Rent the GoBoats 'bumper boat' in East Quogue

With a throttle handle, small electric motor and cushioned seat, GoBoats look more like floating go-karts than traditional boats. The inflatable watercrafts move at a leisurely 5 mph, making it an easy way to cruise Shinnecock Bay solo, with a friend or four-legged passenger before summer slips away.

Adventure Paddleboard and Kayaks (94 Dune Rd.; adventurepaddleboards.com; 631-377-0162), at Dockers Waterside in East Quogue, is making waves as the first and only rental shop on Long Island to offer these  personal watercraft. Available through Sept. 10, GoBoats offer one of the last easygoing ways to squeeze a few more weeks out of the summer season while you glide along Shinnecock Bay with views of Dune Road and wildlife.

The small battery-powered boats are slow, steady and simple to operate, making them popular with families, groups of friends and riders with limited mobility.

"They're lots of fun. They're like bumper cars on the water, like a go-kart," says Cherryl Bradley, owner of Adventure Paddleboard and Kayaks. She introduced the exclusive GoBoats to her fleet three seasons ago, and they became an instant hit with parents. Kids can safely hold the throttle while an adult steers. "They're so easy," she says.

The boats run on a 12-volt lithium battery and top out around 5 mph. A valid driver's license is required to rent and life jackets are provided and mandatory for all riders. A motor cut off switch is attached to an ankle lanyard for safety. GoBoats cost $50 for 30 minutes or $75 for an hour, with room for one adult plus a child or a dog. The passenger can sit on either side of the driver. A dog dock is available to add on for $15. Dogs are welcome throughout the property and life jackets are available in multiple sizes for four-legged passengers.

"We love having dogs out," Bradley says. "It's a great way to introduce them to the water if they're still young, or just enjoy a day with the whole family without having to leave them behind."

Out on the water, the pace stays intentionally unhurried. Riders can spot horseshoe crabs, stingrays and swans while gliding past the scenic shoreline.

"We don't ever have any boat traffic here," Bradley says. "It's so serene. Even when it's windy and choppy on the other side of the bay, it's always calm here." 

Riders looking for other options can rent paddleboards for $45 an hour or double kayaks for $75 an hour. Families can even take out a 10-by-10-foot raft, paddle into the bay, anchor, and bring along water toys for a floating afternoon.

Adventure Paddleboard and Kayaks closes for the season Sept. 10.

Make a day of it

Adventure Paddleboard and Kayaks sits beside Dockers Waterside (94 Dune Rd.; dockerswaterside.com; 631-653-0653), a popular upscale-casual waterfront restaurant, bar and marina, making it simple to stretch a GoBoat ride into a full afternoon.

After coming off the water, order a frosé or margarita ($14), braised beef taco ($19) or a chicken sandwich ($16) at Doc's Beachology — the food truck next to the rental shop — for casual lunch or dinner on the patio. The restaurant is also dog-friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating right on the bay for a more traditional dining experience. Try the lobster tail francaise ($59) and enjoy live music Friday through Sunday.

Cupsogue Beach County Park (975 Dune Rd., Westhampton Beach; suffolkcountyny.gov; 631-852-8209) is a 20-minute drive east along Dune Road, with white sand beaches and a new pavilion with a restaurant and bar. Parking costs $18 for non-residents through Labor Day.