Boat Rentals in Hilton Head Island, SC

Rental fleets in Hilton Head Island include Center consoles, Deck boats, Jet skis, Pontoon boats, Sailboats and Waverunners. What is available on the day depends on the company and the season, so it is worth checking a few listings.

May and September into October usually offer the best balance for boating on Hilton Head Island’s Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound. Local Atlantic water averages in the low 70s in May, reaches the low to mid 80s in July and August, remains in the low 80s in September, and cools to the mid 70s in October. A town survey found Broad Creek traffic heavier during warmer seasons, with summer weekends the busiest.

Whatever the month, plan around the tide because water depth and current can change quickly in local creeks and marshes. Morning outings often have calmer water.

Source: Town of Hilton Head Island (hiltonheadislandsc.gov)

From Hilton Head Island, you can follow connected tidal waters through Broad Creek, Calibogue Sound and Skull Creek to Port Royal Sound. Broad Creek is the calm inland choice, with Cross Island Boat Landing as a public put-in. Calibogue Sound opens beyond the creek; its seaward entrance has shifting shoals and crooked channels. Skull Creek is the Intracoastal Waterway route toward Port Royal Sound, where the waterway makes an open-water crossing. Another public start is C.C. Haigh Jr. Boat Landing on Mackay Creek; NOAA says Mackay also connects the two sounds, but is narrow, erratic and best used with local knowledge.

Source: Beaufort County Public Works (beaufortcountysc.gov)

Boaters from Hilton Head Island commonly make day trips to Daufuskie Island, the May River Sandbar and Savannah’s River Street. Daufuskie draws visitors with beaches, historic landmarks and artists’ studios reached by boat from Hilton Head Island. The May River Sandbar appears as the tide recedes, creating a temporary spot for picnics, games and swimming. Savannah’s River Street offers a historic waterfront destination reached from Hilton Head through the Intracoastal Waterway.

Source: Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau (hiltonheadisland.org)

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, Hilton Head Island has 5 boat clubs, 9 marinas and 6 boat dealers.