Rollin' on the river: New ferry links Hilton Head, Daufuskie islands

The Capt. Eulice ferry, a mahogany

vessel first built as a house boat in 1920, carried its first passengers between Hilton Head and Daufuskie islands this week.

J & W Corp. is leasing the 90-passenger ferry from the Thomas family of Crisfield, Md. Until this year, the Eulice took passengers to and from Tangier Island, Va., in the Chesapeake Bay.

Wick Scurry, president of J & W, said the new run would make getting back and forth from Daufuskie much more convenient for island residents and visitors.

Getting a spot on many of the ferries serving the island has meant making a reservation well in advance.

"For years I have wanted to put something together for the public so people could go almost when they wanted to go and come back when they wanted to come back." Scurry said. "Now, you can just kind of come down and get on the boat."

He said he had nine passengers during the Capt. Eulice's first day of runs on Wednesday who got reservations just an hour ahead of time.

J & W Corp. is charging $23 for a round-trip ticket, but Daufuskie residents can ride free with a voucher. Scurry has also leased 35 parking spots at the Broad Creek Marina, where the Eulice leaves Hilton Head, to add to the 50 spots he owns there.

Daufuskie residents are excited that the new ferry runs are part of a steady increase in ferry access.

For residents who have to plan trips to the grocery store around ferry schedules, added runs are a big deal.

Catherine Tillman, who publishes Daufuskie's Front Porch newsletter, said residents used to depend on a single ferry service to the island's Haig Point club.

Tillman, who keeps a list of ferry times on the Front Porch Web site at www.daufuskiefrontporch.com, said it was exciting to see another set of ferry runs added.