no more acidic diesel exhaust soot to deface the beautiful marble walls.Tamáshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012640144696750753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post-46142914626150298322010-03-15T13:00:28.387-07:002010-03-15T13:00:28.387-07:00If I were a gondolier in that Casino Royale, I'...If I were a gondolier in that Casino Royale, I'd tell customers the gondola has seatbelts because those seats are ejection seats, James Bond-style!<br /><br />Those who don't behave are forcibly disembarked mid-cruise. Those who really don't behave are offloaded while passing under a bridge... Mind your head and don't criticize the singing!Tamáshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012640144696750753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156248092240493103.post-25193001973749881082010-03-12T04:28:29.341-08:002010-03-12T04:28:29.341-08:00THANKS for the explanations Greg! I was puzzled by...THANKS for the explanations Greg! I was puzzled by some of these things, especially the forcole, when I saw one of these boats a couple of years ago. <br /><br />I did not see them in operation since we were out and about early that morning when the temperature was low (104 F). Hint: Vegas is hot in July.<br /><br />Lesee now, if all the motors have to run at the same speed, the passengers have to wear seat belts, the path through the canal is set, why not just put the whole shebang on rails and let a Disney ride controlling computer replace the "gondoliers?" I don't have much use for how much the theme parts stray from tradition.Bob Eastonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13373918779580450890noreply@blogger.com