When Dave Neal of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, bought his first electric boat, he enjoyed taking friends and family out on the lake. People asked him, "What is that? Is it electric?"
It's been a year since he began renting and selling electric boats as NJeBoats, and word is out. People are coming from around the tri-state area, realizing that they don't have to sit in long, tedious traffic lines to get to the New Jersey Shore, but they can relax and have fun on Lake Hopatcong.
"Our boats, which are charged overnight, go five to seven miles per hour, so you can enjoy the birds (lots of herons) and turtles. You can cruise by private islands and pass by older homes that were celebrity-owned.
"We call them picnic boats, so it's all about bringing food and drink. Boats hold ten to twelve people, depending on the model, and everyone can sit around the table on soft, cushiony seats and enjoy snacks or a meal with no loud motor noise or gas fumes to ruin it. You can actually hear the water lapping on the side of the boat."
Neal charges rentals by the hour, and they're open until 9 p.m. He recommends a sunset dinner cruise. He has partnered with John Clark, owner of Little Nicki's and the Sparta Annex, and both restaurants will deliver food right to your boat. Order from their website for bakery items, cold sandwiches, fried chicken, or a delicious meal. This summer, they've added charcuterie boards for a nice happy hour, although the captain is held to the same rules as driving a car, when it comes to alcohol.
"My initial interest was in solar energy, which stemmed from my son's science project," said Neal. "I learned the scientific principle behind it. I had one of the first homes on the lake to have solar shingles. This allows me to charge the boats using solar power. My Tesla car has a hook-up to tow boats to NJ from the manufacturer, Vision Marine Technologies in Montreal.
"New Jersey has strict rules for boating on a lake. Even if renting, you need to take an eight-hour boat safety course and have an endorsement on your driver's license. But because our boats are under 10 horsepower (a lot slower, and thus safer than gas-powered), I have approval by the state to give a thirty-minute class before a rental with instructions on how to operate the boat, which is as easy to drive as a golf cart. After a class, I tell everyone to 'put your captain hats on, because you've earned it!' "
