Abstract: A boat ride system for an amusement park, which includes a main channel and an auxiliary channel extending under the main channel and isolated from it except along a narrow slot. A boat for carrying people includes a hull floating in the main channel, a pair of paddles lying in the auxiliary channel, and a pair of supports extending through the slot and connecting the paddles to the hull. Pumps are utilized to pump water along the auxiliary channel so that the moving water pushes the paddles and therefore moves the hull along the main channel.