Taking a bike on the ferry.
 

Hi,

Anyone have any handy tips for lashing Dukes on ferries. I'm on the Newhaven/Dieppe seacat on Thurs but don't know if I'll need rags/blanket etc....

Seem to remember the last time being ok but it was moons ago.

Cheers,

Ali

Last time I took the bike on the ferry it was P&O from portsmouth to Caen.
The lads really knew what they were doing with bikes - they had plenty of decent straps, rags to protect the bikes and they were really careful. All we had to do was leave the bikes on side stands and go find the bar!

Who does operates the FastCat?

ali don't worry they will supply all the straps. but put your cloves or your water proof jacket on the seat that way the straps won't mark the seat.
They should chock the rear wheel, oh and leave the bike in gear or wrap a bungie around the brake leaver and handle bar and all should be well if anything should go wrong the they are all insured.
Have a good trip mate

Taken mine on the IOM TT ferry and it's been damaged on 2x fairings both times.
Each time the sea state has been as still as the proverbial mill pond.

Tim

NBs996,you're right,having taken my bikes on ferries many times i've always found P&O excellent! Unfortunatly all ferry companies are not the same,i would never use Sea France ever again!! Their crew didn't give a f**k!!! They tied the bikes down the wrong way ie pulling them OFF there stands & when we complained they muttered something in french & walked off,leaving us to sort the bikes out!!

One good tip i picked up was take a short length of pipe lagging with you,it weighs nothing,packs up small & when opened out it can be put under rope or strap to give a good level of protection to seat or paintwork!!

Top tips, well appreciated. I like the idea of the pipe lagging. Can always use it to keep bits of me warm if it gets chilly!

Thanks,

Ali

P&O Ferries - theyare careful with your bike but you need a towel or similar to go over your seat to protect it from the big tiedown strap they use.
Hoverspeed - brilliant guys - two mega tiedowns & their own big cushions to protect your bike for you.
Brittany Ferries - couldn't care less sattitude with a Gallic shrug & they throw a couple of bits of polyester rope at you -take your own tiedowns!

Couldn't agree more, P&O have decent straps but the French mob just appear to use string and you have to sort it out for yourself. I would also take some straps myself just in case, they don't take up too much space and its better than the rope we had on Sea France!!!

I've used em all - companies and vessels - and can concur we what's been said so far. However my cheapest and best experience was with Norfolk Line Dover - Dunky in both directions and on different ships. Only 12 places for bikes, each marked out in a large yellow box so no chance of one knocking against another. The crew had good tie downs and large poly bags to go over seat. They even loaded on and off first to avoid what is mainly commercial traffic. They ain't the poshest of ferries but have showers and a bar that is not overcrowed. I paid £39 once and £59 another time.:bouncy:

[Edited on 10-6-2004 by Athelstan]

You now got me slightly worried guys. I'm off to the Manx GP at the end of August for the first time with the bike on the ferry and theres only been one post about the Steam Packet Super Sea Cats and thats 2 bust panels. Surely they cant be that bad - they carry so many bikes?

Anyone got anything further to add:puzzled: and :o

[Edited on 15-6-2004 by mike916]

I've been with the I-O-M Steam racket on a few occasions,never had a bike damaged but,they put the bikes in "pens" then rope them together!! If one bike falls they all fall,also you're lucky if you get any protection from the ropes!!

Generally not as good as P&O,but better than Sea France!!

Not wishing to worry you,but there was a famous incident a few years ago when one of the ferries hit the dock!!! It looked like a war zone,thousands of pounds of bikes all on their sides!!! Heart breaking!!!

Just got back. No worries at all, they couldn't have been more professional or competant.

600 miles round trip, almost all b-roads. Still can't hear a bloody thing and my arse has done a fair amount of complaining, but I'd do it all again tomorrow if I didn't have to work:)

ps: for an eight year old Superlight she got mad amount of respect from the assembled Le Mans massive.....