Why Everyone in Huntington Harbour Has a Duffy (Or Wants One)

If you spend enough time in Huntington Harbour, eventually someone is going to ask you one very important question:

"Do you have a Duffy?"

And if the answer is no...

Give it time. 😂

Because in Huntington Harbour, a Duffy isn't just a boat.

It's transportation.

It's happy hour.

It's dinner plans.

It's a sunset cruise.

It's how you look at Christmas lights in December.

It's where you catch up with friends.

And sometimes it's what you do on a completely random Tuesday because the weather is too nice to stay home.

I grew up in Huntington Harbour and have my own Duffy, and I can confidently say:

Harbour life is just better with a little electric boat.

So if you've ever wondered why these boats are everywhere in Huntington Harbour, let me explain.

First Things First: What Is a Duffy?

When locals say "Duffy," we're usually talking about the small electric boats you see quietly cruising through Huntington Harbour.

Duffy Electric Boat Company was founded right here in Southern California in 1970 by Marshall "Duffy" Duffield.

The concept is pretty simple:

A comfortable boat powered by electricity that's perfect for calm-water cruising.

No giant engine roaring behind you.

No yelling over the motor.

You basically get on, cruise slowly and enjoy being on the water.

Which makes it pretty much perfect for Huntington Harbour.

Why Duffys and Huntington Harbour Go So Well Together

Huntington Harbour isn't a place where you need to go 40 miles per hour to have fun.

Actually, quite the opposite.

The Harbour has a 5 MPH speed limit, so everyone is already taking it slow.

And that's exactly what a Duffy is designed for.

You're not trying to get somewhere quickly.

The cruise IS the activity.

You put on music.

Bring snacks.

Pour a drink.

Pick up some friends.

And cruise around the islands.

That's the whole plan.

And somehow it never gets old.

"Want to Go on the Duffy?" Is a Complete Plan

This might be one of the most Huntington Harbour things ever.

Someone texts:

"Duffy?"

That's it.

No itinerary.

No reservation.

No elaborate planning.

You grab whatever you want to drink, maybe throw together some snacks and meet at the boat.

Sometimes you're out for an hour.

Sometimes you're out all evening.

Sometimes you planned to just cruise around the island and somehow you're still on the water three hours later.

That's Harbour life.

The Sunset Cruise Is Basically a Harbour Tradition

There are few things better than getting on the water right before sunset.

Especially during that perfect Huntington Beach weather when the wind settles down and the Harbour gets glassy.

You cruise past the islands.

Look at the houses.

Wave to people sitting on their docks.

Watch the sky change.

And inevitably someone says:

"We are so lucky to live here."

I've lived here my whole life and I still have those moments.

That's probably one of the best things about Huntington Harbour.

It can make an ordinary night feel like you're on vacation.

You Will Become Weirdly Invested in Other People's Houses

This is another important part of Duffy ownership.

You will suddenly become very interested in Harbour real estate.

Even if you have absolutely no intention of moving.

You cruise by a house and someone says:

"Wait, look what they did to that one!"

Then someone else says:

"Wasn't that the white house before?"

Then we discuss the remodel.

Then the dock.

Then the landscaping.

Then the boat.

And five minutes later we're essentially conducting an unofficial waterfront property tour from the Duffy.

Maybe this is more of an occupational hazard for me...

But I know I'm not the only one. 😂

Every Island Looks Different From the Water

One of my favorite things about cruising Huntington Harbour is seeing the neighborhoods from an entirely different perspective.

There are five man-made islands in Huntington Harbour:

Admiralty Island

Gilbert Island

Davenport Island

Humboldt Island

Trinidad Island

Driving through them is one thing.

Seeing them from the water is completely different.

From a Duffy, you notice the docks.

The water frontage.

The architecture.

The outdoor spaces.

The boats.

And the way each home actually interacts with the Harbour.

For waterfront properties, the water side really does become a second front door.

Your Friends May Start Arriving by Boat

This is where Harbour life gets fun.

In most neighborhoods, your friends pull into the driveway.

In Huntington Harbour?

They might pull up to the dock.

And yes, arriving somewhere by Duffy is significantly more fun than arriving by car.

If you're fortunate enough to have a waterfront home and dock, the Harbour essentially becomes another way to move through your neighborhood.

That's something that's hard to appreciate until you've actually experienced it.

You Don't Need a Waterfront House to Own a Duffy

This is important.

People sometimes assume you need to own a waterfront home with a private dock to have a boat in Huntington Harbour.

You don't.

There are marinas and boat slips throughout the Harbour, so plenty of people who live off-water still enjoy boating.

That's one of the reasons I always tell buyers:

Don't automatically assume you need a waterfront house to have the Huntington Harbour lifestyle.

Maybe you'd rather have a larger house, a pool or a particular location and keep your Duffy at a nearby slip.

There are different ways to do Harbour life.

Dinner Just Feels Better After a Boat Ride

This is another Harbour specialty.

Take the Duffy out for sunset.

Cruise around for a while.

Head home.

Then meet everyone for dinner somewhere nearby.

Suddenly a completely normal dinner feels like an event.

It's one of the reasons I love neighborhood places like Red Table.

The Harbour isn't only about the houses and the water.

It's the whole routine surrounding them.

Boat.

Friends.

Dinner.

Home.

Not a bad evening.

Then December Happens...

If you think people love their Duffys during summer, wait until Christmas in Huntington Harbour.

December is an entirely different level.

Boats get covered in lights.

Homes along the water are decorated.

Docks light up.

People bundle up, bring blankets and hot drinks onto their boats and cruise around looking at the decorations.

And then, of course, there's the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade.

This is when having a Duffy really pays off.

Cruising the Harbour during the holidays is one of my favorite Huntington Harbour traditions.

If you've never seen the Harbour from the water at Christmas...

Put it on your list.

Yes, You Still Need to Know the Rules

Just because a Duffy feels like a floating living room doesn't mean you're not operating a boat.

Huntington Harbour has boating rules, including the 5 MPH speed limit, and California boating laws still apply.

You need to understand safe operation, right-of-way, required equipment, alcohol laws and any current California boater-card requirements that apply to you.

And please...

Be nice to the paddleboarders.

We're all sharing the Harbour.

Selling Surf City Tip 🌊

If you're buying a home in Huntington Harbour and you already own—or plan to own—a Duffy, tell me.

Seriously.

Because it can affect how we look at properties.

If you're buying waterfront, we're going to talk about:

Dock size

Water frontage

Dock configuration

Channel location

and how you want to use the boat.

If you're buying off-water, we may want to think about nearby slip options and how easily you can get to your boat.

That's the kind of thing you won't necessarily see in the listing description.

But it can make a huge difference in your everyday life.

Do You Actually Need a Duffy to Live in Huntington Harbour?

No.

Of course not.

But...

You're probably going to want one.

Because a Duffy represents something bigger about living here.

It's the ability to turn a completely ordinary evening into something special.

It's seeing your neighborhood from the water.

It's waving to friends on their docks.

It's sunset cruises.

It's Christmas lights.

It's music playing while you slowly cruise around the islands.

And it's that feeling of getting home from work, looking outside and thinking:

"It's way too nice out. Let's take the boat."

This Is Why I Love Huntington Harbour

When I talk about Huntington Harbour real estate, I can tell you about square footage.

Water frontage.

Dock size.

Lot orientation.

Recent sales.

Price per square foot.

All of that matters.

But none of those numbers really explain why people love living here.

This does.

It's the lifestyle.

I'm Meghan Koshar, a Huntington Beach local and REALTOR® behind Selling Surf City, and I grew up right here in Huntington Harbour.

This month I'm taking you beyond the real estate and showing you the islands, restaurants, history, boating and little traditions that make the Harbour feel like home.

Because when you're choosing a home here, you're choosing so much more than the house.

You're choosing the life you want to live outside the front door.

And sometimes...

that life moves at exactly 5 MPH. ⚓🌊