Airboat Tours
Thanks for your interest in Tybee Airboats. We are closed for the 2019 season, and not currently taking reservations. We hope you enjoy your visit to Tybee Island!
Part historic tour, part nature tour, part thrill ride, a Tybee Airboat tour will give you a whole new view of Tybee and it's waters.
Tybee Airboat tours are the newest recreation activity for Tybee Island visitors and residents. Add this fun, family-friendly adventure to your vacation plan!
We were inspired by the hugely popular airboat tours in Florida and on the Gulf Coast, so we decided to bring them to Tybee Island. The airboats allow us to visit areas not easily accessible by other powered boats. In addition to open waters, we can travel through the shallow creeks in the marshes surrounding Tybee and land on beaches. We do not travel through the marsh grasses, and the airboat is not hazardous to manatees and other sea life, as there are no propellers in the water.
Our airboat was custom-constructed and can carry up to 17 passengers.
Tours offered daily, depending on weather Tours launch from Walsh docks on north side of Lazaretto Creek Bridge. Parking available on south side of bridge, then follow sidewalk under bridge to 
dock. If driving from Savannah, turn Right by the Welcome to Tybee sign, if leaving Tybee, turn Left by the Welcome to Tybee sign.
See our Facebook page, or posts below for current day's schedule. Call 912-661-5225 for information or Book Online.
We accept cash or all major credit cards.
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Scheduled Tours
Cockspur Loop - this 25-minute tour follows the south channel of the Savannah River to historic Fort Pulaski, then loops back for a closeup view of Tybee’s Cockspur Light and a more distant view of Tybee’s Light Station. Watch for the dolphins and interesting seabirds as you skim across the water. Route may change based on water/wind conditions.
Back River Loop - this one-hour tour follows Lazaretto Creek to the Back River and south to Little Tybee Island. Despite its name, Little Tybee Island is twice the size of Tybee Island, and is a nature preserve hosting a variety of seabirds and wildlife.
Little Tybee Shuttle - take the Back River Loop to Little Tybee, then return on the next trip, allowing time for a nature walk.
Booking and cancellations
Airboat tours are weather dependent. If you are visiting Tybee for a limited time, please try to schedule your tour early in your visit, in case we need to reschedule. If weather requires rescheduling for reserved customers, we will contact you by phone. All tours require a minimum of six passengers. When booking your tour, please add to tours with other passengers to ensure enough passengers to launch.
Our Crew
Captain Kris Tucker served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 2006 to 2017, and is now serving in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves as well as being general manager and Captain for Tybee Airboats.
Capt. Kris began his Coast Guard career on the Coast Guard Cutter Dependable where for 16 months he participat
ed in Search and Rescue missions in the North Atlantic and alien immigration interdiction near Key West. After attending Boatswain Mate A School in Yorktown, VA, where he graduated 3rd in his class, Capt. Kris moved on to the Coast Guard Cutter Sledge. There he was Construction Deck Supervisor, Small Boat Coxswain and part of the navigational team, as the crew inspected and serviced all Fixed Aids to Navigation from VA to NJ.
In 2011 he was transferred to Coast Guard Station Tybee Island, participating in search and rescue operations from Edisto Inlet SC to St. Catherine's Sound, GA. He was qualified crew and boatswain on five different platforms and taught numerous junior personnel how to become boat crew and boat coxswains. In 2015 he transferred to Coast Guard Station Oxford MD for 16 months, performing search and rescue operations there.
In January 2017, Capt. Kris completed his 100 Ton Masters Class - and was offered a full-time position teaching, but declined to return to lead Tybee Airboats.
FAQs
Q. How young a child can ride?
A. As all passengers must wear life jackets, children must weigh at least 50 pounds to fit a child-size life jacket. On average this is five years or older. Sorry, no toddlers or infants.
Q. What are safety rules?
A. Follow Captain’s instructions. Stay seated at all times, Wear provided life jacket and hearing protection while boat is on water. Watch your step, and No Smoking.
Q. Will we get wet?
A. Possibly, depending on wind and waves.
Q. What should I wear?
A. Comfortable clothing that won’t blow away. Hats should be snug-fitting so headsets can go over them (no floppy hats). Closed toe shoes with textured soles are recommended. Sunscreen and sunglasses.
Q. What about my stuff?
A. Anything you bring is at your own risk. We recommend any personal items be in a zipped tote bag or backpack that can be stowed under the seat. Hold on to your phone or camera.
Q. What about food and drink?
A. You may bring beverages in plastic bottles with lids, no open containers and no glass containers. If you are taking the Little Tybee Shuttle you may bring a small cooler or container with picnic foods.
Q. What can we do if we go ashore?
A. If you go ashore on Little Tybee or another island area, please follow the old rule, "Take only photos, leave only footprints." These areas are protected homes to many birds and sea creatures. Do not disturb any animals, any nests, or areas that may be home to animals. Do not collect any shells with animals in them. Do not collect live (whole) sand dollars, as they are protected. Please do not leave any trash or litter behind.
Q. What about environmental impact?
A. Although airboats are capable of traveling through marsh grass at high tide, we stay in the channels for safety and to avoid damage to the marsh grass or its wildlife. As airboats do not have propellers in the water, they pose less of a risk to manatees, dolphins and other water creatures than other powered boats.
Airboat Tours
Custom tours and group packages available.
Contact Us
We are closed for the 2019 season and not currently taking reservations. Updates posted on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TybeeAirboats/