Cook Strait Ferries Megathread

[GazzaH]

Is it still recommended to take your own tie downs for the Cook Strait ferries?

No, they have big anchors and strong chains to tie the ferries down. Not sure they are long enough for the middle of the Cook Strait though. She's pretty deep.

[nerrrd]

Travelled on the Interislander in February, this is what they sent me beforehand.

Having said that, there were some tie downs/bits of rope with hooks available on both trips.

[jellywrestler]

Travelled on the Interislander in February, this is what they sent me beforehand.

Having said that, there were some tie downs/bits of rope with hooks available on both trips.

is that acceptable service? there's absolutley no assurance that the bike next to you will be sicure....

[pete376403]

p

they seem to have no trouble providing tie downs for the truckies.

The trucks are tied down with big overcentre chain and hook things that fit into the slots in the deck.There's plenty there because they are too big and heavy to steal. The interislander branded ratchet straps were probably all stolen in the first week.

[jellywrestler]

The trucks are tied down with big overcentre chain and hook things that fit into the slots in the deck.There's plenty there because they are too big and heavy to steal. The interislander branded ratchet straps were probably all stolen in the first week.

when i got them provided oddly they said theft wasn't an issue, had a budget for it like glassware going from a bar, in saying that they looked at the options of one end hooked on that needed tools to remove etc, it was quite a few years ago and i rarely travel on the ferry with a bike now so never kept the momentum i'd gained going.

[Kickaha]

is that acceptable service? there's absolutley no assurance that the bike next to you will be sicure....

That's why I'll always try to leave a gap between the next one, although I'd normally watch them tie their own bikes down to see how good they do it

i'm talking about the cowshit on the decks, do you take your own scissors to your barber?

Having travelled on the ferries just about annually since 1987 I have yet to see cowshit on any deck, I have far more choice of barbers to find one with the correct gear than I do of Ferries with tiedowns

[nerrrd]

is that acceptable service? there's absolutley no assurance that the bike next to you will be sicure....

Well it was my first time so I was actually glad to have bought some I could figure out how to use them before I got there.

But I agree it would be nice to have someone who knows what they're doing strapping the bikes down or at least checking they're secure enough (maybe they do once the riders have left).

[FJRider]

Do you though? I thought you were just paying for a space on the boat

When you take a car or truck on any of the ferries ... who supplies and fits the tie-downs ... ???

Many motorcycle owners however ... are quite particular on who touches their bike. From the days of the Aramoana ... it was NZR policy and rules that Motorcycle owners tied their own bike down. Ropes were supplied but first in ... first used all the ropes. The "Take your own" unofficial rule app[lied ... for the individual motorcyclists safety and convenience ... has been always advised in these forums.

Those that choose NOT to take this advice and NOT take their own ... be it on THEIR own head.

[jellywrestler]

Those that choose NOT to take this advice and NOT take their own ... be it on THEIR own head.

once agian, this doesn't help if the guy beside you has none now does it?

[Kickaha]

But I agree it would be nice to have someone who knows what they're doing strapping the bikes down or at least checking they're secure enough .

When the fast ferry operated, I parked my bike where I was told next minute the guy throws a tie down across the seat left to right and starts cranking it down

When you take a car or truck on any of the ferries ... who supplies and fits the tie-downs ... ???

A lot if the time they aren't tied down

once agian, this doesn't help if the guy beside you has none now does it?

Fuck him for being a dick and not being prepared, I'll move my bike further away

[FJRider]

When the fast ferry operated, I parked my bike where I was told next minute the guy throws a tie down across the seat left to right and starts cranking it down

I never took a bike across on the fast ferries. I always took some rope with me on the NZR ferries. Sometimes I needed it.

[FJRider]

once agian, this doesn't help if the guy beside you has none now does it?

In a perfect world we'd all care. It's not.

In these cases ... those unlucky dumb one's would just hope for a calm sailing. The smart ones would ask a crew member for help.

[pritch]

When the fast ferry operated, I parked my bike where I was told next minute the guy throws a tie down across the seat left to right and starts cranking it down

I never used the fast ferry but was warned that if I did I should take a towel to fold and put across the seat.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah the guy cranked it down, think that bike at least had a centrestand.

But after a rough ride on the vomit comet, where all the ceiling tiles were playing castinet tunes, we resolved to go pick up our broken bikes, sad end to a great trip.

To our surprise they were all upright. And the seatfoam recovered a bit.

[buggerit]

Undies, I knew I had forgotten something.
On board now, Inter islander is well set up with ratcheting tie downs
with handlebar loops and a slot bracket/slot to hold your
front wheel.

Update, the above ferry was the Kaitaki.

Return trip was on the Awatere,manky rope with hooks on the end and rubber chocks , glad to have my own tiedowns with me.