Chessie Dragon paddle Boats & Electric Pirate ships
About
Operated and managed by Living Classrooms Foundation in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Chessie Dragon Paddle Boats and Electric Pirate Ships of Baltimore are popular family-friendly attractions among area residents and visitors worldwide. They also serve as employment venues for youth and young adults as an extension of our job training programs, often providing Baltimore City youth with their first job experience. The two venues employ approximately thirty teens and young adults each year. The attractions are open daily, April through November, weather permitting. Proceeds from ticket sales support Living Classrooms’ hands-on education and job training programs.
The original Chessie Dragons have become an iconic fixture in Baltimore’s waterfront landscape and have served hundreds of thousands of visitors since the attraction opened in 1975. These pedal-powered boats seat up to 4 passengers each and have become a popular destination for family day trips, unique dates, and marriage proposals. Living Classrooms began operating the Chessie Dragon paddle boats in 1999.
In 2018, Pirate Ships of Baltimore was unveiled as the newest attraction in the Inner Harbor. Located between the World Trade Center and the National Aquarium Pier 3, the dock houses a fleet of 12 electric boats that hold up to 6 passengers each. A clean energy alternative, the Electric Pirate Ships operate on lithium-ion battery power, fueled by solar energy, and provide fun for children and adults of all ages who want to storm the harbor.
The attractions are located on either side of the World Trade Center. We do not accept reservations. All tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The last tickets of the day are sold 30 minutes before closing. Weight restrictions may apply.
Hours of Operation:
Open Daily, April through Labor Day. Open weekends in September, & October.
Weekday hours: 12 PM to 7 PM
Weekend hours: 11 AM to 7 PM
Our closing time is when we sell our last ticket and close the ticket booth. All riders who purchased their ticket before closing will ride for 30 minutes.
Pricing:
The Chessie Dragon Paddle Boats hold up to four passengers and cost $25 for 30 minutes.
The Electric Pirate Ships hold up to six passengers and cost $40 for 30 minutes.
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There is no age/weight limit. All passengers must wear a life jacket.
Children aged 12 years and below must be accompanied by an adult.
After dark, all passengers 17 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.
All passengers are required to wear life vests while onboard.
All passengers will be given a safety orientation by staff before their boat leaves the dock.
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For the safety of our customers and staff, we will close temporarily if there is rain heavy enough to affect visibility, strong wind, thunder, or lightning. We will make every attempt to reopen later in the day if it looks like the weather will pass quickly. This is often the case during summer storms.
We will stay open through periods of clouds and light rain without accompanying wind or electrical activity.
We do not issue weather-related refunds!
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If you are interested in bringing a large group of 20+ to visit our attractions, please contact us with the form below for pricing/reservation information.
Groups of 20 or More - Please Fill Out: If you are a group of less than 20, you do not need to complete the form.
FAQS
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No. All boats are first come, first serve, and tickets are for immediate use. We are usually busiest from 2pm to sunset on weekends.
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No. All boats are first come, first serve, and tickets are for immediate use.
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The Chessie Dragon Paddleboats can accommodate 4 passengers.
The Electric Pirate Ships can accommodate 6 passengers.
These are the legal limits for the boats. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions.
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Yes. All passengers count towards the limit, regardless of age.
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You do! Our staff will give you a brief safety orientation and show you how to use the boat, and then you’ll be on your way.
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No. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff to accommodate this. Most people pick up driving the boat very quickly. If you’re nervous, feel free to ask lots of questions during your safety orientation.
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Yes! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, but anyone can drive! For younger children on the Pirate Ships, it can be helpful to have an adult handle the throttle while the child steers.
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The Chessie Dragon Paddleboats are pedal-powered. They have two seats for pedalers and two seats for non-pedalers. If you want to switch who pedals mid-way through your ride, you must return to the dock to switch seats safely and staff will assist you.
The Electric Pirate Ships have motors. No one needs to pedal them. They can seat up to six passengers.
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Yes. We have a safety boat monitoring the paddling area. Feel free to flag them down if you need any assistance.
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Yes. ALL customers must wear a lifejacket, including adults. We provide lifejackets of all sizes.
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Yes. We have lifejackets in sizes from infant to XXL. We’ve never had a customer we could not fit!
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Yes. As long as it’s a standard Coast Guard-approved jacket, you are welcome to bring your own.
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No. We accept credit card payments only. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
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For the safety of our customers and staff, we will close temporarily if there is rain heavy enough to affect visibility, strong wind, thunder, or lightning. We will make every attempt to reopen later in the day if it looks like the weather will pass quickly. This is often the case during summer storms.
We will stay open through periods of clouds and light rain without accompanying wind or electrical activity.
If the Baltimore City Health Department issues a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert we will delay opening until 4pm.
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Well-behaved dogs are welcome onboard. We do not provide dog lifejackets.
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Most of our visitors find that they can thoroughly explore the entire paddling area in 30 minutes. If you are interested in riding for longer, let the cashier know when they sell you your ticket. We can only sell tickets for 30-minute increments.
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No. Baltimore Harbor is an active harbor with many commercial and recreational vessels. For the safety of everyone, all riders are asked to stay inside our paddling area. Staff will point out the boundaries to you during your safety orientation.
Locate Us
The two docks are located on either side of the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor. The nearest physical address: 301 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Contact Us, Donate, or Volunteer
Have a question about the Paddle & Electric Boats? Contact us below and a member of our team will be in touch shortly. Prefer to call? You can reach the Chessie Dragons at (410)528-1060 and the Electric Pirate Ships at (410)528-1087.