Ferry crossing on Friday Wellington to Picton

[Meanie]

Just want a little advise, i am crossing the cook straight on friday and coming back on sunday and although i have crossed many times before with the cage i havnt done with the bike
I was told i need to take my own tie downs to secure my bike down, is this right or do they supply them on the ferry I was gonna take some anyway but thought i would ask anyway :yes:
another question What do you do with all your gear ie back pack, riding gear, helmet, its quite a lot to carry round and a lot to loose if left unattended
Some advise from some one who has been over with thier bike would be appreciated
Maybe ill see some fellow KBrs on the crossing it leaves Wellington at 10.30
Back on Sunday about 1.15 both with Toll

[nodrog]

I went across on bluebridge last year, took my own tiedowns (because I know they work), bike never moved an inch. We just left all our gear on our bikes, never had a problem as nobody is allowed on the car deck during the crossing.

[T.I.E]

the ones that they supply on the boats are ok but best if ya take ya own too, just incase. it helps.
once ya have gone up stairs your not really allowed back down till later, but best take ya gear with ya. just incase only takes one bugger to take ya jacket or helmet, also if that boats starts a rocking who knows were in the ship ya gear ends up downstairs lol.

[T.I.E]

at home think about where ya gonna tie the ties ( i love my name ) too ya bike, may be an idea to take some rags with ya to help with any unessary rubbing. the mounts on the boat and front and rear to the sides if that makes sense.
na makes no sense. when ya park ya bike up, the boat tie points are to the front and rear of the bike off too the side. 4 pints.
na i give up someone draw a pic. lol.

[nudemetalz]

Done the trip many times with a bike.
Couple of points.

You can buy handlebar sleeve tie-down points for your bike from most bikeshops. Fairly sure Welly Motorcycles sell them. Great for full faired bikes which are difficult to tie down.

Yes, definitely invest in your own tie-downs and I would advise taking your gear with you as T.I.E says.

Also, watch if there are any people tying down their bikes next to yours. Yours may be secure but is theirs? That's why I normally give other people a hand once mine is tied down.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
NDMz

[Kinje]

Take your own ties. The ones they give ya arent great. I had 2 of my own- 1 on either side at the front and used one of theirs at the back. Didn't go anywhere. I carried all my gear with me on the boat- bit of a pain, but good peace of mind, and way better than finding it gone :shit:

Enjoy the Mighty South Island- lucky

[vinducati]

It's a busy time of year.
Take your own tie-downs.
Take a rubber band or something to hold the front-brake on.
Leave it in Gear.

If you can, go with Bluebridge, the crew are much better and the bike space is a hell of a lot better. Would never use the Interislander again to be frank.

Cheers

[Kickaha]

If you can, go with Bluebridge, the crew are much better and the bike space is a hell of a lot better. Would never use the Interislander again to be frank.


Haven't ever had a problem with Interislander but then I've never used Bluebridge to compare, what was so bad about them?

If you use Interislander they have lockers you can hire for $2 (i think) that you can store your gear in, I always take my riding gear with me

[limbimtimwim]

I agree about using the bluebridge. Both times I've been on there a member of the crew has offered to help. No such luck on the interislander.

Next time I will take my own tiedowns though, all the bluebridge had was grubby ropes and I am shitty at making knots.

[pritch]

Also, watch if there are any people tying down their bikes next to yours. Yours may be secure but is theirs? That's why I normally give other people a hand once mine is tied down.
NDMz

A good thought.

I also put the front brake on and then duct tape it there.
Put the bike in gear and use their chocks.

Should be going through all this again in March myself. Haven't used Bluebridge but the comments here mean I may look at it. I guess it comes down to sailing times...

I should have hard panniers this trip which will mean less gear to carry round the ship.

[magicfairy]

If you use Interislander they have lockers you can hire for $2 (i think) that you can store your gear in, I always take my riding gear with me

Yep on all the Interisland ferries there are banks of lockers big enough to fit helmets jackets etc. You pay about $2 coin (it may be $4, just have some coins on you), get assigned a locker automatically and can think pick a PIN to allow entry / exit as many times as you like during trip. Times out after 4 hours (hopefully trip will be over by then)
Easy to use, all instructions where you find the lockers, no need to involve staff.

[Hitcher]

I'd vouch for the Bluebridge too. Better bike parking (dry floor, proper floor links, first on, first off, friendlier more helpful crew. That said, their first boat (Santa Regina) is set up better for bikes than their second (Monte Stello). But follow the instructions of their crew -- they know what to do!

[SilentDtH]

I used the interislander from Picton to Wellington. Crew helped me ( eventually ) to tie down with the ropes supplied. There are slightly raised slots for your wheels to fit into which helps with the positioning/balancing a little. I didn't tape the break but left the bike in gear.

I carried my riding gear on with me, proved to be a pain carrying it around with me ... plus it was soaking wet. I was advised by the staff to change in the childcare room, this was great and had an air-heater so i could dry some of my stuff. I took all my riding gear off, got a change of clothes, got some food and enjoyed the ride :)

On entering the ferry I was lucky enough to get picked out of the line by a nice interislander staff member who said "There's no point in two of us waiting in the rain" :yes: Praise to that man!

As for bikes falling on bikes, I was the only bike on the ferry.. would've been nice to share the journey with another.

[sunhuntin]

i crossed both ways. took my own tiedowns.
first time ever on a boat, and also at tying down a bike. i had her in neutral, and she never shifted.
best to keep jackets with you cos it gets bloody cold on deck [i dont do well inside] :sick:
first time, the whole bike section was full [i was last in line] so i got to watch a few others before attempting my own. no troubles though....pulled the ropes as tight as they would go.
second time, i was the only bike, so used a chock under the front wheel.
i had saddle bags and a top box, but they were both full, so had to keep my gear with me, though i did lock helmet on to the lock on the bike.

[Kinje]

Maybe ill see some fellow KBrs on the crossing it leaves Wellington at 10.30

Oh, and yeah theres a good chance you'll meet some others. I met a couple of others as we were tying (sp) our bikes down and we were all going to ChCh. Chilled out together on the ferry, then rode down together all the way :) Nice to have some company.

And on the way back up, met someone from Timaru who knew my dad! Small world!

[Macktheknife]

All been said really, first time I went a sfar as to check my luggage before boarding, what a pain that was! Don't bother.
Just use your own tie-downs, I found rachet ones work best for me, pratice before leaving so you know how it will work.
Lockers for bike gear were very useful, and a book or have a nap on the way over.

[sunhuntin]

just remembered....take a pack of gingernuts! i nearly lost the food from the day before on the way south, and fell asleep on the deck cos i couldnt handle being inside.
heading north i was told to buy a pack, which i did. much better trip...they really settle the old gut. was able to actually walk around without feeling green.

[Hitcher]

Ginger is an effective antiemetic, but please use the real thing. Ginger ale and gingernuts only contain artificial ginger flavouring, not real ginger. Bundaberg ginger beer contains real ginger (Macs doesn't). If in doubt, read the list of ingredients.

[petesmeats]

Done the trip twice so far and am due to do it again mid feb sometime...
Each time i had no tie downs of my own and still managed to get it to not fall over. The brake idea is a good one and practice tying it down before hand...
You can lock your helmet onto your helmet lock and just carry your jacket with you. As for gear, first trip i left my bag on my bike and noone touched it, second trip i left my gear in my mates car who was also travelling up.

People are not allowed on the car decks during the crossing... I wanted to go make sure my bike was ok on the second crossing and got about halfway down the first flight of stairs before being told in no uncertain terms that i wasn't meant to have jumped the rope barrier...
So your gear should theoretically be ok.

Most importantly...
Take something to pass the time on the ferry cos it is the most boring trip in the world and you cant even get drunk (legally) cos your driving...

Have a good trip.
Pete

[HenryDorsetCase]

just did it last night.

The only 2 points are: if you can, book ahead, its waaaay cheaper (I paid $140 one way and $120 the other. very expensive IMO)

Arahura had decent tiedowns. If you can, use 4, rather than two (ie. one long one over each end of the bike). get a chock each end, and definitely leave it in gear with the brake on.

I dont recommend getting off the 9.30 ferry then riding down to Christchurch. there was no gas at Kaikoura last night/this morning (luckily it wasnt required)...

[Meanie]

Thanks everyone for all your helpful suggestions, i will deffinatley take my own tie downs and tape my front brake on (something i hadnt thought of)
I will get a locker as well cause i realy dont want to cart all my gear with me for three and a half hours
The weather is lookin awesome for the week end so heres hoping:yes:

[Hitcher]

With tie-downs tight (make sure the suspension is loaded up) and the supplied wedges under the front and rear wheels, it's pointless either leaving the bike in gear or taping the brake. It's not going to go anywhere unless something big and heavy falls on it (e.g. cars and rail wagons when the Interislander skipper gets his boat over past 50 degrees) or a tie-down breaks (highly unlikely).

[White trash]

I was on the Arahura last weekend and low and behold, what did I see but a big rack of shiny, brand new, motorcycle style, ratchet tie downs. I was stoked.

Came home on the one that keeps breaking down and because they park the bikes right up towards the bow on that critter, I never noticed what was available.

[davereid]

Toll change the fares - increasing them as departure day arrives, so to get a good fare you have to book ahead. Bluebridge just have a set fare, you either get a spot or you don't, but they dont rip you off for being late to book.

The best way imho to tie your bike down (and its never failed for me touchhead) is to use your own QUALITY ties with a rachet and then..

Put bike on stand, center best if you have one. Take a single tie from back wheel to a tie down location behind the bike. Then take a pair of ties, one from each handle bar to a location about 30-45 deg to one side and in front of the bike. Keep tightening up the ties in rotation, until your bike has moderately compressed front forks, and cant move back forwards or sideways.

Go to bar, drink moderately and pray for a good sailing.

[Meanie]

Go to bar, drink moderately and pray for a good sailing.

Sounds like a plan to me :yes: