Catching the outbound packet from Salter Pier
The packet boat Resolute leaves Salter Pier for Hake Island once each morning and twice in the afternoon, but only the morning departure lines up with the tides in a way that matters. The dock sits at the north end of the commercial basin, tucked between the fuel depot and the old chandlery warehouse. Most visitors walk right past it looking for the ferry terminal.
The morning window
Low slack occurs around six-thirty through most of spring and summer. The packet casts off forty minutes later—seven-ten on average—which puts you in open water while the channel is still navigable and the current hasn't turned. The captain won't leave early and won't wait past seven-twenty. If you're not aboard by then, the mooring line comes in and the boat moves.
The afternoon schedule runs at one-forty and four-fifteen, but both departures fight the incoming tide on the way out. The crossing takes an extra twenty minutes, and in rough weather the captain sometimes holds at the pier until conditions settle. I've seen visitors sit on the dock for an hour waiting for a call that doesn't come.
What the packet carries
The Resolute handles passengers, mail, and light cargo. There are benches for twelve on the open deck and a small cabin below if the wind picks up. The captain doesn't sell tickets in advance—you pay cash or check when you board. Round-trip fare runs eighteen dollars as of this season. If you're hauling gear or a cooler, mention it when you step on. Anything that takes up a bench space costs an extra five.
Hake Island has no provisioning except what the Trellis Store keeps in stock, so most people bring their own food. The packet allows it. Just secure anything that might shift when the boat pitches in the channel.
The return schedule
The island-to-pier run departs Hake at nine-thirty in the morning and three-ten in the afternoon. There's no evening service. If you miss the last boat, you're staying the night, and the Trellis Store doesn't rent rooms. A few island residents will let you sleep on a porch if you ask politely, but that's not something to count on.
The mooring at Hake sits on the south end of the island, a ten-minute walk from the main footpath. The packet ties up there for fifteen minutes, then heads back. The captain rings the bell twice when he's ready to leave. After that, the line comes in.
Practical notes
Salter Pier has no parking. The nearest public lot is three blocks inland near the post office. Get there early if you're aiming for the morning boat—spaces fill by six-forty during the season. The walk to the pier takes eight minutes from the lot, longer if you're carrying much.
The packet runs May through October. Outside those months, the Resolute stays in dry dock and Hake Island goes quiet. If you're planning a trip in shoulder season, call the harbor office to confirm the schedule. The packet has occasionally started late in years when April stays cold.
For visitors who prefer the established ferry service and fixed schedules, Wicket Island runs a more predictable timetable, though the crossing is longer and the island sees heavier traffic. The packet to Hake suits people who don't mind adjusting their day to the water.