CraigCat Tours on Hilton Head
Guided tours where you drive your own two-seat catamaran through the creeks and marsh, offered by Bluewater Adventure and Island Skiff Adventure Tours.
- Boat: Two-seat catamaran you drive
- Tour: About 2 hours, guided
- Speed: Up to 30 mph
- Drivers: 18 and over with a licence
A CraigCat is a small, low-slung power catamaran with two bucket seats. On a CraigCat tour you drive your own boat, with a guide in the lead boat, through the marsh creeks and out onto the sound. The boats reach about 30 miles an hour but ride low and steady in shallow water, so a tour covers a lot of water in a couple of hours and stops to watch for dolphins. CraigCats are built in Orlando; on Hilton Head the tours are run by two operators rather than one company.
Who Runs CraigCat Tours
Bluewater Adventure: from Shelter Cove Harbour, guided two-hour tours in the morning, afternoon or at sunset, $135 for adults and $115 for children, plus summer fireworks tours. Drivers must be 18 or older with a licence, passengers 5 or older. Full details on the Bluewater Adventure page.
Island Skiff Adventure Tours: from Broad Creek Marina, guided drive-it-yourself dolphin tours of around two and a half hours that run 25 to 30 miles through Broad Creek and the surrounding waters. It uses CraigCats alongside its skiffs; check its own site for current boats and prices.
Before You Book
Both operators need two people per boat, and whoever drives must be a licensed adult. Tours run in the warmer months, so book ahead for sunset and summer. If you would rather sit back, compare a narrated trip in our dolphin tours guide, or see every outfit in the Hilton Head activity companies directory.
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Bluewater Adventure at Shelter Cove: guided two-hour tours where you drive your own two-seat catamaran, $135 for adults, plus sunset and fireworks tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CraigCat?
A small two-seat power catamaran that reaches about 30 miles an hour. On a guided tour you drive it yourself while a guide leads the group.
Who offers CraigCat tours on Hilton Head?
Bluewater Adventure, from Shelter Cove Harbour, and Island Skiff Adventure Tours, from Broad Creek Marina.
How much is a CraigCat tour?
Bluewater Adventure's two-hour guided tour is $135 for adults and $115 for children. Island Skiff Adventure Tours sets its own prices; check its site.
How old do you have to be to drive a CraigCat?
Drivers must be 18 or older with a valid licence; Bluewater's passengers must be 5 or older.
Is there a creek cat tour on Hilton Head?
Yes. Some visitors call them creek cats; they are the same two-seat catamarans, offered by the two operators above.
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