Duffy Boats

Cruising the quiet waters of Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples are the Duffy Boats.  Perhaps you've seen them, but didn't know what they were called.  Maybe you own one with a really clever name.  Maybe you've only heard the name and have no idea what a Duffy Boat is.

What is a Duffy boat?  They are all electric bay and lake cruisers.  They have no exhaust, only one moving part in the DC engine and they are built right here in California.  They are used in Disney's California Adventure, Marriott Resort properties and other corporate venues worldwide.

Locally you will find Duffys in Huntington Harbor, Newport Harbor and some of the inland manmade lakes, like the ones in Westlake Village and Lake Forest.  There are over 3,000 of them in Newport Beach.  In Long Beach they live in Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples.

Many of the residents of Naples own their own Duffy and they have clever names like "Nuts & Volts", "Lotta Watta", "Amply Blessed".  You can join clubs, like the McKenna's Electric Boat Club, where you pay an annual membership fee and have use of a Duffy.  You can rent boats by the hour at Pelican Joe's Bay Boat Rentals.  An 8 passenger boat is about $65 an hour and a 12 passenger boat is around $85 an hour.  There are specials and discounts seasonally. 

 We like to rent a Duffy to show friends and family from outside the area how beautiful Long Beach is.  We'll rent or borrow one just to have a little celebration, with wine and appetizers to cruise the area.  And I rent one to show my clients appreciation by taking them on a little cruise.

Our favorite time to rent is during the Christmas season when the Naples canals are decorated with light shows and all types of holiday decorations.  It's really beautiful.  Our group has been known to sing Christmas carols while cruising and sipping on a nice hot cup of wassail.

 It's another one of my favorite things about living in Long Beach.  A Duffy Boat cruise around Christmas or a gentle cruise on a summer evening, with good friends, family or clients, enjoying the good life on Alamitos Bay.  Long Beach, it will surprise you.  If you'd like to learn more about Duffy Boats or my client appreciation program, please send me an email (katielarson@kw.com) or give me a call (562.673.5335).