Cook Strait Ferries Megathread

[240]

If you are worried and if you have space to carry them then a set of motorcycle tiesdowns are well worth it. They have an extra tiedown loop that makes them easier to use. If your bike has a full fairing then one of the aforementioned straps that goes over the bars is a great idea. Practise or find a decent tie down point before you get on the boat - it saves time.

Put the bike on the side stand, fit the tie down to the 'high' side of the bike and pull it slightly tight. Fit the other side (we are talking front here) and flip up the stand. Tighten both down compressing the front suspension to hold tension (ask someone to hold the bike upright if you are worried. If you do it right the bike only needs 2 strops but because you might have luggage etc its good to be careful and ad a couple at the back too.

Main advantage of using your own gear is that its usually clean but in the past I have taken disposable gloves on leaving as their gear used to be so freakin manky even I didnt want to stick my hands into my gloves after.

Undo the two from strops 1st after putting down the stand.

DON"T tie it hard onto the stand - you can damage it

yep this is exactly correct in my opinion.

[Paul in NZ]

Point is you pay good money to sail per square foot. Taking your own tiedowns doesn't stop the bike next to you, that's tied down with thin rope, falling on your bike.
As long as we bend over and take service like that up the arse they'll keep providing sub standard service.
There are customer service forms, find one and fill it out, eventually they will get the message and improve the service.

Yes I agree with you and indeed I have complained. What happens is that they put some more tie downs there (I've even seen motorcycle ones) which either get stolen or become utterly filthy in a matter of days due to the environment.

As for other bikers - you really can't seem to win. I had one utter cunt ondo MY tie down so he could fit his (utterly not required to attach his if he had thought about it for a second)) and then not do mine back up again. Found my bike wobbling about. He was drunk and amazingly abusive when he left with his slag pillion and drop kick mates (happy to take him on 1 for 1 but odds not in my favour) so my pillion *555'd the cunts.

When other people are involved its always a lottery once we got some minor damage when some muppet came in after us and thought the crew would tie it down and just walked off. He was greatly amazed to find his bike laying down on my mates bike....

[kiwigjt]

Yes I agree with you and indeed I have complained. What happens is that they put some more tie downs there (I've even seen motorcycle ones) which either get stolen or become utterly filthy in a matter of days due to the environment.

As for other bikers - you really can't seem to win. I had one utter cunt ondo MY tie down so he could fit his (utterly not required to attach his if he had thought about it for a second)) and then not do mine back up again. Found my bike wobbling about. He was drunk and amazingly abusive when he left with his slag pillion and drop kick mates (happy to take him on 1 for 1 but odds not in my favour) so my pillion *555'd the cunts.

When other people are involved its always a lottery once we got some minor damage when some muppet came in after us and thought the crew would tie it down and just walked off. He was greatly amazed to find his bike laying down on my mates bike....

Geez with stories like this it is difficult to push yourself to make the trip with a bike. I have done it a couple of times and had no issues but maybe I was just lucky.
A couple of halfway decent tie downs are not to costly, don't take up alot of room and by all accounts can be quite useful if the ferry has nothing on board.

[MD]

Wellington has such calm weather all year, I doubt you would need to secure a bike at all.

If by chance it is rough, then usually the ties provided will do. I always carry two small ties with me, just in case.

Personally I'd leave the side stand down and would never use a centre stand. Better to have the rear wheel firm on the deck and in gear to reduce movement.
I secure the high side first. Then the sidestand side but it doesn't need to be super tight and compressing the suspension. What's going to happen as the boat rolls? The rope/tie will gently tighten as the bike moves a whole cm at most. Hardly causing armageddon.

[oneofsix]

Wellington has such calm weather all year, I doubt you would need to secure a bike at all.
.

You need to secure it against the bump as you cross the entrance to the sounds and the high speed turns.

[Conquiztador]

- I always stay until they want me out from the area so I know that nobody has taken my tiedown or that someone coming late has parked close to my bike.
- Always have 2 tiedowns of the quick release type as the ratchet ones take too much space and are a pain to fit. As a result I know that I have good tiedowns.
- Front wheel in the channel and tiedowns to handlebars and you are done. If you end up on the flat deck then use one of the (normally) black rubber blocks against front wheel and same applies.
- I never use side or central stand. If stand fails then your bike will be loose.
Apart from that; common sense and all will be well.

[skippa1]

- - I never use side or central stand. If stand fails then your bike will be loose.

Really? and if you dont use the stand and the strap fails?

[mossy1200]

Im thinking search on tard me for tie down bulk lots.

[skippa1]

Im thinking search on tard me for tie down bulk lots.

Thats it! you need both stands down though (if you have two)and you need to wait until the vehicle deck is clear unless someone loosens one of the straps...

[TimeOut]

When other people are involved its always a lottery once we got some minor damage when some muppet came in after us and thought the crew would tie it down and just walked off. He was greatly amazed to find his bike laying down on my mates bike....

Had the same happen to us.
Guy parked his Harley climbed off and muttered as he walked away, I hope they tie her down well. Lucky we were still there and called him back.

[oneofsix]

Had the same happen to us.
Guy parked his Harley climbed off and muttered as he walked away, I hope they tie her down well. Lucky we were still there and called him back.

I blame the edumacation system! They do still have the conditions on the tickets and the signs on the ferries that say you are responsible for tying down your own bike, don't they? So it must be lack of reading ability. Confusing in new situations, stress, excitement, worry, bursting bladder, the call of the on board bar etc wouldn't cause you to miss these obvious notices
I was lucky the ferry had the strops and there were bikes each side being tied down at the same time but in future I carry a set of my own in case and will wait until my bike is surrounded by other tied down bikes, after all the bar doesn't open until the ferry has left the dock.

[Premature Accelerato]

So how about someone who has a decent camera, the next time they take their bike on the ferry, gets some photos of what they can expect to have to deal with. I know ,I know, why dont I do it myself but to be honest there have been a few times that I have thought of taking the crossing but when I have asked the guys at the terminal about what is provide and how its done etc etc, they have been somewhat vague.

[pritch]

So how about someone who has a decent camera, the next time they take their bike on the ferry, gets some photos of what they can expect to have to deal with.

Nice idea but no solution, circumstances vary, even on the same ship. The Arahura has bike specific tie down points near the bow, but last year I was with a group and they directed us to a chain aft. The idea being to hook the tie downs to the chain.

On the Bluebridge ship I sailed on there was nothing, you just had to find your own solution. Others KBers had different experiences.

Take your own gear and be ready for anything.

Afterthoughts: It should go without saying, but pack so the bike bra, tie downs etc are accessible; in a tank bag, or on top of whatever else is in the pannier.

Keep them in plastic bags so that if you do end up next to a stock truck and they get covered in shite, you can put them back in the bag without covering the rest of your kit in ordure.

Pray for a smooth sailing, most of them are but...

[Paul in NZ]

So how about someone who has a decent camera, the next time they take their bike on the ferry, gets some photos of what they can expect to have to deal with. I know ,I know, why dont I do it myself but to be honest there have been a few times that I have thought of taking the crossing but when I have asked the guys at the terminal about what is provide and how its done etc etc, they have been somewhat vague.

If you can tie your bike down to a trailer its pretty much the same as that. Just use common sense.

[oneofsix]

If you can tie your bike down to a trailer its pretty much the same as that. Just use common sense.

I ride my bike. I always feel a little sad when I see a bike being hauled on a trailer or stuffed inside a van