Roller Coaster Painting Project: SeaWorld Steel Eel Restoration

The Steel Eel chain lift hill after a full high-access repaint, delivering bright color and long-term protection.

High-Access Roller Coaster Painting on One of America’s Steepest Climbs

Some structures are simply painted. Others require a team built for height, precision, and absolute control.

When a general contractor began repainting one of SeaWorld’s tallest roller coasters, they quickly reached a point where traditional lifts could not go any farther. The chain lift hill and upper steel sections were too steep, too narrow, and too exposed for standard access. That is when BASE Painters stepped in to complete the high-access portion of the Roller Coaster Painting project.

Our rope-access crew handled the steepest and most technical areas of the structure while working safely at elevation and without interrupting the park’s maintenance schedule.

Project Overview:

Client: SeaWorld (GC Partnership)

Location: San Antonio, Texas

Structure Type: Steel Eel Roller Coaster

Height: 150 ft

Scope: Repaint of chain lift hill and upper high-access steel sections

Access Method: Rope Access

Duration: 3 weeks

Product Used: PPG PSX 700 High-Performance Urethane

Crew Size: 3 to 4 painters

Rope access where lifts can’t go. High above the waterline, our crew keeps this coaster’s hardest-to-reach steel protected.

Roller Coaster Painting Challenges

The chain lift hill is one of the steepest and tallest in the park. Accessing it safely with standard equipment was not possible. Extreme pitch angles, narrow beams, and continuous exposure to sun and wind made this a precision-driven project that required trained rope-access painters from start to finish.

Because the ride remained in off-season maintenance mode, BASE Painters worked closely with the general contractor and park engineers to ensure all rigging, movement, and coating procedures aligned with strict amusement ride safety protocols. Every step needed to be controlled, documented, and performed at height without interfering with ongoing maintenance operations.

Execution: Precision at Every Height

Painters used industrial rope-access systems to position themselves safely along the steep track structure. All rigging was installed, inspected, and logged daily, with full fall-arrest redundancy. Isolation zones on the ground ensured complete safety for staff and contractors below.

Surface preparation included power washing and mechanical cleaning to remove oxidation and loose paint from the steel. After the substrate was ready, a PPG PSX 700 urethane topcoat was applied. This coating system offers strong UV resistance, long-term corrosion protection, and a high-gloss finish ideal for the Texas climate.

No man baskets. No shutdowns. Just rope access, surface prep, and production at 150 feet — exactly where other crews tap out.

Results: A Roller Coaster Restored

The chain lift hill and upper sections were restored to a bright, durable finish that matched the lower sections completed by the GC team. The Roller Coaster Painting project was delivered ahead of schedule, with no safety incidents, and demonstrated how BASE Painters handles the steepest and most difficult parts of any amusement structure.

Outcome Highlights

• Rope-access repaint on a 150-foot structure

• Completed within the park’s maintenance window

• PPG PSX 700 high-performance coating system

• Zero safety incidents and no rework

  
  

Rope access puts our crew exactly where the corrosion starts and where lifts can’t reach.

Talk to BASE Painters

When your venue requires Stadium Painting or high-access coating completed safely, efficiently, and with precision, you need a contractor trusted by some of America’s most iconic structures.

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