In a time of escalating fuel costs, a fledgling Post Falls business has begun marketing recreational boats that it says can operate for less than $1 a day.


The business, Inland Empire Duffy Electric Boats LLC, became a distributor last October of Duffy electric boats, manufactured by Duffy Electric Boat Co., of Adelanto, Calif.


You wont find these boats pulling a water skier, but co-owner Pat Hoon says the electric boats are quiet, nonpolluting, and powered by banks of batteries that can be recharged overnight for less than $1 when connected to a standard home electric outlet. An overnight recharge can keep one of the boats running for up to 10 hours, he says.


These are the boats they use at Disneyland and Disney World, and they go about 7 miles per hour at maximum speed, he says.


Along with partners Scott Williams, of Post Falls, and Barry Thomas, of Coronado, Calif., Hoon launched the business, at 55 Cedar Street, this past winter, and it hasnt made its first sale yet, he says.


Yet, Hoon is optimistic about reaching a niche market of boaters who enjoy leisurely outings on lakes and rivers, possibly to view upscale homes located along shorelines. He says the boats are ideal for boaters who like to sip glasses of wine while touring, and he asks, How much trouble can you get in at 7 miles per hour?


The boats range in price from $20,000 to $60,000, depending on the model and accessory options, Hoon says. He says Duffy boats range between 16 feet and 22 feet in length, seat between eight and 14 people, and come in two basic configurations.


One 16-foot-long model is a catamaran, while the other models have a standard displacement hull, much like a rounded sailboat hull, that provides more stability in the water, he says. Every model includes a surrey canopythink flat topto shield passengers from the sun. The passenger compartment can be enclosed completely when the weather is bad. Options include a digital depth finder, electric seat warmers, a teak locking liquor cabinet, a refrigerator, heaters, and a vacuum-flush toilet.


Most people will custom-order their boats, and theyll be delivered to them four to six weeks after they are ordered, Hoon says. He says such customization will include color choices ranging from greens to blues, plus burgundy and toast, and will allow for creative striping, lettering, and design.


Hoon expects to market the craft both to veteran boaters and those buying their first boat. He also suggests that some customers will co-own Duffy boats. He says thats a common practice in California, where the boats are popular, and business partner Thomas co-owns three.


I think the most attractive feature about these boats is the comfort side, Hoon says. They are fully enclosed and can be heated, making for a longer boating season. I think the best times to run these boats are in April and May, and in September and October when theres less traffic on the water.


Hoon thinks the 22 Cuddy, the longest and one of the more expensive Duffy models, will become the Post Falls dealerships top seller. Twenty-two feet long and priced between $40,000 and $50,000, the 22 Cuddy is the only boat in the Duffy line that has a propeller and rudder that operate together, enhancing maneuverability to the point that the craft can turn 180 degrees within its length, Hoon says. Unlike any of the other Duffy boats, the 22 Cuddy includes a berth that can sleep two people and an optional portable or vacuum-flush toilet, he says.


The 21 Duffy, which comes in three trim lines, including the highest-priced Newporter line, comes with standard features such as non-skid decks, an electric horn, an automatic charging system, a digital fuel gauge that shows the remaining hours and minutes before the batteries run down, a fold-back sunroof, and a cabin heater. Accessories include a $395 digital depth finder, a $429 remote-controlled spotlight, a $319 satellite stereo, and an $1,199 full boat cover.


Hoon says trailers for each model cost an additional $2,500 to $3,000.


Each Duffy boat is equipped with two banks of batteries enclosed beneath the seating area. Depending on the type, size, and line of boat, each Duffy boat has from eight to 18 six-volt batteries to power the motor. The batteries are similar to those used in golf carts, Hoon says.


The zippered windows, roughly three feet wide, four feet high, and a quarter-inch thick, are hard, clear, ultraviolet protected, scratch resistant, and made of the same material as most motorcycle windshields, he says.


Hoon says that at a booth at the Spokane National Boat Show here earlier this year, the company obtained contact information from 60 people who said they wanted a demonstration ride in a Duffy boat.


He says Inland Empire Duffy also is marketing its boats through mailers targeted at individuals here who own property and homes along waterfronts.


The company didnt have to pay a dealership fee for its territorial sales rights, which extend in a 90-mile radius from the dealership, but did have to guarantee it would buy a certain number of boats from the California company.


None of the businesss three partners has experience in boat sales, Hoon says. He remains employed separately as a financial planner, while Williams still works as a machinist, and Thomas as a compensation consultant for executives, he says.


Contact Rocky Wilson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at [email protected].