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!

[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....

[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...