Riverhead Town officials are “all aboard” with a proposal to allow a company to offer boozy boat rides on the Peconic River.
Amanda Warren, the operator of Paddle Pub Long Island, asked the Riverhead Town Board on Thursday to allow the business to pick up passengers at the Peconic Riverfront and to use municipal parking lots for parking.
The Paddle Pub is similar to the “Brew Crew” cycling pub crawl tours that occur in Riverhead — and which Warren also operates — but located on a pontoon boat, she said. The boat hosts private parties with up to 26 people, according to Paddle Pub’s website.
“They settle on bicycle seats similar to the trolley bikes,” Warren said. “And they pedal and it moves a big paddle wheel on the back of the boat, which propels the boat. We also have an auxiliary motor as well for when they’re tired and don’t want to pedal anymore and we turn it into a dance party.”
Riders bring their own snacks and drinks to enjoy on board the boat. The trip is roughly four to five miles long and lasts around 90-100 minutes, Warren said. The season would last from May 1 to Oct. 1, Warren said.
The business currently operates in Oceanside, Huntington, Port Jefferson and Patchogue, according to the Paddle Pub website.
The Town Board was supportive of the idea.
“It’s just another amenity for people to come to downtown Riverhead for and spend money on our local businesses,” Supervisor Tim Hubbard said.
Council Member Bob Kern told Warren he would put her in touch with the town’s legal staff to draft an agreement.
Correction: This article has been amended to correct an error regarding the length of a boat ride. The ride is four to five miles long, not 45 miles.
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