Cook Strait Ferries Megathread

**junkmanjoe** · 31st December 2010, 16:44

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

why dont you just bend over and let every one shove one up ya?
We pay good money to travel on the ferry, way more per square foot than a car does and in that I expect to have decent tiedowns provided. Stand your ground and they will find some. otherwise take your own and let them get covered in cowshit and then put them in your bag and enjoy

well id rather tie my own bike down than some other tool to do it wrong and have ya bike fall over on the next bike. if you getting cow shit on your straps your parked in the wrong area.
all the time ive traveled on the ferrys iv never had shit on my straps...

**shafty** · 1st January 2011, 05:47

Originally Posted by trustme

The wife & I are heading south in a couple of weeks. She will be on her nice shiny new Bonneville. Which ferry would be the easiest & least intimidating for her to ride on & off.???
I've used the rail ferries a fair bit mainly in trucks & the Bluebridge boat once but cant remember much about it

Trustme, if WET the ramps can present a 'slip' hazard. I always start and warm up the bike before disembarking, Iignore the 'Don't start your engines' stuff - I want to putt down the ramp with a warm donk, and not have the rear wheel lock up on a wet steel ramp from a cold engine......

**trustme** · 1st January 2011, 14:01

Thanks guys. Booked on Bluebridge. I'm probably being a bit over protective, We'll be fine.
Miss Nine is flying down to nanas in ChCH & we take her from there for a sedate 14 day tootle around the Sth. She is bouncing off the walls already.

**jellywrestler** · 1st January 2011, 16:50

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

well id rather tie my own bike down than some other tool to do it wrong and have ya bike fall over on the next bike. if you getting cow shit on your straps your parked in the wrong area.
all the time ive traveled on the ferrys iv never had shit on my straps...

seems you've missed my point, they are not allowed to tie down your bike, simple I won't let anyone tie mine down, ever.
as for the shit, clearly you don't frequent the ferries very often as sometimes you have no choice but to park in an area on a particular boat that there is shit, quite simple.
I've done may a sailing and worked with the interislander customer manager not too long ago to provide suitable tie downs and tie down points.
He was, once I got to him, very good to work with etc.
Problem is he's now moved on and the standards are slipping

**Kickaha** · 1st January 2011, 16:54

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

as for the shit, clearly you don't frequent the ferries very often as sometimes you have no choice but to park in an area on a particular boat that there is shit, quite simple.

I've done a lot of crossings on the bike over the last 25 years and haven't once had that problem, maybe they reserve a special park just for you

**junkmanjoe** · 1st January 2011, 17:55

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

seems you've missed my point, they are not allowed to tie down your bike, simple I won't let anyone tie mine down, ever.
as for the shit, clearly you don't frequent the ferries very often as sometimes you have no choice but to park in an area on a particular boat that there is shit, quite simple.
I've done may a sailing and worked with the interislander customer manager not too long ago to provide suitable tie downs and tie down points.
He was, once I got to him, very good to work with etc.
Problem is he's now moved on and the standards are slipping

no worries there, wasnt having a dig at you. one crossing on the bluebridge i tied my bike down help my mate tie his and while we where doing this, keeping an eye on the chap next to us tieing his bike,,,,

decided to give a little advice on a better way,,,

I like the wheel in set up on the Arahura, the old bluebridge was basic and not very good tie down points..

not been on the new bigger bluebridge as of yet...have been told its quite nice..and a lot faster than the smaller ships.

JMJ

**_STAIN_** · 1st January 2011, 21:51

go Bluebridge and take your own tie downs, only honda riders go interislander

**TimeOut** · 2nd January 2011, 07:45

The steeper steel ramps on the Bluebridge can be a bit intimidating if wet, though don't seem to slippery

**pritch** · 3rd January 2011, 13:38

Originally Posted by rustic101

I.e how do they tie them down??

Basically "they" don't. You do. Take your own tie downs and tape or cable ties to hold the front brake on. You'll also need something to remove that at the other end. Work it all out before you leave home.

There are a number of threads on KB about taking your bike on ferries. Some people seem to have used one or the other and then swear by that. I have tried several and prefer the Arahura. I'm going again in February but don't know what on as yet - I'm not doing the booking.

I keep the tie downs in a plastic bag when not in use, then if they do get wet or shitty it doesn't affect everything else in your luggage. It should go without saying but... The tie downs are best packed in the tank bag or otherwise
somewhere easy to get at. You don't want to be unpacking all your stuff to reach them. And sometimes there will be a stock truck right beside your bike.

Read the other threads, the search function is your friend.

**BrianST1300** · 7th September 2011, 11:58

I'm riding my bike from Dunedin to Wellington and looking for tips re securely tying down my much loved Honda ST1300 on the ferry so it doesn't get mashed on the crossing.

They say bring your own tie downs. I assume this means they are passing the responsibility for any damage that may occur to us bike owners.

Is the centre stand or side stand best? I've heard that tying the front brake on is a good idea.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Brian

**oneofsix** · 7th September 2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by BrianST1300

I'm riding my bike from Dunedin to Wellington and looking for tips re securely tying down my much loved Honda ST1300 on the ferry so it doesn't get mashed on the crossing.

They say bring your own tie downs. I assume this means they are passing the responsibility for any damage that may occur to us bike owners.

Is the centre stand or side stand best? I've heard that tying the front brake on is a good idea.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Brian

Tie it down to the side-stand, three points of hard contact, two of them rubber (your wheels). Don't forget to leave in gear.

**jellywrestler** · 7th September 2011, 12:06

Originally Posted by oneofsix

Tie it down to the side-stand, three points of hard contact, two of them rubber (your wheels). Don't forget to leave in gear.

Never leave it in gear. would you like any possible rocking motion on your bike direct onto your gearbox? no. Especially if it's already loaded as the bikes moved a bit when you're tying it down
as for tying down the bike butt it in against something and a couple of tie downs from the handlebars. rear tiedowns more to stop it dancing.

**240** · 7th September 2011, 12:08

Hey there mate I travel a lot on the ferries with my bike.
Its best to bring your own tie downs because their ones are dirty shitty old things.

The Kaitaki is the best to travel on as you will be the first off the boat when you depart.
Don't use any stand at all just pull down the front nice and firm with one tie down on each bar and put one across the rear wheel to keep the arse from skipping and you will be all good.
Even in the roughest crossing you will be sweet.

**KoroJ** · 7th September 2011, 13:36

I also recommend one of these: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...arness-II.aspx

Easy to tie down and keep the strops away from the frairing....although the one I have has soft loops that go over the handle grips. I just got it at the local bike shop for about $30.

I use one strop off each handle bar and loop one over the rear seat and through the grip rails, shoving a rag under the high side pannier to prevent any chaffing.