Charleston Tours
Charleston Harbor Speed Boat Adventure Tour
5

Charleston Harbor Speed Boat Adventure Tour

By Speed Boat Adventures
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Fully Guided and Narrated tour
  • US Coast Guard-approved life jacket
  • Safety orientation
  • Your own F13 mini speedboat
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks


Start:
  • Ripley Light Marina, 56 Ashley Point Dr, Charleston, SC 29407, USA
    56 Ashley Point Drive Ripley Light Marina As you turn into the marina, keep driving until you see a large, oval, maroon sign on the left that says “California Dreaming”. Please stay at picnic table and the guide will come get you.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5257P6

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for people with neck or back problems or a recent surgery to participate. Pregnant women should not participate.
    • Bring a swimsuit in the summer and a jacket in the winter, sandals or flip-flops, towel, sun block, sunglasses
    • The per boat weight limit of 450 lbs (227kgs)
    • No experience or boating license required. You must be 21 years or older to drive the boat. Minimum age is 5 years old.
    • The boats do have a storage compartment so bags can get wet
    • Voucher info: You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5257P6

    From
    $102.42
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 56 Ashley Point Dr, Charleston, SC 29407, USA
      56 Ashley Point Drive Ripley Light Marina As you turn into the marina, keep driving until you see a large, oval, maroon sign on the left that says “California Dreaming”. Please stay at picnic table and the guide will come get you.
    • Pass by
      Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
      South Carolina Aquarium
      Charleston Waterfront Park
      Battery & White Point Gardens
      USS Yorktown CV-10
      Patriots Point Links on Charleston Harbor
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Speed Boat Adventures
      431
      United States
      Joined in July 2010
    • normmcleod1983
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Hospitality!
      I booked us for my daughter’s 5th birthday, and along with my 7 year old son we zoomed around the harbor. They had a blast and our experience was safe and a ton of fun.
      Written September 11, 2024
    • bbob9578
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Speed boat
      A must do if in the area.very fun and exciting.tour guide was awesome and very informative and know.
      Written April 1, 2024
    • kturp2024
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great adventure
      This was a great way to bring visitors to see some of the sites in the city. It was a different and fun way to tour.
      Written March 25, 2024
    • jimkQ9492GH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS.
      My wife and I made a reservation while driving south on 95. Met with the owner at the dock and he took us out on a tour of the river and harbor. Certainly a unique way to see all the sites. Had a great time even though the wind was up a bit. Actually made it a bit more interesting.
      Written February 15, 2024
    • bruceefelker
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Speed Boat
      Fun/Fun/Fun ,Graham our instructor and tour guide was amazing, you drive your own very fast boat,will be doing it again soon,
      Written October 10, 2023
    • skillsed
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Finance birthday gift
      I want it to surprise my fiancé with something that we both like to do and is spend time on the water. I loved the professionalism and the rules for the water that this company has. I will most definitely do it again and I will recommend people to do it. Seeing dolphins and taking beautiful pictures was priceless and seeing my fiancé face went we got on that boat. Love you guys.
      Written August 29, 2023
    • mrsberger0n
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun adventure!!!
      We had such a great time on our speed boat tour! It was so cool to get to ride out to see some of Charleston’s historical sites up close and personal. Driving my own boat was a new and fun experience! We saw a dozen or so dolphins that were within 20 feet of the boat which was a wonderful bonus. Can’t wait to do it again!
      Written August 23, 2023
    • JacobAndBrooke
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Coolest thing I’ve done in Charleston
      Hands down the coolest thing I’ve done in Charleston, I will certainly be doing it again asap! It was a great price and we added this to the “must do” itinerary when friends and family visit.
      Written July 7, 2023
    • jwnumba40
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great choice of excitement!
      I had the most fun doing the speedboat adventures! I’ve been 3x and plan on going again! It’s well worth the time and money!
      Written July 4, 2023
    • NI82022
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Waste of Money
      I cannot caution anyone enough to NOT waste your time or money on this so called "adventure." I'm truly not sure how anyone has given them a good review thus far. The experience felt more dangerous than anything else; and the staff were rude, condescending, and patronizing. Please enjoy all beautiful Charleston has to offer in another way, as Charleston Speed Boat Adventures doesn't deserve your business.
      Written June 13, 2023
    • marr14xx
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      would go again!
      My friend who was visiting and I had a great time. We were suggested to switch to an earlier slot so that we could have better boating conditions. Graham, our guide, was very attentive to all the guests in the party (even the few that wanted to go back), but he made it an enjoyable ride and time! Have already been sharing the tours information with other travel nurses at work!
      Written May 10, 2023
    • swpettigrew
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      SO much fun!!!
      Touring Charleston with individual speedboats is a unique experience that you'll never forget! Exhilarating, educational & memorymaking..!
      Written May 7, 2023
    • rebeccakbailey14
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      CLOUDY FUN
      My husband and I had the 9am launch time and the weather was over cast and cloudy but we still had a blast and enjoyed it! Don't forget your sunglasses! I almost forgot mine and when he got the boat wide open I was glad I had them and tears didn't stream down my face.
      Written February 27, 2023
    • Deidre9799
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastically Unnerving
      A wonderful excursion! High speed at your own level of comfort. Little risk of falling in the “drink” (water) as with jet skiing. In this quinquageneric phase of my life, I like staying in the boat! This is a perfect adventure for speed-demons/ adrenaline seekers whose druthers is to stay dry (and safe).
      Written October 12, 2022
    • jhem456
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great time and a better way to see the harbor
      Graham was an absolute joy. Graham was very knowledgeable about the history of the harbor. My wife and I had a great time. We will go back.
      Written August 9, 2022
    See all 431 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles205 reviews
    Excellent
    185
    Very good
    13
    Average
    5
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    1

    Sheldon R
    Richmond, VA1 contribution
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021 • Family
    Speed Boat Adventures is a lot of fun, especially for parents of 8-15 year olds, who love excitement, but aren't old enough to Jet Ski or run other water vehicles in this class. My boys and I enjoyed the boats, the Harbor, Rivers, the history and we even had a dolphin swim up and dive under our boat! The disappointment came with some of the professionalism by our assigned tour guide. He tried really hard to be welcoming, but it became evident that he had "very high anxiety," informed us that he had given up drinking over Covid and didn't hesitate to take drivers to tasks over the walkie-talkie when we were all just getting acclimated to his expectations. He also seemed to be self aware of how he was coming off, as subsequent comments then went overboard with praise that all the drivers were doing things correctly. There are very real dangers (much like Jet Skiing) for speed boaters on these waters and I wouldn't blame the company putting more into the limited pre-trip instruction portion of the tour, to better prepare and protect both the safety of riders and their equipment. For me the real issue was the anxious disposition of our guide as it felt like we were being mistreated for issues that may have occurred with previous tours. Again, I did have fun, but the damage had been done putting me on edge of being the next victim of criticism, while I could have been enjoying the thrill of the ride and all of the amazing scenery this fun attraction can offer. Definitely couldn't leave a tip for our guide, but I'm certainly hoping he has a beer and brings a more relaxed approach to the next group!
    Written April 12, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Keara V
    Charlotte, NC91 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Such a fun thing to do on a beautiful Charleston day! Graham was very safety-conscious, his boats are well-maintained, and he’s very knowledgeable about the different ships in the area. I highly recommend the 9am one as the water was more calm than later in the day so we got to go into the harbor where other tours weren’t able to. Thanks Graham!!
    Written September 20, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Blake W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our self driven tour was fantastic! You have a great range of freedom on the tour, but never feel isolated or left behind. The pacing is comfortable- slow speeds/stopping for tour points of interest, while going full speed between tour stops. The boat itself is very intuitive to drive, and we never felt worried about losing control or anything like that. My wife and I have never driven a boat of any kind before, but the guide was very encouraging and took great care of us (you are free to switch drivers during tour stops- boat fits 2 people). I highly recommend trying it out, and make sure to bring a jacket (they provide life jacket and gloves), as well as moisturizer/sunscreen/lotion to help with wind burn.
    Written January 5, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    jacifus
    Palestine, TX264 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    When I spoke to the owner before this trip, I made it clear that I wanted time to take some photos from the river of the old Navy Base. I’m on a “memory lane” visit to Charleston, and this was extremely important to me. I was also not aware that we would be touring with other couples, as I simply googled, looking to rent a boat. It turned out that there were three other people in separate boats, who did not know how to follow rules. The owner spent most of his time trying to corral people who refused to follow the rules he explained in detail. When I arrived at the base, I was told to “hurry up” because we didn’t have the time. This totally ruined the trip for me, because I couldn’t afford to rent a private boat after this excursion. We were unable to go by Ft. Sumter either. Bottom line, three stars for a speedboat ride, but loss of two stars for misleading me.
    Written March 24, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Luis S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2020
    This speedboat adventure is a great way to get out on the Charleston harbor and see the city from a different perspective. It’s also a thrilling boat ride like no other water sport experience in the Charleston area. Definitely recommended for a good adrenaline rush!
    Written September 28, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Luis, Thanks so much for the great review and for coming on our tour. So glad you had as much fun as I did. Hope to see you again soon Best regards,
    Written September 30, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kassidy H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021 • Couples
    Great experience and will go again! In depth instructions before taking off on the boats, safety was important and Graham made sure to emphasize that. Brief history lesson in each of the stops along the way, great way to learn about the city from a different view. Lots of time spent going full throttle, which made for a fun time throughout. I would recommend this to anyone who is an adrenaline junkie and loves being on the water. 10/10 experience and worth the money!
    Written October 25, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Amy E
    Mount Pleasant, SC209 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    I took my teenage son on this fun adventure. Instructor Graham was great....very thorough in how to navigate the boat and all the safety rules involved. He took out 5 boats and when we arrived at key points in the excursion he radioed in the details of landmarks. We are from here and still got a few new nuggets of info. So a few tips to take with you.....bottled water-you will get very thirsty, sun protection, sunglasses, towel to sit on, and your belongings can be tucked at your feet on the boat because it stayed dry. I suggest the towel because the seat is pretty hard and it was fairly hot and don't bother with a hat because they will ask you to remove them. You'll understand why after you set off. Graham was really nice and it was such a great time. I would definitely do this again.
    Written July 13, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Stumpy
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022
    Driving these speedboats around is outrageously fun and the views are great. This has become a regular activity for every time I visit Charleston. Only downside is you're at the mercy of the weather, so watch the forecast. (If they have to cancel because of weather, though, you get a refund pretty quick.)
    Written May 24, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    marsithrash2020
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2020 • Family
    I bought a trip through a silent auction for my son's high school ROTC program fundraiser. Kudos to the owners for that support. We couldn't go into the harbor due to an incoming tropical storm, but we live here and have been there a hundred times. Our guide took us up the Ashley River instead, which was a much safer and enjoyable ride, and we were able to see sites that are not visible by any roads. It was a great treat! We had a wonderful time, and my teen-aged son was thrilled to drive the boat half the time.
    Written May 28, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    travelUSA-go
    Middlefield, OH151 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2020 • Friends
    Even though our tour was cut short due to mechanical issues on one of the other speed boats, we still had a blast. Our guide let us speed through the waters as he towed the other boat in. An awesome activity to do while in Charleston. The only reason for 4 stars is because of the mechanical issue and the trip cut short. Otherwise it would be a high 5!!
    Written June 21, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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