Port Royal Marina gives visitors a chance to go cruising with rental power boats, kayaks

Getting on the water can be difficult without a boat, so Port Royal Landing Marina recently began renting them.

Located on the Beaufort-Port Royal Trail, the marina began renting boats and kayaks last month to give people who don't own boats or who are visiting an opportunity to view the Lowcountry from Beaufort River and nearby waters.

The 6.2-mile trail for paddlers was established last fall to attract outdoor, active tourists.

To begin the trail, which is part of Beaufort County's Blueways, The Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation District led a campaign to get $10,000 from S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Blueways trails are part of the state trail system and are eligible for funding to install signs, distribute brochures and create a Web site.

The Beaufort-Port Royal Trail, which connects Port Royal and Beaufort, runs past the marina's docks.

Banking on the opportunity outside its backdoor, the marina Web site suggests The Beaufort-Port Royal Trail is an excellent way for kayakers to see the area and wildlife.

The marina's rental fleet includes four boats: a 16-foot Sundance Skiff, a 17-foot Carolina Skiff, a 19-foot Carolina Skiff and a 21-foot Parker. It also includes 10 kayaks. Power boats are rented to people at least 21 and kayaks to those at least 18.

That's an expanded offering compared with the pontoon boats the marina offered about eight years ago when it first attempted the rental business, said Larry Hines, who works at the marina. That venture was abandoned because they lacked the staff to handle the extra work.

Hines said they have learned a lot since that last attempt and now are prepared.

Now the boats are nicer, bookkeeper and employee Leigh Ward said.

"So far we've had moderate response (for renting), but it is because we are just starting," she said. Ward said once school lets out she expects there to be more interest.

"(Renting) is a way more popular way to get people more access to the water," she said. "It's adding the element of people that are new to town or visiting and getting them accustomed to the area."

She said renting the vessels also saves people money, such as transportation, storage and insurance.

The marina provides safety equipment such as life preservers and briefings about the waterway and operations before people hit the water.

But that's basically the extent of the marina's involvement, meaning the rentals are geared toward people with some experience on the water, Ward said.