Meet your Captain!

There is nothing like the serene waters of Savannah, Georgia. Come see for yourself the beauty and adventure waiting for you! At the helm of your journey is Captain Chez "Fuskie" Simmons. Captain Fuskie is a Savannah native with a deep connection to the Gullah Geechee culture of Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island. The name "Setwake Savannah" was chosen by Captain Fuskie to reflect the navigational path his forefathers took to get to Savannah by boat from Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island. Whether you're looking for a Daufuskie Island ferry from Savannah or planning a trip on the Savannah ferry to Daufuskie Island, the Simmons legacy continues to live on through each boat ride with you, making your journey from Savannah to Daufuskie Island truly special.

Back in the day, my Grandfather, Willis, would haul whiskey for sale from Daufuskie Island SC to Savannah GA. He mainly navigated at night, using only a lantern and the moonlight as his guide for sight direction. He would cover the whiskey up with scrap iron just in case he’d come across Game Wardens. When he got back to Savannah, he had a guy helping him who would stand on the riverbank and flash a light to let him know the coast was clear and there were no police in sight, and to come through. If his helper wasn’t there flashing the light, my Grandfather would bed down in the marsh until daybreak or abort the trip altogether. One cold night, the Game Warden Officer finally caught up with my Grandfather when he reached the riverbank and flashed a light on him, saying, “I got you now, Willis. I’ll have to take you to jail.” But my Grandfather told him that there would be no going to jail tonight, and he could give him a swig to drink, but that’s about it. He had kids at home and needed to make a few extra bucks for Christmas shopping. The officer had that swig of sweet scrap whiskey, and they talked a bit. They soon discovered more about each other, learning that my Grandfather was a military veteran from the island, and because of that, he let my Grandfather go that night. Throughout time, they became friends, and he would come to Daufuskie and stay at my Grandparent’s house sometimes. From then on, he would let my Grandfather know when the coast was clear for him to run whiskey without getting caught by other Warden Officers. Today, if you take the Daufuskie Island ferry from Savannah, you can find a taste of the “Scrap Iron” cocktail at the Daufuskie Crab Co. restaurant. They also offer many traditional seafood items we harvest from our rivers, like deviled crabs, fresh fish fingers, and oysters when in season. So, whether you're traveling from Savannah to Daufuskie Island for a meal or a glimpse into history, there's plenty to enjoy.