Sea Suite Cruises has added 10 electric, passenger-driven Duffy Boats to its fleet, bringing the locally based company’s total to 25 vessels operating out of The Wharf in Southwest D.C.
The passenger-driven boats allow guests to pilot the vessels themselves without hiring a captain. No boating experience or license is required. “These electric boats are safe and easy to drive,” said Jack Maher, who co-founded the company with Jack Walten.
Each 21-foot Duffy Boat cruises at speeds of up to 6 knots. That slow, steady pace makes it easy to take in the city’s waterfront landmarks, day or night. Guests can book a one-hour rental for $200, a two-hour rental for $350, or a three-hour rental for $500.
The boats come equipped for a comfortable day on the water. “Built for up to 10 guests, the boats feature plush seating, a central table, a cooler, Bluetooth speakers and full weather protection,” Maher said. Coast Guard-approved life jackets and all required safety equipment are included.
Guests can bring their own food and drinks. Beer, wine, champagne and hard seltzer are welcome, but no spirits are allowed. All alcoholic beverages must be 15% ABV or lower. Ice is available for an additional fee, or guests can bring their own.
The boats are ideal for group outings, celebrations, and casual cruises along the waterfront. The center table encourages conversation, and the intimate seating keeps the group close.
The Duffy Boat traces its roots to Newport Beach, California, and a resourceful teenager. In 1968, 17-year-old Marshall “Duffy” Duffield dropped a motor and batteries from a secondhand golf cart into a beat-up motorboat hull, creating the first electric boat. He launched the Duffy Electric Boat Company in 1970, and the design has since become a fixture on waterfronts across the country.
Now that legacy has arrived at The Wharf, giving D.C. groups a quiet, emissions-free way to explore the Potomac shoreline on their own terms.
