The boat would be pretty romantical, and the "hit or miss" is just that there's only one boat per hour - or after 4, one per half hour. I forget the exact schedule, but if walk up to the dock at 1:22, and the hourly boat just left at 1:15, you've got a (let's see, carry the 9 ....) 53 minute wait until the next. But if you know the boat leaves at 1:15, and you get there at 1:11, you're good to go.
Be well!