Contrary to popular belief, boats are actually much safer than cars, which inexplicably sink every time you drive them on water. Take a proper water-road ride with today’s Groupon: for $29, you get a one-hour runabout boat rental at Marina Boat Rentals, in Newport Beach (a $69 value). No boating license is necessary to drive the boat.

Located on the Balboa Fun Zone waterfront, Marina Boat Rentals offers self-guided tours of Newport Bay in a 16-foot marina runabout, which can fit up to four adults, or a Wookiee and a smaller Wookiee. Although the boats look fast, each is governed to the maximum harbor speed, a blazing 5 mph, making it ideal for a sunset cruise, a water picnic, or a floating lecture on condensed-matter physics. While piloting your private vessel, you can soak in Newport Bay's 27 square miles of sights, including seven islands, celebrity homes, and the abundant wildlife of paparazzi. Customers can also apply the $69 value of today's Groupon toward a larger boat rental, or purchase up to two Groupons and use them to extend the boat-rental time.

Before setting out on their tour, intrepid explorers receive a stoic briefing on the safe operation of their vessel and general safety guidelines for operating within the harbor. Boat crews are also presented with a detailed map of the harbor as well as an even more detailed map Candyland.

Reviews

Seven Yelpers give Marina Boat Rentals an average of 4.5 stars:

• Top speed is about 5 miles/hour so it is definitely a pleasure cruise. You get to check out the fancy yachts, homes and harbor seals. – Jen K., 3/18/10
• The boat was in nice shape and had a great sound system built right in so all we needed to bring were CDs. They even had an ice bucket ready to go! – Maria T., 7/20/09