Boating Near Folly Beach, South Carolina

When visiting the Folly Beach, Charleston area, don’t miss out on exploring the vast array of boating recreation the region has to offer. If you’re looking to pilot your own boat, or just go along for a ride, Lowcountry waterways provide a wide variety of boating adventures.

Sail boating around Folly Beach and Charleston, SC All types of boating activities apply here; from large yacht’s in the open ocean to canoe’s and kayak’s in rivers and intercoastal estuaries. Before you leave the dock, there are several things to remember when boating in South Carolina.

South Carolina law requires all motorized boats and watercraft (sailboats included) to be titled. Vessels exempted from this requirement are those propelled only by human power with oars, paddles or similar devices – windsurfers, canoes, kayak, etc. Individuals under the age of 16 may not pilot motor driven watercraft, including jet skies.

The most important aspect of boating is safety. By knowing basic maritime rules, you can help yourself and those around have a safe and pleasurable boating experience. The U.S. Coast Guard reports operator errors account for 70% of boating accidents.

Here are some basic boating safety tips:

Know the aids to navigation and buoy system in your area
Be aware of overhead power lines and wires when operating sailboats
All boats approaching from the right have the right of way
Always anchor from the bow of the boat and pull the anchor in before leaving
If your boat capsizes, stay with the boat
If caught in a storm, head into the wind, put on PFD’s and keep passengers low in the boat

Small craft boaters must avoid ocean going cargo ships at Folly Beach If you are boating in Charleston Harbor, you must be aware that its channels are maritime expressways for large ships carrying thousands of tons of cargo. If you follow basic rules and understand the constraints these huge ships operate under, you may save yourself from a horrible collision. Remember that big ships have the right of way. Rule 9 of the “Navigational Rules of the Road” states that small craft “shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel”. Ships may be traveling faster than they appear and they can’t slow down for you. Like a fully loaded semi-truck barreling down the interstate; that much weight traveling at a high rate of speed can’t stop on a dime.

Large craft are difficult to maneuver in narrow channels – it’s up to you to stay clear! Watch out for tugs towing barges at night – a partially submerged towing cable can cut your boat in half. Also beware of large waves from passing vessels as they can be dangerous. You can protect yourself, your passengers and your boat in channels and harbors by following these important guidelines:

Keep a constant lookout, especially astern
Stay out of the way of large vessels
Don’t underestimate the speed of large ships
Be visible – make sure your navigation lights are bright and not obscured. Have a radar reflector as high on your boat as possible

If you’re just looking to go on a boat ride and let an experienced pilot take the wheel, the Charleston area offers several charter boat services. In Charleston there is AquaSafaris, Inc., Schooner Pride, Charleston Scuba, Captain Ivan’s Island Charters and the Ocean Sailing Academy, Inc. On Folly Beach there is Reel Screamers Charters and Water Music Charters.

If you’re looking for a marina to dock your boat, there are several fine options at the Charleston City Marina, Charleston Harbor Marina, Charleston Maritime Center and The Harborage at Ashley Marina. You can even rent boats at the James Island County Park.
boats docked at Charleston harbor marina

If you’re looking for some interesting maritime history, Patriots Point is a wonderful venue. Located on Charleston Harbor, Patriots Point is home to 4 historic ships: The USS Yorktown, the USS Laffey, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Ingham, and the submarine USS Clamagore.

Boating in the Charleston area is supported by the South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation; a public, non-profit organization established to celebrate and make the region’s rich maritime history more accessible to all South Carolinians. The Foundation, in association with the Charleston Ocean Racing Association (CORA) holds the annual Charleston Race Week, a regatta for sailboats over 22 feet in length. The event is scheduled in 2006 for April 6-9.