Boat Rentals in Murrells Inlet, SC

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

Late May through June and September into early October are the best all-around times to boat the Murrells Inlet estuary, especially Main Creek and the inlet channel. Murrells Inlet-area water temperatures rise from the low 70s in May to the low 80s in June, stay in the upper 70s to low 80s through September, then fall through the 70s in October; winter water is around 50°F to the mid-50s.

In warm weather, the afternoon sea breeze can change winds and help trigger thunderstorms. Tide timing also matters: NOAA’s Coast Pilot warns of strong tide rips at full ebb or flood where the channel turns into Main Creek.

Source: National Weather Service Wilmington and NOAA Office of Coast Survey, weather.gov and nauticalcharts.noaa.gov (weather.gov)

From Murrells Inlet, you can boat the inlet’s tidal marsh creeks, head through the jetties to the Atlantic, or launch separately on the Waccamaw River and Intracoastal Waterway. Murrells Inlet Landing provides access to Murrells Inlet and Main Creek, where the marked channel crosses marsh water and strong tide rips can form at the sharp turn into Main Creek. Oaks Creek is another marsh branch for a creek-focused outing. Beyond the jetties, the Atlantic is open water. For a slower-moving inland alternative, use Wacca Wache Landing on the lower Waccamaw, which forms part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (nauticalcharts.noaa.gov)

Boaters from Murrells Inlet head to The Point, the MarshWalk waterfront and Paradise Reef. The Point is a remote beach reached by boat, making it a local choice for swimming and relaxing ashore. The MarshWalk is the dockside dining stop, with nearby public docks or transient slips serving its waterfront restaurants. Paradise Reef draws anglers to a buoyed artificial reef made with a deck barge, concrete reef balls, armored vehicles and other concrete structures.

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)

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, Murrells Inlet has 2 boat clubs, 2 marinas and 2 boat dealers.