Private Charters on the Solaris From Harbour Town

• Boat: Solaris, a 32-foot Chris Craft launch
• Group size: Six on most charters, up to ten on some
• Shortest charter: Two hours, from $450
• Phone: 843-363-9026

Solaris Boat Charters, Hilton Head’s one-boat charter operation at Harbour Town, runs the Solaris: a 32-foot Chris Craft launch you book whole rather than by the seat. It leaves from the same dock at 149 Lighthouse Road in Sea Pines as everything else at the yacht basin.

It is operated by Vagabond Cruise, which runs the scheduled dolphin, sunset and Daufuskie trips from the same pier. The difference is simply public versus private: Vagabond’s boats leave on a timetable with whoever has bought a ticket, and the Solaris leaves when your group says so.

The Charters

• Sightseeing, two hours, from $450. Morning, afternoon or a happy-hour run — the same boat and length, priced the same, timed to suit you.

• Sunset, two hours, from $650. The one the operator says is booked most, for the obvious reason.

• Sandbar sunbathing, three hours or so, from $695. Out to a sandbar to swim and sit, which is a thing the big cruise boats cannot do.

• Fireworks, Tuesdays, from $795. Two to two and a half hours, timed for the summer fireworks.

• Destination charter, from $450. Daufuskie Island, Savannah, Palmetto Bluff and elsewhere; the length depends on where you are going.

The operator says every charter comes with a USCG-licensed captain, bottled water, beer, wine and prosecco, a cooler of ice, towels and sunscreen. You bring food if you want it.

How Many People Fit

Six is the number to plan around. The operator’s own pages are not consistent about the ceiling — one says six, another says six to ten depending on the charter — so if you are a party of eight, confirm it before you pay a deposit rather than after. A 32-foot launch with eight adults on it is a different afternoon from the same boat with four.

Which Boat From Harbour Town Suits You

If you want a dolphin trip and do not mind sharing a deck, Vagabond Cruise is cheaper by a long way and leaves several times a day. If you want an hour on the water with small children, the pirate ship is built for that. If you want to drive something yourself or get in the water, H2O Sports rents jet skis and boats by the hour. The Solaris is the one for a small group that wants the boat to itself and does not want to run it — an anniversary, a proposal, a family that has had enough of sharing a rail.

Getting to the Dock

Harbour Town is at the south end of Sea Pines, behind a gate. Unless you own property there, are a resort guest or have a Sea Pines rental booking, the gate fee is $10 per day for a standard vehicle; the guest pass office page has the rest of the rules. Park in the Harbour Town lot and walk down past the lighthouse to the docks. The restaurants are right there if you want a table either side of the charter.