FAQ

Yes! Driving our electric boats are on par with driving a golf cart and cruise at around 7 mph. Designated drivers must be 25 years or older and have watched our safety video. The captain (driver) will watch a short safety video and receive a tutorial from one of our expert Crewmembers before setting out. Each boat is equipped with a detailed map so that you can plan your cruise on the lake.

That is entirely up to your party. There are two designated “trails” on our maps that each take just about two hours. However, you can choose how much time and how fast you tour the lake.

Yes! All boats are equipped with Bluetooth.

Anyone can drive the boat if they are over the age of 25 and have watched our safety video.

We have three kinds of boats: Standard Boat (maximum 10 passengers), Luxury Boat (maximum 12 passengers), and Donut Boat (maximum 6 passengers).

The passenger limit is not based on weight, but on the Coast Guard Certification for our boats. Children count as passengers. This is not a company policy that can be flexible.

There is NO age limit. Everyone is welcome on our boats!

The overhead canopies must remain on the boats at all times, but you are welcome to raise the side enclosures to feel the breeze! A Crewmember will be happy to help you raise the enclosures before you head out on your cruise.

You are welcome to bring any food or beverage. We rent coolers with ice for $10 and also offer a variety of catering options.

All of our Duffy electric boat rentals (Standard and Luxury boats) have full window enclosures that can go up or down depending on what you feel comfortable with. If you keep all the windows down the boats stay extremely insulated and warm. During the cold season, we provide blankets for the boats and heaters to ensure you are comfortable. COVID-19 UPDATE: Blankets have been discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Donut boats are open-air and are only available during the summer months.

Absolutely! The Electric Boat Company is a kid-friendly environment. There is plenty to see on the lake and you are welcome to bring games or anything else to entertain the little ones. We are currently working on tablet-based games that you can take out on the lake to entertain any children on board and teach them about boater safety and the lake. Stay tuned for more details.

Usually, but it is not something we can guarantee. If we are sold out, we might not have a boat to let you get into early. Please call ahead if this is something you want to do. You are expected to take all decorations off the boat when you leave.

No. However, there are a number of restaurants and public docks on the shore where you can disembark and use their facilities. These locations are indicated on our maps. We remind our guests to ONLY PARK AT PUBLIC DOCKS. This is for you and our boat’s safety.

For the most part, yes. Our hours are posted on our website and are subject to change depending on the season. Please contact the office for further detail. We are open rain or shine!

The only reason we would close would be due to weather threatening enough to cause harm or damage to guests and/or boats which rarely happens. In such an event all reservations will be refunded in full ASAP.

If you have made a reservation via our website or over the phone with our office a deposit will be required at the time of booking to hold the boat. Otherwise payment is due in full PRIOR to your cruise, in our office. On the day of your booking once you are checked in, the balance of the reservation is due PRIOR to your cruise.

There is a $4 booking fee per boat per reservation. All other fees besides state tax are optional (i.e., the OPTIONAL damage waiver).

We have a strict 24-hour cancellation policy. This is why we require a deposit. Should you cancel same day, we will not refund the deposit. Should a manager deem the weather to be unsafe at the time of departure, a full refund will be given. Please note, your reservation will not be canceled and refunded for weather unless you have been contacted by a manager. You will be expected to still arrive at the time of your reservation. Lake Union is very protected and inclement weather is rarely an issue. In the case of last-minute unexpected events on your side, refunds will not be provided.

Yes, depending upon how many vessels we have available at that time. Our availability is accessible via the reservation portion on the website. If you do not see availability for the number of boats you need please call our office. We can often move things around to accommodate your party.

We have plenty of parking available in the large lot that stretches the length of the buildings here on Westlake Ave N. (about five blocks in both directions).

Parking is $1.50 / hour, Mon – Fri, before 4pm. Parking is FREE after 4pm and on weekends/holidays.

Our address is 2046 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109. The office is located at the bottom of the staircase from the front door and at the bottom of the dock ramp on the side of our building. We have only one address and this is for both our office and the boats.

Lyft and Uber are always a good idea, especially due to downtown traffic. Seattle Metro line 40 also runs directly in front of our office.

The only reason we would close would be due to weather threatening enough to cause harm or damage to guests and/or boats. In such an event all reservations will be refunded in full ASAP. Please note, your reservation will not be canceled and refunded for weather unless you have been contacted by a manager. You will be expected to still arrive at the time of your reservation. Lake Union is very protected and inclement weather is rarely an issue. In the case of last-minute unexpected events on your side, refunds will not be provided.

Yes, plenty! We offer catering options made on site as well as snacks and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) available for sale in our office. In addition, there are several fantastic restaurants that offer takeout and a convenience store located just yards away. There is also Starbucks about a mile south of the office.

It is extremely important that your group arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time so that you can view the safety video and sign a liability waiver. It is also important to give yourself enough time to find parking. Traffic in Seattle continues to worsen so plan ahead please!

Upon arrival, you will need to fill out the necessary paperwork and the captain in your party will need to watch a short safety and orientation video. You will then be escorted by your Crewmember down to your boat and an additional opportunity to ask any questions our policies or operation of the vessel. Once you are comfortable and prepared to start your cruise, your Crewmember will walk your boat to the end of the dock and bid you bon voyage!

Yes! Life jackets are provided for all ages! Kid jackets are located on a rack on the docks before your departure separated by weight. Adult life vests are located on the boat under the seats.

Lake Union is relatively unique in that it has house boats and residents that live on the water year-round. If the office receives a complaint about your craft during your cruise, we will contact you and give you a warning. If the warning is not heeded we will terminate your reservation immediately, confiscate the craft and return you/your party to shore. You will not be refunded your rental fee. This is especially true if Harbor Patrol has to escort you back to our docks.

We will assess the damage and charge the person/party accordingly. We do offer an optional damage waiver for $25 that covers incidental damages to the vessel up to $2,000. This does not cover negligence or liability towards other parties.

Our boats are allowed to dock at designated PUBLIC DOCKS ONLY. This is to ensure the safety of all guests and our crafts. As for picking up and dropping off passengers please contact the office for further details.

Unfortunately, we cannot allow any pets on our rental boats, no matter how small or cute they are. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

You may take the boat up to but NOT through the Ballard locks and up to but NOT through the Montlake Cut. The rest of the lake is open for cruising.

The map the captain will receive at the end of the video safety briefing indicates where the boundaries for our boats are. Feel free to ask ANY crewmember if you have any questions about boundary locations. They are fairly obvious, and you will not accidentally go through them.

Each boat is equipped with a GPS tracking device of which we monitor constantly. Should a craft go out of bounds we will be notified and the reservation will be immediately canceled. We will then confiscate the boat and return you and your party to shore.

Absolutely not! This is for everyone’s safety. The Montlake Cut is a busy place with some very fast and large crafts. Taking our boats in there would be like taking a grocery store scooter on the freeway. Our boats cannot keep up with the flow of traffic and could cause an accident.

No! You may not swim off of any of the boats. This includes our Standard or Luxury Duffy electric boats as well as our electric Donut boats.

There is absolutely NO fishing off of any of our boats!

The only requirement to captain one of our boats is to be 25 years or older and have watched our safety video at check-in.

You may not bring: firearms, illegal drugs, anything that can be lit (i.e., candles, cooking heaters) fireworks, flammable liquid/gel/aerosol paint and/or dangerous chemicals, and animals. There is also no smoking (of any kind) permitted on the boats. Alcohol is permitted in any container, just be responsible and respectful with our boats and the environment, please. We provide trash and recycling cans, so please use them!

Of course, depending on the severity of the incident, contacting the office and communicating the problem would be step number one. However, if what you are experiencing is a major disaster, putting on life vests is your number one priority. After that requirement is met, stay calm, you will be rescued immediately.

Frequently we can talk the captain through an issue and get you cruising again right away. If the problem is determined to be insurmountable, we will either have the captain return the boat to shore and decide the next indicated steps. Or we will send a rescue boat to tow you back to our dock and assess the situation.