How do you get a ship on Skullduggery Island?

Answer 1

You get your first ship (a raft) at Fort Ridley when you provide a clue to the Governor.

Go past the covered bridge, then down to the river. Pick up a doubloon from the left side. Buy the chicken feed at the General Store, and give it to the boy with the chickens, who will give you one. Take the chicken to the farmer at the right of the bridge, who will give you a blue candle, which can read the writing on the faded parchment in the Governor's house. Now you can use the broken mirror (upper right shelf of the General Store) to signal a ship from the fort's telescope.

(Until you read the parchment, the only ship in the telescope is a pirate ship.)

Save up your doubloons and you can buy a better ship from the Ship Shape shipbuilders at Dragon Cove island. The smallest ship is 3000 doubloons, and you can trade up from there.