Make it an occasion
A Duffy turns an hour on Alamitos Bay into an occasion. Here is how to plan each one: timing, group size, what to bring, and what it costs. Every guide starts from the same simple price: $125 an hour for a boat of up to 12.
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Birthdays
One boat holds the party: up to 12 guests, a table for the cake, and food and coolers welcome. Bigger parties book two or three boats for the same start time, each with its own driver who is 21 or older.
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Bachelorettes
A private boat for the group, no venue fee and no minimum spend. Bring your own beer and wine for anyone 21 and over, and pick a sober driver before the day. Time it for sunset if the photos matter.
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Proposals
Quiet, private and easy to time. Choose the Naples Canals or the open bay, have flowers delivered by a local vendor, and book a second boat if you want family or a photographer following on the water.
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Sunset cruises
The guide has a month-by-month table of sunset times at our dock, with the start time that puts you on the water in the warmest light. Two hours lets you stay out through the dusk.
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Date nights
Just the two of you, an electric boat and $125 for the hour. Pack a picnic, take turns at being the navigator, and walk to dinner at the landing afterward. In winter, bring a blanket.
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Team outings
With 22 identical boats, a team can split into small crews that leave together. The guide covers how many boats you need, choosing drivers, running the day and a few simple challenges for the water.
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Naples holiday lights
Each December the homes along the Naples Canals put up lights. An enclosed boat, a blanket and an early-evening start make it a warm way to see them, with an eye on the tide for the canals.
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The Fourth of July
A summer holiday on the bay, with a roof for shade and a cooler of your own. Holidays are busy, so the guide covers booking early, parking, the heat and what to bring for a group.
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Days out with the dog
Dogs are welcome aboard; our logo was inspired by our own English bulldog. Bring your dog's life vest, a leash and water, and keep the first trip short if your dog is new to boats.
How do you choose an occasion's timing?
Three things decide most plans: the light, the tide and the size of your group. For light, the sunset times by month tell you when to start. For the Naples Canals, the tides page shows when the water is low enough to pass under the bridges. For group size, the planner on the pricing page tells you how many boats to book.
If you are unsure which guide fits, start with the people. A group of 12 or fewer fits on one boat; a bigger group books several boats for the same start time, and each needs a driver who is 21 or older. Children count toward the limit, babies included. Then think about the hour: daylight suits kids and dogs, sunset suits couples and photos, and a December evening suits anyone who wants the lights. Finally, decide on one hour or two; two is the safer choice when food or the canals are part of the plan.
Everything else is the same whatever the occasion: arrive 30 minutes early, check in at the office, and the Dock Master hands your driver the keys at the end of the dock. The complete guide to renting a Duffy in Long Beach covers the whole day.
