The Chappy Ferry Martha's Vineyard

Ferry Departing from Beneath a Ramp

Tom — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:02:54 +0000

Here’s a view from beneath the Edgartown ferry ramp of the ON TIME III departing the slip for Chappaquiddick Point. Photographer: Erik Gilley, maintenance manager of the ferry.

Ferry Approach, Beneath a Ramp

Tom — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:26:28 +0000

Here’s a perspective on the ferry that no one but an owner of the service, or perhaps a maintenance person, has EVER seen before.

This video, shot from underneath the Edgartown ramp sometime during the effort to reinforce the foundation and repair the ramp itself (mid April 2013), shows the ON TIME III approaching the slip from the middle of the harbor and docking.

We’re pretty certain that the videographer is maintenance manager Erik Gilley, who recently dove beneath the ramp to funnel concrete into a void along the foundation. But we’ll correct ourselves if we are wrong.

You can tell how little space there is under here. Imagine bringing a camera with you and shooting as you see the ferry come toward you! Imagine CONTINUING to shoot as the captain reverses her engines to slow the ferry down, and all that frothing backwash comes at you!

Chappy Point during Hurricane Sandy

Tom — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:07:08 +0000

About the time of high tide, 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2012.

The OFF-SEASON Schedule Is Now in Effect!

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:14:15 +0000

The off-season schedule is in effect from October 14 through May 23.

During the off-season, weather permitting, the ferry runs continuously from:

6:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Then again from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
And finally from 11:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.

Maintenance, Launch, and Heading Home, 2012

Tom — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:10:29 +0000

After undergoing a ten-day-long maintenance program and biennial inspection by the Coast Guard in October 2012, the forty-three-year-old ON TIME II returns to the water at the Tisbury Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven. She then heads out into Vineyard and Nantucket sounds for the five-mile trip home to Edgartown and Chappaquiddick. This is the longest trip either ferry makes all year.

Chappy Ferry Featured in Vineyard Seadogs 2013 Calendar

admin — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:52:41 +0000

The 2013 Vineyard Seadogs Calendar features the Chappy Ferry in its July photograph. The calendars are $16 and part of the proceeds goes to help support the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. You can purchase them at Soft As A Grape, and also at the Vineyard Seadogs website.

Wearing AMITY Name Board

Tom — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:13:55 +0000

During JAWSFest (August 9-12, 2012), the ON TIME II wears AMITY name boards as she did in the first, second and fourth JAWS films. Thanks to John (Spurs) Trainor for shooting and posting this video of a famous little ferry in one of her more famous roles.

Driver’s Point of View (with Kids)

Tom — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:55:20 +0000

A mom narrates from behind the wheel as a young family makes its first trip over to Chappaquiddick.

Strong Tides II, 2008

Tom — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:16:14 +0000

A year after the Patriots’ Day Storm opens South Beach to the sea in 2007, the ON TIME III (departing Edgartown) and ON TIME II (departing Chappaquiddick) are carried to the south on a strong ebb tide. Since the opening, the tides in Edgartown harbor have “reversed” direction — this is a falling tide.

Discussion of Ferry Book and Movie, 2012

Tom — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:41:38 +0000

Tom Dunlop, author of THE CHAPPY FERRY BOOK, discusses the book and ferry with Robert Tankard, host of the MVTV talk show TANK TALK.