Hilton Head Island Pontoon Rental: Captain Your Own Day

Six hours steering your own pontoon through dolphins, creeks and open water.

A six-hour private pontoon boat rental on Hilton Head Island where you captain the boat yourself through Skull Creek, the Atlantic Ocean, Daufuskie Island, Cooper River, May River and Palmetto Bluff. You get a professional orientation on navigating the waterways before departure. The boat holds up to ten people. The captain must be 18 or older with a valid driver's license and prior boating experience.

The experience

You arrive at the dock with your group and get a professional orientation on how to navigate Hilton Head Island's waterways. The pontoon is brand new and one of the largest on the island, built to handle the full range of routes available to you. From there, the day is yours to shape: idle through Skull Creek watching for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, then head out to the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean, swing behind Daufuskie Island, cut through the Cooper River, or cruise up the May River to the sand bar at Palmetto Bluff. You steer the boat and set the pace.

The boat accommodates up to ten people, so a family or a group of friends travels together without splitting across multiple rentals. Before you leave, ask the staff for lunch recommendations on the water. They know where to anchor and what's worth stopping for. The six-hour window gives you time to explore multiple waterways or linger at one if the dolphins are active or the light is right.

What’s included

• Pontoon boat for six hours.
• professional orientation on navigating Hilton Head Island's waterways.
• access to Skull Creek, the Atlantic Ocean, Daufuskie Island, Cooper River, May River and Palmetto Bluff.
• lunch recommendations from staff.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to2h before

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Island Head

Is this one for you?You captain the boat yourself, so this works best if you have prior boating experience and a valid driver's license. Groups of up to ten travel together on one boat, which keeps families and friend groups intact without splitting across multiple rentals.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I captain the boat if I've never piloted one before?

You must be 18 or older with a valid driver's license and prior boating experience to captain the pontoon. The professional orientation covers navigating Hilton Head's waterways, but it assumes you already know how to operate a boat.

What's the best route to take if I want to see dolphins?

Skull Creek is where dolphins are most active, especially during the idle through the creek at the start of the rental. You'll have the best chance spotting Atlantic bottlenose dolphins there, though they can appear in other waterways too.

How many people can fit on the pontoon?

The pontoon holds up to ten people, so you can bring your full group in one boat without splitting into multiple rentals.

Can I bring small children or infants?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on the boat. Service animals are also welcome.

What waterways can I explore during the six hours?

You can navigate to the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean, behind Daufuskie Island, through the Cooper River, or up the May River to the sand bar at Palmetto Bluff. You choose which routes to take and how long to spend at each one.