Outside Hilton Head

What Outside Hilton Head does

Outside Brands, legally operating as Windsurfing Hilton Head Inc., is a privately held outdoor adventure, destination management, and specialty retail company founded in 1979 by Mike Overton on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The company operates four divisions — Experiences (Outside Hilton Head, Outside Savannah, Outside Palmetto Bluff, Outside Daufuskie), Destination Management (Outside DMC), Specialty Retail (Shop Outside with three stores), and Team & Leadership Development (anchored by the owned Page Island 40-acre hammock island) — alongside The Outside Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its experiential core is a fleet of nine-plus watercraft (Starcraft deck boats, Carolina Skiffs, C-Hawk vessels, Bentley pontoons, Sea Fox and Scout bay boats, a Solaris Chris Craft launch, the Miranda Hinckley picnic boat, and two Ohana 47-foot luxury catamarans) staffed by master naturalists and USCG licensed Captains trained through a 5-day internal program.

The company serves three primary customer segments: tourists and vacationers seeking guided outdoor adventures (kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin tours, fishing, history tours) across the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire; corporate groups purchasing team building, leadership retreats, and DMC-managed events; and outdoor enthusiasts purchasing apparel and gear through Shop Outside. Revenue is generated through quote-based one-time experience fees, charter/private vessel rentals (Ohana catamarans for up to 49 passengers), professional services for DMC event management, hardware sales at three retail locations, and corporate training programs on Page Island.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with a strong concierge-referral layer (hotels, resorts, local hospitality businesses), supported by social media presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), six division-specific websites, and earned media including a May 2025 Travel + Leisure feature. The company remains founder-led (Mike Overton as CEO, Sarah Tillman as CFO), with no disclosed outside funding rounds, suggesting organic, balance-sheet-funded growth across 46+ years of operation.

Name

Outside Hilton Head

Legal name

Windsurfing Hilton Head Inc.

Website

https://outsidebrands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Outside Brands (Windsurfing Hilton Head Inc.) is a privately held, founder-led outdoor adventure, destination management, specialty retail, and team-building company serving Lowcountry and Coastal Empire tourists, corporate groups, and outdoor enthusiasts across Hilton Head, Savannah, Palmetto Bluff, and Daufuskie Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure and Tourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF), Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Guided outdoor adventures
• Destination management services
• Specialty outdoor retail
• Boat and kayak charters
• Corporate team building programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilton Head Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Outdoor Adventures and Tours: Revenue from guided outdoor experiences including kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin tours, fishing trips, custom watersport adventures, and interpretive tours. Expert guides include master naturalists and USCG licensed Captains.
2. Retail Operations: Specialty retail division offering curated selection of high-quality gear, apparel, and accessories for outdoor enthusiasts with 3 retail store locations.
3. Destination Management Services: Full-service event and destination management for corporate meetings, events, gatherings in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Georgia Coastal Empire region.
4. Charter and Private Rentals: Private vessel rentals including the Ohana luxury catamaran (up to 49 passengers) and other fleet boats for group outings, family reunions, employee gatherings, and small weddings.
5. Team Building and Leadership Development: Team-building programs and leadership development retreats held at Page Island (40-acre remote island property) focusing on communication, productivity, creativity, culture, and appreciation skills.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Outside Hilton Head operates guided outdoor adventure experiences (kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin tours, fishing charters, custom watersport adventures) across Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Palmetto Bluff, and Daufuskie Island. In parallel, the company runs a specialty outdoor retail division (Shop Outside, 3 stores), a full-service destination management company (Outside DMC), and team-building/leadership development programs on its private 40-acre Page Island. Tours are led by master naturalists and USCG licensed Captains using a diverse in-house fleet that includes the 47-foot Ohana luxury catamaran.

Product overview

Outside Hilton Head is part of Outside Brands, a multifaceted outdoor adventure and hospitality enterprise with four distinct divisions operating across South Carolina and Georgia. The company offers a unified portfolio of experiences: outdoor adventure services (Outside Hilton Head, Outside Savannah, Outside Palmetto Bluff) providing kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin tours, and custom watersport adventures led by master naturalists and USCG licensed Captains; destination management services (Outside DMC) for events and corporate meetings; specialty retail (Shop Outside with 3 stores) for outdoor gear and apparel; and team-building programs including access to the private 40-acre Page Island. The fleet includes diverse vessels from deck boats to luxury catamarans including the Ohana. A 501(c)(3) foundation runs community programs including Kids in Kayaks and environmental restoration initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outside Hilton Head Adventures Guided outdoor adventure experiences including kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin tours, fishing trips, history tours, and custom watersport adventures in the Hilton Head Island / Lowcountry area, led by master naturalists and USCG licensed Captains.
• Outside Savannah Tours Guided experiences and tours in Savannah, Georgia, including the acclaimed Port Tour showcasing the city's history.
• Outside Palmetto Bluff Excursions Exclusive guided excursions on the May River and Palmetto Bluff property for private Lowcountry adventures.
• Outside DMC Destination Management Full-service event and destination management company offering local knowledge, expertise, and creative services for events, gatherings, and corporate meetings in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Georgia Coastal Empire.
• Outside Daufuskie Historical Tours Historical tours and excursions on Daufuskie Island, accessible only by boat, showcasing Lowcountry history and historic locations.
• Shop Outside Specialty Retail Specialty retail offering curated high-quality outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories at three store locations for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Outside Team & Leadership Development Team-building programs and leadership development retreats at Page Island that develop communication, productivity, creativity, culture, and appreciation skills for corporate groups.
• The Ohana Luxury Catamaran Charters Private charter of the 47-foot Ohana luxury powered catamaran, Coast Guard approved for up to 49 passengers, for group outings, family reunions, employee gatherings, and small weddings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest windsurfing school on the East Coast (in early years)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Old Town Trolley Tours Savannah: Old Town Trolley Tours operates hop-on/hop-off sightseeing tours in Savannah. Directly comparable to Outside Savannah in offering narrated, ticket-based sightseeing experiences to tourists and convention groups in the same Georgia Coastal Empire geography.
• Savannah Riverboat Cruises: Savannah Riverboat Cruises operates narrated sightseeing and dinner cruises along the Savannah River. Directly overlaps with Outside Savannah's Port Tour and river-based experience offering, serving the same Savannah tourist and corporate group market.
• Coastal Expeditions: Coastal Expeditions is a Charleston, SC-based outfitter offering guided kayak tours, paddleboarding, and eco-tours of the Lowcountry salt marsh. Directly comparable to Outside Hilton Head in offering eco-narrated water experiences with master naturalists in the same South Carolina coastal geography.
• Tybee Island Dolphin Tours: Tybee Island Dolphin Tours operates narrated dolphin-watching excursions and sunset cruises from nearby Tybee Island, Georgia. Comparable to Outside's Hilton Head and Savannah dolphin tour offerings, serving the same broader Lowcountry/Coastal Empire tourist market.
• Hilton Head Outfitters: Hilton Head Outfitters offers kayak tours, dolphin cruises, and watersport rentals on Hilton Head Island. Direct local competitor to Outside Hilton Head across kayaking, dolphin tours, and boat rental categories with overlapping USCG-licensed captain operations.
• Bulldog Tours: Bulldog Tours is a Savannah-based tour operator offering historic walking tours, pub crawls, and curated experiences. Comparable to Outside's Savannah division in serving the same tourist base with guided narrative experiences and DMC-style service in Savannah, Georgia.

Broad incumbents

• GetMyBoat: GetMyBoat is a global marketplace connecting consumers with boat charters, rentals, and water experiences. Competes broadly with Outside's boat tour and Ohana charter offerings by aggregating competing operators and shifting consumer discovery online.
• Airbnb Experiences: Airbnb Experiences is a global marketplace of host-led activities including kayaking, water tours, and outdoor adventures. Comparable as a discovery and booking platform that competes for Outside's tourist customers in Hilton Head, Savannah, and the broader Lowcountry.
• Viator: Viator (owned by Tripadvisor) is the world's largest tours and activities marketplace, listing hundreds of boat tours and experiences comparable to Outside's. Operates as an OTA channel partner and competitor for direct bookings across all four Outside Brands divisions.
• REI Co-op: REI Co-op operates specialty outdoor retail stores and REI Adventures guided tours across the US. Broadly comparable to Outside Brands as both a specialty outdoor retailer (vs. Shop Outside) and guided adventure tour operator (vs. Outside experiences divisions), though at vastly larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Outsidehiltonhead1
• Facebookfacebook.com/outsidebrands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outside-brands
• Instagraminstagram.com/outside.experiences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Outside Hilton Head