While a Mr. Sandeman (members of the Sandeman (port wine) family has resided on the Island since 1824) had prepared significant infrastructure including pontoons and the construction of Ferry Road across Sinah Common and The Kench on the Hayling side he discovered the vessel was unable to transport a carriage and was restricted to foot passengers.

[citation needed] At some point after the demise of the earlier enterprise utilising the pontoons built for the steam vessel, George Spraggs, the licensee of the tavern on the Hayling side, began operated the ferry using motor boats with his sons until his drowning in 1922.

The Pride of Hayling went in for what proved to be extensive maintenance repairs at the end of 2013, with the 12 seat Tina Marie sourced to continue the service in the interim from January 2014.

[15][16] The new service was launched on 5 August 2016 following strenuous efforts to attain the required subsidies needed by the Baker Trayte Business Plan including £15155 by the Hayling Ferry Trust and £5000 from Richard Branson among others.

[17][18][19] In 2018 it was reported that while the ferry was popular and financially viable over the summer months the winter patronage was low and unprofitable.

The owners and a fundraising group hoped a County Council subsidy could be re-instated and stated the difficulties that were arising because a bus-link could not be re-established on the Hayling side.

[20][21][22] When the ferry has been closed the only public connection between Hayling Island and the mainland is a single carriageway road linking Northney to Langstone, Havant.

Particularly in summer this road can become very congested rendering the journey between the bridge and South Hayling (the most populated area) anything from 30 minutes to an hour.

[15] In 1886 there was a proposal to construct a branch off the Havant to Hayling railway line and to cross Langstone Harbour with a 900 ft road and rail swing bridge.