ferry procedure

[pale rider]

dont know if this has been covered in a previous thread but what's the procedure for getting on and off the ferries

how secure will the bikes be? will we be able to leave things like leathers and helmets and such with the bike. do we have to lash them down ourselves or leave it to some ferry YTS lad.

is there a bar? can you smoke on deck

i'm sure some of you lot have done this many times but to me it will be the first of many so i'm a bit green right now.

is there anyone out there willing to give us all the benefit of their experience

[PanRider]

Check out post No 65 on

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/charity-events/34245-tld-ferry-booking-codes-7.html

Normally you can smoke on the outside decks, although I do know there are moves afoot to outlaw it. After a six month break I'm back on 30 a day.

[winxp-master]

txt from post no65

I am one of the afore-mentioned wooses, who hasn’t got an adventure bike but a 2-wheeled armchair and I have travelled on a number of ferries with my Pan. Calais - Dover, and England to my folks on the Isle Of Man.

I know we are not using either route I just want impart my bit of ferry knowledge to those who haven’t used a ferry whilst on your bike.

The IOM ferries due to the TT have got bike transportation down to a fine art, and everything you will need is supplied. The channel ferries vary from boat to boat.

Ref. lashing a bike down on it’s side stand. The reason for that is, in the eyes of the ferry operators “a bike on its side stand has 3 points of contact, which is apparently safer. Whereas on a centre stands it only has 2 points of contact”. Before you all ask any other questions I don’t know any more. Once while boarding a ferry I overheard this “heated conversation” between a concerned biker & a Loadmaster.

As for towels and rubber tube thingy’s, usually you get given a small piece of carpet to protect your saddle where the lashing strap goes. Also worth a mention, it isn’t always lashing straps some ferries use rope !!!!

If it is the case you have to secure your bike yourself, it always gets checked by a Loadmaster.

The only loading I’m not too keen on is where sometimes they have Rails about waist height and the first bike gets lashed to that, the next bike gets lashed to the first bike, the third to the 2nd etc. Till the bikes are 5 deep, then a new row starts. Only had that once and I think it was on an over booked IOM ferry, for the TT or Grand Prix.

HTH
Ash

[winxp-master]

Whilst in Wales on The Second welsh Invasion i got chatting to a chap who used to work on the ferries and travelled a lot on them on his bike and he suggested bringing your own tea-towel for the seat as they sometimes run out so best to have one to hand to protect the seat.

I also asked him about how they strap it down and he explained why they use the side stand and not the centre stand:

On the centre stand the bike stands rigid so there is no give and more likely to tople over. On the side stand the bike has it's back wheel on the floor thus utilising it's own suspension and minimising the risk of it falling.

I have never done a ferry crossing on a bike so not sure what to expect but i thought i'd share that info so you know what to look out for incase you get said YTS lad trying to flick your bike on it's centre ctand and use dental floss to secure it

iv'e no idea as to what access anyone has once the ferry is on the move but i'm hoping it's limited as then i can lock me helmet to the bike and it'll be relatively safe and i won't have to lug it about for hours... Anyone know hoew secure they are down there?

[Snaphappy]

[QUOTE=pale rider;385094]dont know if this has been covered in a previous thread but what's the procedure for getting on and off the ferries.
Off depends on your conduct they still use the plank

how secure will the bikes be?
Security- remove shiny objects that could be had away quick and stuffed in pockets (GPS - 2wayRadio) I normally put my jacket over the front to hide the shiny stuff. The ferry company take no responsibility to theft.
will we be able to leave things like leathers and helmets and such with the bike. do we have to lash them down ourselves or leave it to some ferry YTS lad.

Lashing down will hopefully by with a ratchet strap, the ratchet goes on the oposite side to the stand and tightened to compress the suspension.

is there a bar? can you smoke on deck
There will be a bar, restaurant, shop and gambling machines your only on for a couple of hours but the ferry operators want your money and use every trick in the book to get it, no the red light means port or left for non nauticals

Smoking usually outside

i'm sure some of you lot have done this many times but to me it will be the first of many so i'm a bit green right now. If your green now wait for the force ten they've forecast

is there anyone out there willing to give us all the benefit of their experience

HTH

[pale rider]

nice breakdown of my original post

thanks for that snap

[Whealie]

I have done Fishguard to Rosslare and back last year and they seemed to have a hanger loads of straps, but it occurred to me that 50 of us might be a lot so I may just take my own own ratchet strap just in case.

They will expect you to ratchet down your own bike - htere are easily visible areas for hooking under. If there were just two bikes they might do it for you, but 50 of us, FFS?

Ther are bars and food etc but, as it is overnight, I intend to take my little air bed and a fleece and curl up on the floor somewhere and try to get some kip, so, the rest of you, shhhoosh!

[jasonbc]

dont know if this has been covered in a previous thread but what's the procedure for getting on and off the ferries

how secure will the bikes be? will we be able to leave things like leathers and helmets and such with the bike. do we have to lash them down ourselves or leave it to some ferry YTS lad.

is there a bar? can you smoke on deck

i'm sure some of you lot have done this many times but to me it will be the first of many so i'm a bit green right now.

is there anyone out there willing to give us all the benefit of their experience

My experience with ferry company's depends on which one you go with, When i used Brittany ferries (both times from Plymouth & Portsmouth) they were not very helpful, and were not that helpful at strapping the bikes down but they did do it both times, as for strapping your own bike down you can do it, but if they do and there's a problem you can claim off them as they are liable if you do it yourself and there is a problem like the bike moves or falls over (not known that to happen) its your fault. Stella line ferries were too helpful really keen and could talk all day about your bike and bike holidays nothing was too much trouble. All ferries have more than 1 bar and you can leave your stuff attached to the bike if you choose i prefer to carry it then i know whre it is and that nothings gone missing

[blue skies]

Ferry companies gear up for the big events such as the TT and have extra staff, straps. rope etc. so as has been said above best bring your own strap and piece of carpet or whatever.

Last time on the P&O ferry to larne the bike was very loosley lashed to a railing with a bit of rope by the guy on the vehicle deck. I just put on my own strap.. to be sure .. to be sure...

[winxp-master]

For those of us who don't have straps surely it's up to whatever company is transporting you vehicle to make sure it is secure before departure?