Imagine yourself out on a quiet lake, enjoying the tranquility, while still making good headway thanks to the virtually silent electric motor pushing your boat across the water. Imagine boating without trips to the marina for fuel, without lugging gas cans (and oil) to the boat, without cantankerous, hard-to-start engines, without annual tune-ups. What's left? Only the pleasures of boating, without the headaches, without the guilt of thinking about what your fun is doing to the environment.

Electric-powered boats have been around for over 100 years but are considered the next great thing. With the increase in fuel costs, many are turning to power outlets instead of fuel docks. One company helping to make this transition possible for the Pacific Northwest is The Electric Boat Company on South Lake Union, as the exclusive Pacific Northwest dealers of Duffy Electric Boats, a manufacturer that has been developing electric boats in Newport Beach, California for over 30 years. Starting by putting a golf cart engine in his runabout, Marshall “Duffy” Duffield’s electric cruisers now number almost 1500 in Newport Beach, an area of water smaller than the area from the locks to the Montlake Cut. The reason for this popularity of Duffy’s is simple, they bring all the benefits of boating to the consumer in one simple, efficient and hassle-free package.

One of the greatest benefits of electric boating is that they are environmentally savvy. Marine engines are a major source of environmental damage, according to the US EPA. This is largely the reason that many of our state’s lakes are restricting the operation of internal combustion engines. Of King County’s 26 lakes, 24 allow electric boat engines while only 4 allow gas powered engines. Duffy Electric Boats are completely pollution free; there are no air or water emissions to pollute the environment.

How do they work? In short, Trojan 6V T-105 deep cycle marine batteries power a 48V Power Plus Advanced DC motor – a cylinder the size of a large loaf of bread. The motor is the only moving part, with a belt drive turning the drive shaft to the composite propeller. The Duffy Electric Boats are equipped with a Smart Charger, allowing you to simply plug the boat into a 110 outlet and it will recharge in a matter of hours. The Smart Charger also brings the battery life to 6-8 years. In 30 years Duffy has learned a tremendous amount ... how people use their boats, what elements require sophistication in their design and which require simplicity. It is with this simple, efficient and low-maintenance which has made Duffy the world leader in electric cruising.

Listen as an electric boat passes by. The sound you hear is silence. If you don’t watch as the key is turned, you would not know the boat is on. This is the reason electric boating has been coined “sailing without the work”. The Duffy Electric motors are almost completely silent, allowing passengers to enjoy the peace and tranquility that only silent cruising can bring. The silence along with the fantastic ease of use allows electric boating to appeal to boaters of all intentions. From the fisherman who is looking for a boat to take on one of the many gas-restricted lakes that is also easy to trailer, to the entertainer who is looking for a great way to cruise with friends while enjoying a meal without the interruption of diesel fumes. Duffy offers a broad range of boats, designed to meet a variety of boating styles. Whether you choose the Duffy Sport Cat for it's tremendous fishing and swimming layout, or a Duffy Classic for deluxe entertaining, there is a size and style in the Duffy fleet for every electric boat enthusiast.

With the average cost to use an electric boat at $ .50 an hour, electric boating is an extremely cost effective option for getting out and enjoying the many bodies of water in the Pacific Northwest. Duffy Electric Boats are perfect for everywhere from Lake Sammamish to Friday Harbor. Not to mention a surrey top and window enclosure and optional heating, they are perfect for even the rainiest of days the Pacific Northwest can dish out. Electric boating, the next great thing that has been around for 100 years. Give it a try and you will be wondering what took you so long.