Boat Rentals in Georgetown, SC

Rental fleets in Georgetown include Pontoon boats and Sailboats. What is available on the day depends on the company and the season, so it is worth checking a few listings.

Late spring and early fall are the best all-around times to boat Georgetown’s Winyah Bay and lower Sampit River. Water-temperature climatology shows the bay rising from the low 70s into the upper 70s during May, reaching the mid 80s in July and August, then easing from the low 80s to upper 70s through September; winter averages hover in the low 50s.

Summer requires more weather flexibility because the local National Weather Service says the sea breeze can trigger thunderstorms and damaging thunderstorm winds typically peak in summer. Plan departure and return around the tide; NOAA reports a roughly four-foot mean range at the Sampit River entrance.

Source: NOAA National Weather Service and NOAA Tides & Currents, weather.gov and tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov (weather.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)

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)

South Carolina boaters should carry safety gear, avoid alcohol, use registered vessels, and follow operator and speed rules enforced by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for everyone; children under 12 must wear one on boats under 16 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal, and at 0.08% BAC or higher impairment may be inferred. Public water vessels generally need registration and decals. Boaters born after July 1, 2007 generally need approved education for boats of 10 horsepower or more or personal watercraft. Personal watercraft cannot operate from sunset to sunrise; stay at idle speed within 50 feet on most waters, with a 100 foot dock setback on specified lakes.

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

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)

Alongside the boat rentals on this page, Georgetown has 3 marinas and 7 boat dealers.