Interislander ferries review.

[awayatc]

I know,I know....
Lots been said about the ferries, but the search function only provides limited info.

I have been across a few times lately with my bike, and "tested" all 3 Interislanders.

Arahura, sails 3 times a day, No special provisions for bikes, you get directed to park it somewhere on your sidestand between 4 anchorpoints.
Some bike tie downs available. My last choice in bad weather.

Aratere, sails only once a day from Wellington,and twice from Picton. She has a dozen shallow U profiles welded on the forward side of the vehicle deck. Each "bike park" (facing forward) has 4 anchor points, some tiedowns are provided, and there are Rubber chocks available so the wheels can be blocked.
Quite secure in bad weather, provided you tied it up properly, AND just as importantly your neighbour did so as well!!!!(sidestand..never use your centrestand, or park next to somebody who does!)

Kaitake, sails twice a day from Wellington, and Once from Picton. She has a dozen or so wheelclamps atwarth on the port side of the lower deck.
These hinged clamps lock your front wheel, and on eitherside of the handlebars are tiedown ratchets that hook on to your handlebars (softstrops). When you pull both sides tight, your front is firmly locked into place.
That is meant to be enough, but there are anchorpoints on the deck to secure the rear of your bikes if you think it needs it.
For this purpose there are ropes with hooks provided.....(spruce up your rope skills)

The kaitake is the number one choice in bad weather (that's why I took it when it was 40 knots....), the ship itself handles the sea better, and the bikes are more secure.
The inside is also better appointed with a lovely bar ......
You are being dicked around a bit in varying degrees when boarding or disembarking on all 3:The Aratere is "fastest", and Kaitake is "slowest".

Eventhough there are Tie downs on all 3 Ferries.....their state of repair changes by the day...some people are very rough on the gear, it get's nicked, and it get's replaced....Somedays 12 bikes, somedays only one...
So it is luck of the draw....

Cheapest web fare is $107, You are advised to be there an hour early...., but then you have to wait around outside in an unsheltered area untill various trucks and cars get loaded first.....
I got there once only 20 minutes before sailing, and that was no problem.
Regarding leaving your belongings on the bike.......
The sailors are not the ones to worry about....
but you can not always be sure about your fellow travellers....
Nobody is allowed on the vehicle deck when at sea, so leave your bike last, and get below first if you are concerned.


Next time I will "test" Bluebridge....

[MarkH]

I have used the ferries twice (once each way) and I think it is a great idea for those that use them more often to give out the useful info for others that may be using them some time for their first time. I will quite likely do another SI rally this year so it is good to know the differences before booking a crossing.

Thanks dude! :niceone:

[pzkpfw]

I hear they are now advising all riders, on booking, to bring their own tie-downs.

(Losses due to theft.)

[Squiggles]

I hear they are now advising all riders, on booking, to bring their own tie-downs.

(Losses due to theft.)

Always a good idea. Theirs can get pretty gross or the Ship could be full up with not many to go around

[Hitcher]

Forget about the Interislander. When it comes to getting bikes across the dutch, Bluebridge FTW.

[awayatc]

Forget about the Interislander. When it comes to getting bikes across the dutch, Bluebridge FTW.

Bikes across the dutch....?

Well Hitcher you bring me as many across as you like....:laugh:

[Burtha]

thanks for that, might be getting a bike over in wgtn next month so info very useful for the trip back, cheers.
:)

[pritch]

No special provisions for bikes, you get directed to park it somewhere on your sidestand between 4 anchorpoints.




That's very strange. The Arahura has several bike-specific tie down points just inside the door. It is so far the only one I've found that does and is my first choice.

On re-reading your comments it seems you've found the bike parks but didn't quite know what to do with them.

In practice the bike isn't on the side stand, when you tighten your tiedowns the stand comes off the deck. If you use the chocks they supply, put your bike in gear, and tie the front brake on, it shouldn't move.

[Hitcher]

In practice the bike isn't on the side stand, when you tighten your tiedowns the stand comes off the deck. If you use the chocks they supply, put your bike in gear, and tie the front brake on, it shouldn't move.

Why would you do that? I always use tiedowns to hold the bike against its sidestand.

[Squiggles]

Can end up bending the stand

[awayatc]

That's very strange. The Arahura has several bike-specific tie down points just inside the door. It is so far the only one I've found that does and is my first choice.

On re-reading your comments it seems you've found the bike parks but didn't quite know what to do with them.

In practice the bike isn't on the side stand, when you tighten your tiedowns the stand comes off the deck. If you use the chocks they supply, put your bike in gear, and tie the front brake on, it shouldn't move.


Ok, there is an area on the deck where I got directed to (only bike that trip), but it did not have special provisions for bikes.....Other then the 4 tiedown points on the deck..... (I carry my own)
I was parked in between some trucks on one side, and cars everywhere else....

The Aratere has the bikes parked against a bulkhead, so no matter how it pitches, at least one wheel cant go nowhere....Your 4 tiedowns are to secure against rolling.
The Kaitake uses the clamp against the side to secure the front wheel , so the bike is secured against rolling..
You can use 2 tiedowns/ropes to secure rear against pitching (less violent then rolling)

I Wouldn't want to have my "Baby" parked on the Arahura in a bad sea......

One other thing to consider: If something goes wrong, Interislander is not liable....
The ferry is considered a level railway crossing.....
It pays to check with your insurance before you sail....
You may not be covered....

[pritch]

Why would you do that? I always use tiedowns to hold the bike against its sidestand.

It's not something you do, it's what happens if you actually tighten the tiedowns properly. Have you not been eating your spinach?

[Duc]

Whats the reason behind tying down on the side stand and not the centre stand?

[Hitcher]

Tiedowns pull against the opposing tiedowns, not against the bike. If you do the sidestand side ones first and then the upside ones, the bike will not be lifted off its sidestand.

The reason for using the sidestand is that not all bikes have a centrestand. I'd only recommend using a centrestand (where available) where the deck is flat and uncluttered.

I also use the tiedowns to load up the front suspension a bit.

[awayatc]

On your sidestand you put all the tension on the other side first, then on the side your side stand is.
Your sidestand prevents bike from goig down that way,
And because of the angle of lean it takes quite a bit of doing to fall over the other way....
On centrestand it is ready to fall either way.....
Sorry can't explain it better, but surely you can hitnk it through yourself...?

Bikes that do fall over on crossings are on centrestands.....
I will under no circumstances have a bike on a centrestand next to mine...

[MarkH]

Whats the reason behind tying down on the side stand and not the centre stand?

The way I understand it the triangle created by the front tyre contact patch, the rear tyre contact patch & the sidestand is bigger & therefore makes a more stable bike.

[Kickaha]

Bikes that do fall over on crossings are on centrestands.....
I will under no circumstances have a bike on a centrestand next to mine...

I've tied mine down on the centrestand dozens of times, but I do tie down at four points

If it isn't tied down properly it can fall over regardless of what stand is used

[awayatc]

just don't park next to a bike you can't afford....

[Tank]

I went on Kaitake a few weeks back and was impressed with the system. Tie-downs looked almost new and were of a very good quality.

pic of the Mighty V-Strom attached showing the setup.

Edit - wont work if you have hand grips that dont have a removable end.

[Kickaha]

just don't park next to a bike you can't afford....


:lol:
I tie my bike down properly, there is no worries about it ever falling over

When I originally used to cross over I used to tie it down at four points with the stand up

In dozens of trips over the Strait I have yet to see a bike ever fall over, although I seem to only ever get smooth sailings

[rwh]

Aratere, sails only once a day from Wellington,and twice from Picton.
...
Kaitake, sails twice a day from Wellington, and Once from Picton.

How do they manage that? Kaitaki carries Aratere to Picton, and Aratere carries Kaitaki back to Wellington? :done:

Richard

[Conquiztador]

I will from my last experience always now use Monte Stello that goes over night time. $69 includes a small cabin and free food. OK, so she is no luxury ferry. Used for trucks and if you don't like truckies then dont do it. But the price, the night time crossing (saves valuable daylight time), the cabin and the food. Why do the day ferry thingy? (See my blog entry re the NV400 ride). If you use the ferries you should always have your own tiedowns with you, and they are needed on her as she is, as mentioned, focussed on trucks. But there is a space set aside on second deck for bikes.

[my-bonaventure]

:lol: I've used the ferries across the ditch several times with my bike n always carry my own tie downs .......... I'm surprised how many people don't carry tie downs (very handy things should you need them and they don't take up too much room) and even more suprised on how many people (guys) don't know how to attach them ........... I've found the Blue Bridge to be consistantly better priced and the hours of the ferries work in better for me when travelling than the Interislander usually does.

[awayatc]

Finally crossed the ditch on Bluebridge......
Internet bookings are on licence plate number, which is very handy compared to Interislanders "booking reference number sequence"....

I was guided on board Santa Regina before the cars......(unlike interislander)
And also was allowed to leave first on other end...(also unlike Interislander)

Bikes are directed to upperdeck against starboard side.
There are bike slots with 4 anchorpoints on deck.
The points are relatively close to bike.
I did'nt see any tie downs provided, so used my own.
Crew were helpfull, and trip was calm and uneventfull.
Slightly cheaper then Interislander, and crossong time (8 am from picton to Wellington)
suited me better.
Happily travel bluebridge again.
Monte stella is sistership to Regina, so expect bike arrangements to be similar/identical.....
but have not been aboard "stella"

[Bass]

The reason for using the sidestand is that not all bikes have a centrestand. I'd only recommend using a centrestand (where available) where the deck is flat and uncluttered.


My understanding is that steel stands skate around on steel decks much more readily than rubber tyres do and using the centre stand lifts the rear tyre off the deck.
Also, if you tie down against the side stand, you can compress the suspension both front and rear which gives the whole assembly more resilience without moving around than a centre stand where it is likely that only the front suspension keeps tension on the tie downs.

[Grubber]

Finally crossed the ditch on Bluebridge......
Internet bookings are on licence plate number, which is very handy compared to Interislanders "booking reference number sequence"....

I was guided on board Santa Regina before the cars......(unlike interislander)
And also was allowed to leave first on other end...(also unlike Interislander)

Bikes are directed to upperdeck against starboard side.
There are bike slots with 4 anchorpoints on deck.
The points are relatively close to bike.
I did'nt see any tie downs provided, so used my own.
Crew were helpfull, and trip was calm and uneventfull.
Slightly cheaper then Interislander, and crossong time (8 am from picton to Wellington)
suited me better.
Happily travel bluebridge again.
Monte stella is sistership to Regina, so expect bike arrangements to be similar/identical.....
but have not been aboard "stella"

Would recommend this for sure. Have done plenty of boat trips with Interislander and found it a mission in most cases. Did my first of 4 trips across on bluebridge and it was a dream. Always take my own tie downs anyway so it's never a problem. The ship never rocked once and the guys on board are awesome to deal with. Seemed the booking in and the whole trip to be fair was made to be very easy.


Forget about the Interislander. When it comes to getting bikes across the dutch, Bluebridge FTW.

Bigs thumbs up for Bluebridge from me too. Bloody awesome! Interislander is full of Union staff that can't be bothered doing anything but collect their pay and the book in procedures are shite. If your late you don't get on. With Bluebridge you can ring them and they will save you space if your running late. Guess they wouldn't wait past sailing time of coarse.:Punk:

[oldrider]

Hell, if Bluebridge can do calmer crossings, then it's them for me, everytime! :shit:

[Hans]

Hell, if Bluebridge can do calmer crossings, then it's them for me, everytime! :shit:

Especially since they sold that fucking rustbucket MV Kent. It will now be plying the South China Sea and everyone who ever sailed on it is happy.

[sefer]

Bluebridge don't have tie downs, but plenty of deck ropes (a bit greasy) you can use, assuming you can tie a knot ;)

[_Shrek_]

Finally crossed the ditch on Bluebridge......
Internet bookings are on licence plate number, which is very handy compared to Interislanders "booking reference number sequence"....

I was guided on board Santa Regina before the cars......(unlike interislander)
And also was allowed to leave first on other end...(also unlike Interislander)

:Punk: thats why I use them better all round. as for tie downs, they suggested the 1st time i used then to bring my own because of theft etc...

when using tie downs i put it on side stand & put the right hand on 1st a pull untill stand is off the deck then pull left side down this way the bike is standing with out stands nothing gets bent & never leave it in gear, because if the weather is a bit rough & there is a bit of movement it can create a lip on the bore

:weep: sadly i have to use Interislander as the CK have organized the cheap rates through them

[JATZ]

IMHO.....

Bluebridge travel @ crap times for me, so I use interislander. Never had a problem with finding tie down point either.And I take my own tiedowns
Put bike on sidestand, loosly tension up strop on s/s side then stand bike upright using tension of right hand strap, compresses the forks and holds bike upright, maybe put a strop aroundrear wheel to rear tie down point to hold bike steady :yes:
Never put the bike on the centre stand, metal deck and metal stand. Try pushing the bike sideways when it's on the centre stand, before it's tied down.
For the definitive tiedown method go and ask in the offroad forum :shifty:

[220 Ohms]

Last time I travelled by ferry with a group of bikes we all carried one rope and two ratchets each.
The bikes were put on sidestands then the rope was used to secure the rear wheel to the deck. The ratchets were hooked to each side of the lower triple clamp and anchored forward and out to the side of the bike, these were then tensioned pulling the bike forward against the rope and upright off the stand.

Not sure if this is the best technique but it worked for us on a mild sailing.
I'm due to cross the strait again in a few months so am interested in the different ways people secure their bikes.

There seem to be a few key things required, preventing the bike rolling forwards/backwards, preventing tip over and preventing the tyres from slipping out from underneath.
It seems like anchoring each wheel then having a tiedown on each corner of the bike would be the safest.

[Usarka]

That "bring your own because of theft" thing fucks me off.

That's like being told to bring your own trolley to the supermarket due to the fact that the white trash knacker two doors down from the speed hump pushing three bags of dorritos, mozzeralla coated cheese balls, dips, pams special ho-sized tampons and 6 litres of cider decided she can't be arsed walking the six doors back to drop off the trolley because each time she gets to the door she gets sucked in front of the telly as Jeremy Kile's telling some dumb duufus that the lie detector has proven that his missus lied and that the baby is actually a boiled cabbage. FFS.

[pritch]

That "bring your own because of theft" thing fucks me off.


It's not just that, it's quite possible that the items supplied are soaked in the various efliuvia flowing from sundry stock trucks.

Bling awarded for the creative content in the rest of your post :yes:

[oldrider]

That "bring your own because of theft" thing fucks me off.

That's like being told to bring your own trolley to the supermarket due to the fact that the white trash knacker two doors down from the speed hump pushing three bags of dorritos, mozzeralla coated cheese balls, dips, pams special ho-sized tampons and 6 litres of cider decided she can't be arsed walking the six doors back to drop off the trolley because each time she gets to the door she gets sucked in front of the telly as Jeremy Kile's telling some dumb duufus that the lie detector has proven that his missus lied and that the baby is actually a boiled cabbage. FFS.

You actually watch Jeremy Kyle?.....that programme makes me wonder why I ride a "British" bike!!!! :sick:

Yeah, I always carry my own tie downs especially on the ferries and I always tie down my own bike!

[Kickaha]

Yeah, I always carry my own tie downs especially on the ferries and I always tie down my own bike!

I've always done the same since the first crossing I made in the mid eighties

I choose what ever ferry is crossing at the most convenient time depending on where I am going and when I need to be there, Bluebridge or Interislander it's all the same to me it's just 3 hours wasted traveling time

[JATZ]

Bluebridge or Interislander it's all the same to me it's just 3 hours wasted traveling time

Amen......

[skippa1]

The actual tie down bit is pretty much the same no matter what boat youre on(Bluebridge or Interislander), and Ive done a lot of crossings.(6 this year). Bring your own tiedowns. As for tying down on the side stand????? If I tie a bike down on a trailer or ute, I stand it up, get a small amount of compression on the forks, 1 strap each for the handlebars and that is sufficient. Why put tension on your side stand at all? I have seen some tie the bike up like a spiders web, ropes and tiedowns everywhere. What for? If you can give the bike a good wobble and it doesnt fall over, a rolling boat wont make it go.

Choice of boats? Interislander is more comfortable for the passenger......its my choice but it is more about crossing times and if Bluebridge times are better, I go with them. As previously said, it is just dead travel time for 3 and a bit hours.
Doing it again on Tuesday for the Cold Kiwi.....

[_Shrek_]

Doing it again on Tuesday for the Cold Kiwi.....

:shit: you leaving early for some one riding an R1 or you doing the loop? (around the north Island) :whistle:

[jasonu]

How do they manage that? Kaitaki carries Aratere to Picton, and Aratere carries Kaitaki back to Wellington? :done:

Richard

Yes I saw that one too...
On alternateing days perhaps?