The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Is this the Fanciest (And Most Expensive) Pedal Boat Ever?

By Chase McPeak August 12, 2018

Beau Lake

We love a regular old pedal boat as much as the next guy, but this super-luxurious version by Beau Lake has got us thinking it’s about time to take out a loan so we can hit the local lakes in this bad boy.

But why would we need a loan? Aren’t pedal-boats pretty cheap you might ask? Most run around $500 these days, but unfortunately you’ll have to shell out a little more dough than that if you’re looking to putter around your local lake using only your legs since this little dinghy retails for, brace yourself, $20,000. Which, we’ll admit, is pretty insane. But, damn, look at this beauty.

1 of 2

beau lake pedal boat 3 — Beau Lake

beau lake pedal boat 2 — Beau Lake

The Beau Lake Runabout combines the classic design and styling of traditional wooden boats and yachts with eco-friendly (and old-school) pedal-powered propulsion. Composed of three main components, the molded fiberglass hull, cockpit liner, and inlaid, mahogany veneer deck, the Runabout also features an ergonomically designed tiller (hand-carved, of course) with a joystick steering component to make holding course as easy as a finger waggle.

Intended for slow cruises at sunset and sunrise and general low-key lake and slow-moving river/creek exploration, the Runabout features comfortable seating with in-inch thick leather covers that can be snapped off for easy storage, along with a compartmentalized cooler that’s been designed to fit within the sleek contours of the boat.

Great for short fishing trips with kids or grandparents or simply “messing about,” the Runabout is the perfect addition to a boat house that already features a full-sized vessel.

And now that you’ve got the boat, it’s time to figure out what to wear when you’re sailing, or in this case, pedaling it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Auto

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…

Travel

Hitch Hotel Might Be the Most Compact Travel Trailer We’ve Ever Seen

hitch hotel seaside

For some camper and RV owners, there’s no such thing as too big. For others who value mobility, versatility, and portability, less is more. That’s where a well-made, ultra-light travel trailer comes in. The new Hitch Hotel, billed as the “world’s first expandable wheel-less trailer," may be the most clever and compact model we’ve ever seen.

Previous

Auto

Behold the World’s 4 Most Over-the-Top Yacht Concepts

The Goliath Series

In the world of luxury yachting, bigger is always better. That ethos is how, in a scramble to more accurately describe ballooning yacht concepts, “yachts” became “megayachts” before finally giving way to “superyachts.” The latter describes yachts that are so large or so extravagant that it’s difficult to imagine where yacht designers can realistically go next. Here are four of the world’s boldest yacht concepts.
For Show-Offs
Technicon Carat 187 Superyacht Concept

For those who value style above all else, few superyachts, concept or otherwise, could announce that “you’ve arrived” like the Technicon Cara 187 Superyacht. At “only” 187 feet in length, it’s hardly the largest in the world, but it’s certainly the most flashy. That’s no surprise given that designers pulled heavy inspiration from Hollywood’s famed red carpet events. The ship mirrors that glitz and glamor with an ultra-sleek, apparently windowless silver hull, bold, cascading crimson staircases at the rear, and a spacious sun deck that retracts to reveal a heated pool. Inside is a total of five luxurious guest rooms, plus a huge master suite overlooking the ship’s theater and bar areas.
For Hardcore Global Explorers
Goliath Alexis Expedition Yacht Concept

Outdoors

Pedal, Don’t Paddle, With Hobie’s New Lineup of Boats and Boards

hobie lineup boats boards mirage outback v2

Hobie has been making surfboards and catamaran sailboats since the '50s. The company has built an entire lifestyle around playing on the water, continually re-inventing ways to do it.

In 1997, Hobie put together the first MirageDrive, a propulsion system for using your legs to drive fins under the boat. The pedals move like a recumbent bike, flapping the fins underneath back and forth like penguin wings. Since then, Hobie has updated the MirageDrive to be faster and easier to use, adding it to kayaks, sailboats, and even paddle boards.