DRI Boat Sales and Service

South Carolina law does not set a numeric minimum age to operate a rented motorboat or personal watercraft. Under S.C. Code Section 50-21-95, a person born after July 1, 2007, must meet one of the law's qualifications before operating a vessel powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft. For a rental, a valid boat rental safety certificate issued in the operator's name qualifies. SCDNR says the rental certificate is valid for 30 days. The rental operator sets its own minimum age, so confirm it when booking.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)

Yes, some recreational operators need a South Carolina boating safety certificate rather than a traditional boating license. Anyone born after July 1, 2007 must have one before operating a vessel with an engine of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft. The rule states no separate minimum operator age; an uncertified person may operate when accompanied by a qualified adult at least 18.

Exemptions include people born on or before the cutoff, nonresidents with another state's equivalent certificate, and holders of qualifying Coast Guard credentials. Renters may use an SCDNR approved rental safety certificate, valid for 30 days and only on rented craft. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources administers the program.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)

From Georgetown, you can cruise the Sampit River, Winyah Bay, the Waccamaw River section of the Intracoastal Waterway or the Great Pee Dee River. Public put-ins include East Bay Street Landing on the Sampit, Hagley on the Waccamaw and Samworth WMA on the Great Pee Dee. The Sampit is the city waterfront run; Winyah Bay is broader, open tidal water leading toward the ocean. The Waccamaw offers a river corridor on the Intracoastal route, while the Great Pee Dee is large, wild and winding, with swamp, forest and marsh scenery. NOAA warns that the bay entrance can have tide rips and heavy seas.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov)

From Georgetown, boaters make day trips to North Island, Sandy Island Preserve and Murrells Inlet. North Island offers beachcombing and views of Georgetown Light where Winyah Bay meets the Atlantic. Sandy Island Preserve, reached only by boat from Waccamaw River landings, provides a natural setting away from developed waterfronts; visitors should stay within preserve boundaries and pack out their trash. Murrells Inlet is a dining stop, with waterfront restaurants along the MarshWalk and access through nearby public docks or transient slips.

Source: Discover Georgetown SC (discovergeorgetownsc.com)