Anyone taken their bike on a ferry?

[Tiger Lily]

My Man and me were thinking of going over to the Isle of Wight on our bikes, and as the last time I visited there was on the back of a scooter in 1984, I am unable to remember how they secure them, thus we are a little hesitant because were not sure if we run the risk of any paint damage etc...
Have any peeps out there in 100% world taken their bikes over to IOW or anywhere else by ferry?
How did you find it, are we worrying unecessarily?
:confused: :eek:

[Crafter]

I taken my bike onto ferries loads of times, (North sea, cross channel and IOM) and I've never had any problems with paint damage.The crews I've encountered have always understood biker's concerns and worries.

Enjoy your trip

[dracken1]

when i worked in holland and germany years ago it was risky. but the last few years things have got a lot better.
i've not had any probs in the last 10 trips.

i once came down to the hold to see them taking a ratchet strap off my vw trike.
i guess as it had 3 wheels they played safe and treated it as a motorcycle :)

[STEViE]

I've been travellin' back an' fourth cross the channel an' the North Sea 4 or 5 times a year for the last 10 years or so. Never had any problems. If you're not sure then ask a crew member on the vehicle deck, they should show you how to strap it down.
I always grab a couple of ratchet straps, put the bike on it's sidestand and strap that side first round the frame low down just in front of the stand. Makin' sure that's nice an' tight, then I put the other strap nearer the rear end on the opposite side to the sidestand and tighten that enuf to stop the bike pivotin on the sidestand due to weight in the panniers.
That's always been enuf for me.
Have a good trip
:)

[BlackPig]

I've lost count of the number of crossings I've made.Never had any problems,but,you wouldn't notice paint damage on one of my sheds. :rolleyes:

Have a nice trip . :D

[triker_gal]

Took trikes and bikes down to I.O.W last year with no probs, Shaggy didnt strap his bike down and had no probs. Guess it depends on how choppy the water is and what angle your bike sits on the stand.

[Rogue Monkey]

Different ferry companies use different methods. I have never had a problem when crossing the channel and me bike has never been scratched or damaged by the straps. However, the ferry to the ISLE O MAN! :eek: that sucked! The ramp was slippery and greasy, the crew were not very helpful and it always rains on the way there and back so I`d say.......get on the ferry to france instead! :o

[Lone-Wolf]

Have any peeps out there in 100% world taken their bikes over to IOW or anywhere else by ferry?
How did you find it, are we worrying unecessarily?
:confused: :eek:

Wotcha.

Not a problem. It's only a half hour crossing at the most ( well, Lymington - Yarmouth is ).
I've been going over for the May bank holiday ( Gurt Gallybagger rally ) for the last 15 years or so. . . nothing at all to worry about. If the sea's a tad rough, which has only happened once to me, then they ask you to stay with your bike.

http://www.moonshiners.org.uk/images/gally01-033zz.gif

Take a nose HERE (http://home.freeuk.net/thewolf/rallypages.htm) and look for "Gurt Gallybagger".

Just a word of warning though - should you go over during the August bank holiday you will pay through the nose seeing as you won't get the ferry concession that the Wight Riders organize for their rally. It costs me around £20 for the trike and trailer in May - the same outfit cost me £68-80 in August.

[dracken1]

lone wolf my missus admires you as a keen gardener, even taking your potting shed on holiday with you :D

i'll give it a couple more hours then i'll put her straight ;)

[BlackPig]

lone wolf my missus admires you as a keen gardener, even taking your potting shed on holiday with you :D

i'll give it a couple more hours then i'll put her straight

:D :D :D

[Bosun]

i have often taken old towell etc to put under ropes jjust in case but never had a problem

[Freak]

I've done a few ferry crossings aswell and never had any problems even on rough seas. Stay with your bike while the attendant straps it down if you like. Remember to leave your bike in gear and you can always use a cable tie to give the front brake a little squeeze if it's a really choppy crossing. Don't forget to take a knife so you can cut it though else the crew really take the piss!! :D
Have a nice trip

[Bosun]

Don't forget to take a knife so you can cut it though else the crew really take the piss!! :D



sound like the voice of experience :D

[Freak]

sound like the voice of experience :D

I like to call it a learning curve :D :D :D

[Shep]

Have any peeps out there in 100% world taken their bikes over to IOW or anywhere else by ferry?

As Lone Wolf said, Lymington-Yarmouth is only about half an hour, by the time you've got a coffee it's time to get off.
I leave my xjr, fully loaded, on sidestand, in gear. Even the rough crossing for the 2003 Gallybagger, it didn't move. :)
What always worries me more, are the morons in cars trying to cut me up coming off, cuz I'm taking it easy over the wet metal ramp plates! :eek:

By the way, I'm told that the IOW ferry crossing is one of the most expensive per mile in the world. Dunno if that's true.

[Miss Demeanour]

I've done a few ferry crossings aswell and never had any problems even on rough seas. Stay with your bike while the attendant straps it down if you like. Remember to leave your bike in gear and you can always use a cable tie to give the front brake a little squeeze if it's a really choppy crossing. Don't forget to take a knife so you can cut it though else the crew really take the piss!! :D
Have a nice trip

worked in Jersey for a couple of years, and used to take the bike across about 120 miles of (often bloody rough) English Channel several times a year, mostly on a seacat. And I was going to say most of what Freak says.

1) Let the blokes strap the bikes down - but be sure to watch. They should put something under the straps, like a big piece of sponge or something - take something with you if concerned, although I never had to. Deffo leave in gear and/or on centrestand, if poss. Leave alarms off, if you've got one.)

2) Have a nice cup of tea, and be sure to hum the tune to 'Onedin Line' whilst admiring view from deck.

3) Be first onto the car deck, unstrap the bike yourself, and look ready, pronto. Depending on where the bikes are stowed on the car deck, if you're ready to roll they might let you out first. (which is always a plus, as a hundred-or-so cars hit the same junction at the same time...)

I've never had a problem. Even when the weather was so rough that the cars were moving about a bit and dinking each other, I've always returned to an intact bike.

Have a lovely time!

[saxman]

ive used the sealink, portsmouth iow crossing a few times with no probs, theyre open ferries so you can keep an eye on the bike. ive used red funnel once from southampton, not so sure bout them, plus it takes just over an hour on that one.

[STEViE]

RANT MODE / ON

There is only one thing I can think to add to what I said earlier. That is, by all means be ready to roll an' you may just get off before the cars but if you're in an enclosed vehicle deck PLEASE don't fire up your bike before you're told it's ok to do so. It reall fu<kin' pi55es me right off when fu<kin' numpties do this. There's been a couple of occasions on the Harwich - Hoek van Holland ferry where I've had serious fu<kin' words with folks who for some reason think it's a good idea to fire up their bikes as soon as they're allowed down to them.
FFS !! The bloody boat hasn't even docked properly at this point.


" I'm warmin' it up !!" is the reason I'm given when this has happened

Fu<kin' wank3ers

I don't like to tar folks but it's always been sports bike riders in my experience

They can just fu<k right off, I'd like to be able to breath by the time they let me off the boat



I feel better for that now

RANT MODE / OFF

[hellkat]

" I'm warmin' it up !!"


But how long is the crossing? Not more than three or four hours at the most.
:rolleyes: Morons. :rolleyes:

I went across Cook Strait (in NZ) on the ferry and we didnt have much trouble just with ratchet straps, but I would consider putting something under them if I had a nice paint job.

[STEViE]

But how long is the crossing? Not more than three or four hours at the most. 3 hours 40 mins


:rolleyes: Morons. :rolleyes:
Precisely

I would consider putting something under them if I had a nice paint job.I've used my gloves in that instance before now, works well enuf


Hi HK. Are you an' Andy poppin' over for the 'Freezer' ?

[hellkat]

I just asked him and he says "Dunno". :mad:

We'd LIKE to be :)

But it depends on how hard he/we work between now and then :D

[STEViE]

I certainly don't envy him on days like this. That was bloody wet out there today.


Hey, this one makes it 200 posts on here - I'm nearly as barkin' mad as the rest of ya now :D

[hellkat]

Excellent, beers are on you, then :)

[STEViE]

I'd best go an' purchase an 'Everlasting Crate of Whateveryouwant' from the Ewok and Tuck Emporium then :D

[Bosun]

RANT MODE / ON

There is only one thing I can think to add to what I said earlier. That is, by all means be ready to roll an' you may just get off before the cars but if you're in an enclosed vehicle deck PLEASE don't fire up your bike before you're told it's ok to do so. It reall fu<kin' pi55es me right off when fu<kin' numpties do this. There's been a couple of occasions on the Harwich - Hoek van Holland ferry where I've had serious fu<kin' words with folks who for some reason think it's a good idea to fire up their bikes as soon as they're allowed down to them.
FFS !! The bloody boat hasn't even docked properly at this point.

RANT MODE / OFF


excellent rant stevie couldnt agree more, 40 bikes reving up and the doors aint even open yet...AAAAAARGH

[Tiger Lily]

Cheers all,

Reading through all your posts I'm sure now that we need not worry. Wow, many of you are so well travelled, makes our piddly little trip to IOW seem daft to stress about. :)
Some great tips from you all that I'll take 'on board' as well. :)

Now all we need to do is get on with booking!

[Sir Ewok]

Just to add my experience, did the Crossing to Santander, Spain with the Duke. Took some laccy straps and a tie-down of my own, Parked up near a pipe and lashed the middle of bike to pipe, using a wooly hat as a protection pad. 24 hours later we docked in Spain and bike was in top notch condition. Only hairy moments were getting on and off up steel chequer plate ramps.

Take the bike and enjoy yerself, never know you may get to enjoy sailing the high seas with a bike below decks.....

[memnoch]

[QUOTE=Tiger Lily]My Man and me were thinking of going over to the Isle of Wight on our bikes, and as the last time I visited there was on the back of a scooter in 1984, I am unable to remember how they secure them, thus we are a little hesitant because were not sure if we run the risk of any paint damage etc...
Have any peeps out there in 100% world taken their bikes over to IOW or anywhere else by ferry?
How did you find it, are we worrying unecessarily?
QUOTE]


Nope but I think George Michael once had a fairy on his bike!

:D :D :D