Hilton Head Yacht Charters, Sailboats and Private Boats
Every private boat on the island, from a six-seat bowrider to a crewed motor yacht, and who each one suits.
Book a Hilton Head Yacht Charter
Private charters and sails with live availability. Booking opens here on HHI.com, with the operator’s own booking system.
Booked through FareHarbor, the island operators’ own booking system. HHI.com may earn a commission.
Yacht Charters and Larger Boats
Salt Shaker Yacht Charters at Shelter Cove Harbour: a private crewed yacht for up to 12, from $3,750 for four hours, plus dinner and fireworks cruises.
Solaris Boat Charters runs a 32-foot Chris Craft launch on private charters from the Harbour Town dock in Sea Pines, from $450 for two hours.
HHI Boat Charters at Hilton Head Harbor: private dolphin, sunset, sandbar and party cruises on three boats for 6, 10 or 20 guests. Bring your own drinks.
Vagabond Cruise runs sightseeing boats off the Harbour Town dock in Sea Pines: dolphin trips, sunset dinners, the Daufuskie ferry and a Savannah day trip.
Private Sailing Charters
Salt Marsh Sailing at Shelter Cove: private dolphin, sunset and fireworks sails for up to six on a 27-foot catamaran on Broad Creek, from $359.
Anchors Away Sailing Charters at Skull Creek Marina: private monohull sails for up to six, or twelve on Seas The Moment, from $385, plus half days.
Small Private Boats for Six
Island Time Charters on Hilton Head: private, captained cruises for up to six, from dolphin trips and $350 sunsets to fireworks nights and Bluffton.
Carolina Breeze Charters at Broad Creek Marina: private dolphin tours, sunset cruises and custom trips for up to six on a 31-foot boat with a bathroom.
Native Son Adventures at Shelter Cove Marina: private tiki-boat dolphin tours, fishing charters and custom days on the water for up to six people.
Outside Hilton Head at Shelter Cove Harbour: kayak and paddleboard rentals, guided kayak tours, dolphin tours, fishing and pontoon rentals, how to book.
How to Choose a Boat Charter in Hilton Head
Boat charters in Hilton Head, SC come down first to how many of you there are:
Six or fewer: almost every small charter here stops at six, because a captain’s basic Coast Guard licence covers six paying passengers. That is the widest choice and the lowest price: Island Time, Carolina Breeze, Native Son and the sailboats.
Seven to twenty: Hilton Head Boat Charters’ 28-foot party boat takes 20, Island Head’s 25-footer 14, and Solaris up to ten.
A real yacht: Salt Shaker is the crewed luxury motor yacht, for up to 12 with a captain and a stewardess. Hilton Head Boat Charters’ 37-foot Axopar, with a cabin and a restroom, is the smaller step up.
A big party: Island Head’s Bonjour takes 35 and Gatsby 49, and Vagabond charters the Spirit of Harbour Town and the America’s Cup boat Stars & Stripes to private groups.
What a Hilton Head Yacht Charter Costs
Private boats are priced per boat, not per person. A small captained boat runs from about $225 an hour (Island Head, up to 14) to $350 for a two-hour sunset (Island Time, up to six). Private sails are $359 to $479 on Salt Marsh Sailing’s catamaran and $385 to $465 on the Anchors Away monohulls. Solaris starts at $450 for two hours. The top of the market is Salt Shaker, from $3,750 for four hours with crew and drinks. Summer sunsets and the Tuesday fireworks nights sell out first, so book those early.
Yacht Rental or Yacht Charter?
Almost every Hilton Head yacht rental is a charter: the boat comes with a licensed captain, and you ride. The exceptions are true bareboat rentals, where you bring your own licensed captain: Anchors Away rents its sailboat bareboat for a full day, and Salt Shaker books groups of seven to twelve as a bareboat rental with the crew hired separately, which is how the rules allow more than six. If you want to drive yourself, the boat rental outfitters on the Hilton Head boating page rent boats without a captain.
Hilton Head Sailing Charters and Catamarans
Salt Marsh Sailing: Spartina, a 27-foot catamaran at Shelter Cove, private for up to six. Quiet, stable and easy for first-timers.
Anchors Away: two monohull sailing yachts at Skull Creek Marina on the north end, for sailors who want the boat to heel and a turn at the helm.
Island Head Sailing: a 36-foot catamaran at Broad Creek Marina for up to 24, with shared day sails from $49.99, a Golden Hour sunset sail and a brunch sail, plus private sails for six.
Stars & Stripes: the 65-foot America’s Cup boat at Harbour Town, sailed by Vagabond Cruise on public trips and private sails for up to 29.
Private Boat Tours: What People Do on a Charter
Most private boat tours around Hilton Head mix the same things: dolphins on Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound, a sandbar at low tide for a swim and a walk, the waterfront homes and the Harbour Town lighthouse, and lunch by boat at a dock-side restaurant such as Hudson’s, Skull Creek Boathouse or the Old Daufuskie Crab Company. Longer charters run to Daufuskie Island, up the May River to Bluffton, or down the coast to Savannah. Check the tide chart if a sandbar is the plan: they only show around low tide.
Where Hilton Head Charters Leave From
Shelter Cove Harbour, mid-island: Salt Shaker, Salt Marsh Sailing, Native Son and Outside Hilton Head. Free parking.
Harbour Town, in Sea Pines: Vagabond and Solaris. Unless you are staying in Sea Pines, the gate fee is $10 a day for a car.
Broad Creek Marina, mid-island on Broad Creek: Island Head, Island Head Sailing and Carolina Breeze.
Hilton Head Harbor and Skull Creek Marina, on the north end: Hilton Head Boat Charters, Island Head and Anchors Away. The closest start if you are staying in Hilton Head Plantation or coming from Bluffton.
Party Boats, Proposals and Celebrations
For a Hilton Head party boat, Hilton Head Boat Charters runs a three-hour bachelorette cruise on its 20-guest boat, and Island Head’s bigger boats take 35 or 49. For two, Island Time’s romantic sunset cruise comes with flowers, and Salt Shaker will decorate the yacht for a birthday or an engagement. Dinner on the water has its own guide: Hilton Head dinner cruises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in Hilton Head?
A small captained boat is about $225 to $350 for one to two hours, a private sail $359 to $479, and Solaris from $450 for two hours. A crewed luxury yacht such as Salt Shaker starts at $3,750 for four hours.
How many people can go on a private boat charter in Hilton Head?
Most small charters take six. For more, Hilton Head Boat Charters takes 20, Island Head 14 on its standard boat and up to 49 on its largest, and Salt Shaker up to 12.
Can you bring alcohol on a Hilton Head boat charter?
On many small charters, yes: Hilton Head Boat Charters and Island Head are bring-your-own. Salt Shaker includes drinks, and Vagabond sells them on board.
Can you watch the Shelter Cove fireworks from a charter?
Yes. On Tuesday nights in summer many charters run a fireworks trip that ends anchored off Shelter Cove for the show. They are the first dates to sell out.
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