I know that I sound like a skipping record with my reminders that starting on Oct. 19, which is the day after the derby ends, through Thanksgiving, only one Chappy ferry will be in service. The shorter of the two ferryboats will be handling all of the traffic alone.

The On Time 2 can carry 3 regular sized cars but only two pickup trucks per trip. If you have a choice, use your smaller vehicle. It also helps to remove unnecessary extension such as bike carriers and trailer hitches. It might be a chore to get your rusted-in trailer hitch loose, but by removing it, you make more room on the ferry and make it a whole lot more likely that your friends and neighbors will get on behind you instead of having to wait another trip. You may be getting on the ferry one trip sooner because someone ahead of you removed their hitch.

During the haul-out period the cut line will still be used by all of the customary vehicles except for concrete mixers.

Every fall, one of the Chappy Ferry boats has to be hauled out of the water for hull inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard and for maintenance. We can’t be sure how long it will take to perform the maintenance required but you can be sure that we want that ferry boat back in service as quickly as possible. Redundancy is key to the ferry service, and depending on one ferry to function properly all of the time makes us nervous. Fingers crossed for good weather for fiberglassing and painting.