Interislander ferries review.

**MarkH** · 6th April 2009, 17:51

Originally Posted by Duc

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** · 6th April 2009, 18:01

Originally Posted by awayatc

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** · 6th April 2009, 19:10

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

**Tank** · 6th April 2009, 19:21

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** · 6th April 2009, 19:48

Originally Posted by awayatc

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

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** · 6th April 2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by awayatc

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?

Richard

**Conquiztador** · 6th April 2009, 22:38

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** · 6th April 2009, 23:16

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** · 28th August 2010, 08:05

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** · 28th August 2010, 08:58

Originally Posted by Hitcher

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** · 28th August 2010, 09:22

Originally Posted by 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"

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.

Originally Posted by Hitcher

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.

**oldrider** · 28th August 2010, 10:03

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

**Hans** · 28th August 2010, 14:49

Originally Posted by oldrider

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

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** · 28th August 2010, 16:44

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

**_Shrek_** · 28th August 2010, 17:27

Originally Posted by 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)

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

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