Page 10 of 37 FirstFirst ... 8910111220 ... LastLast
Results 136 to 150 of 550

Thread: Cook Strait Ferries Megathread

  1. #136
    Join Date
    13th November 2008 - 10:26
    Bike
    2008 BMW K1200GT
    Location
    Uppa Huppa, Auckland
    Posts
    99
    Thanks everyone for the info. All very useful...even an offer for accom which I'll pass on this time as I have some hard targets to make, otherwise next time (ta W.).

    I'll try the Interislander this time and Blueridge next. Jeez, its not bloody cheap though is it!

    ANy comments on the following for tie-down...I have straps with loops at either end. What I would normally do is put it on the side stand, lock the front wheel and tie the side stand to the front axle so it can't roll off the stand. The triangulation is then at its most stable. Any other ties would be to stop it toppling the other way in a big roll/pitch (depending on bike's orientation on the barky). I may see if the car parts place has any of those straps with ratchets on them. That may be quicker/neater. Then I have a good set for future trips as well. The LT does have plenty of room to carry crap like this :-)
    Ralph
    ...the older I get, the faster I was...

  2. #137
    Join Date
    26th April 2006 - 16:17
    Bike
    RF900 /cbr1100xx/GAS GAS 250
    Location
    WELLIE
    Posts
    721
    with my blackbird i use a bike bra (oxford make them) loops over the handle bars with a strap between them.
    Also keeps the tiedowns off the bodywork, stopping rubbing on the paintwork.
    I use the method of standing the bike upright with tiedowns on all four corners of the bike. They have rubber chocks for the front wheel.
    Some of the ships have rings on the deck to clip to others have a silly hole on the deck for a hook to go into, not a big fan of those.
    Some people prefer the triangle method to tie theri bike down on its side stand.
    what ever works for you i guess.
    Dont trust the cheep tiedowns they give you on the boat, if they even have them, some just have dirty old ropes.
    i did hear the other day that interislander is no longer going to keep a stock of tiedowns as people nick them or wreck them.


    Quote Originally Posted by longwayfromhome View Post
    Thanks everyone for the info. All very useful...even an offer for accom which I'll pass on this time as I have some hard targets to make, otherwise next time (ta W.).

    I'll try the Interislander this time and Blueridge next. Jeez, its not bloody cheap though is it!

    ANy comments on the following for tie-down...I have straps with loops at either end. What I would normally do is put it on the side stand, lock the front wheel and tie the side stand to the front axle so it can't roll off the stand. The triangulation is then at its most stable. Any other ties would be to stop it toppling the other way in a big roll/pitch (depending on bike's orientation on the barky). I may see if the car parts place has any of those straps with ratchets on them. That may be quicker/neater. Then I have a good set for future trips as well. The LT does have plenty of room to carry crap like this :-)
    its Crazy Big Al but if your have lesbian fantasies you can read it crazy bi gal if you like!

  3. #138
    Join Date
    17th April 2006 - 05:39
    Bike
    Various things
    Location
    Wellington
    Posts
    14,429
    Quote Originally Posted by crazybigal View Post
    with my blackbird i use a bike bra (oxford make them) loops over the handle bars with a strap between them.
    Also keeps the tiedowns off the bodywork, stopping rubbing on the paintwork.
    I use the method of standing the bike upright with tiedowns on all four corners of the bike. They have rubber chocks for the front wheel.
    .
    Good advice mate...those Oxford doo dakies are the go for road bikes!

  4. #139
    Join Date
    25th May 2004 - 23:04
    Bike
    1963 Ford Thunderbird
    Location
    Horowhenua
    Posts
    1,869
    Quote Originally Posted by crazybigal View Post
    Dont trust the cheep tiedowns they give you on the boat, if they even have them, some just have dirty old ropes.
    i did hear the other day that interislander is no longer going to keep a stock of tiedowns as people nick them or wreck them.
    And if they do have any tie-downs, they are covered in cow shit from the cattle trucks that often share the same deck. You definitely don't want to be untying them and then putting your gloves straight on when you leave at the other end! We take our own, and have left them at the place we stay overnight in Picton on the way south, picking them up again on the way to the ferry home.
    Yes, I am pedantic about spelling and grammar so get used to it!

  5. #140
    Join Date
    13th November 2007 - 05:59
    Bike
    02 VFR 800
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    62
    I went over on Bluebridge a couple of times and they've always ushered me to the front of the queue both getting on and getting off, and generally been pretty good about it.

    I also used that crappy smelly ropes, however they were fairly strong looking and I used a few truckies hitchs' to tie the bike down and didn't have any problems. The sea was pretty calm though. I'd hate to go over on a rough day, proper tie downs or not.

  6. #141
    Join Date
    21st May 2005 - 21:12
    Bike
    2020 ls650 boulevard
    Location
    new plymouth
    Posts
    3,718
    ive always used inter islander, and bikes are generally put on first. one has the bike parks at the very end of the deck, and theres no way a bike would be able to "filter' through once its full of cars. [i have to walk sideways sometimes, so yeh.] another has the parks at the front, so the bikes can get on at any time during loading. im not sure if that boat has parks at the back, as there didnt seem to be much room at the front. room for maybe 8 or 10? maybe?

    i always book ahead, and make sure i arrive at least an hour early in wellington, mainly so if i get lost, i dont miss the boat.

  7. #142
    Join Date
    9th February 2009 - 12:48
    Bike
    1999 Red 955i Daytona
    Location
    Kaiapoi, New Zealand
    Posts
    634
    I have been on both and both are good. I have booked and turned up and usually just turn up and and get on as well with no problems... wen I do that i go and see who is sailing next and go with them.
    The last time I got on the Bluebridge it was that close that when I got off the loading ramp they started raising the ramp and we were sailing just about before I had tied the bike down...

    from now the only time I book is if it is a holiday period otherwise its roll up and buy when i get there

  8. #143
    Join Date
    2nd August 2008 - 08:57
    Bike
    '23 CRF 1100
    Location
    Hamilton
    Posts
    2,488
    Quote Originally Posted by sunhuntin View Post
    ive always used inter islander, and bikes are generally put on first. one has the bike parks at the very end of the deck, and theres no way a bike would be able to "filter' through once its full of cars.
    That one might have been the Aratere - it has bike parks at the back.

    The Arahura has room for about 8 bikes at the front, not sure if there are more at the back.
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Quote Originally Posted by PrincessBandit View Post
    I realised that having 105kg of man sliding into my rear was a tad uncomfortable
    "If the cops didn't see it, I didn't do it!"
    - George Carlin (RIP)

  9. #144
    Join Date
    13th November 2008 - 10:26
    Bike
    2008 BMW K1200GT
    Location
    Uppa Huppa, Auckland
    Posts
    99
    Thanks for the feedback everyone. Went down last weekend. Put it on the sidesstand, then did one tiedown on the left and on the right, start forward at about front axle level, diagonally in over the footpeg, then diagonally out the back, to level with the back axle. Can't tell if it would hold in a really bad swell as it was pretty calm.

    Personally, I think they should buy 20 or so front wheel clamps...that would solve it once and for all. Imagine a situation where you ride stright in, clamp auto closes, put in the locking pin, one light tie to stop the back jumping around....finished in about 1-2 mins, all bikes, all shapes and sizes. The advantage for the Ferry company would be that they can fit quite a lot more bikes in, and be more secure.

    Other thing is that if you have a booking, you don't have to turn up until much nearer the sailing time. Bikes go in second (Freight goes in first on the two sailings I was on).
    Ralph
    ...the older I get, the faster I was...

  10. #145
    Join Date
    15th October 2005 - 15:54
    Bike
    Nada
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    4,311

    Question Interislander. Easy to find?

    Quick question...I'm riding down to Wellington tomorrow to take the ferry over the great divide.
    Now then...can someone give me a heads up re how easy it is to find the ferry terminal?

  11. #146
    Join Date
    26th February 2005 - 15:10
    Bike
    Ubrfarter V Klunkn,ffwabbit,Petal,phoebe
    Location
    In the cave of Adullam
    Posts
    13,624
    Easy as. Ride out to sea about 5 miles. Watch for a honking big boat steaming in and follow it in
    Quote Originally Posted by skidmark
    This world has lost it's drive, everybody just wants to fit in the be the norm as it were.
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
    The manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to find out what the average rider prefers, because the maker who guesses closest to the average preference gets the largest sales. But the average rider is mainly interested in silly (as opposed to useful) “goodies” to try to kid the public that he is riding a racer

  12. #147
    Join Date
    21st September 2006 - 21:35
    Bike
    Kawasaki ZX1100 Turbo
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    3,100
    A true nightmare.

    Ride in correct direction and then use GPS, maps, compass and stars to navigate.

    Picton is worse... theres bloody two different ones... but you have to be a right plonker to wait at the wrong one...

  13. #148
    Join Date
    15th October 2005 - 15:54
    Bike
    Nada
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    4,311
    Quote Originally Posted by Ixion View Post
    Easy as. Ride out to sea about 5 miles. Watch for a honking big boat steaming in and follow it in
    Why thank you for you pearls of wisdom....somehow they remind me of my Grandma's necklace

  14. #149
    Join Date
    4th April 2009 - 20:17
    Bike
    Honde GB400f TT
    Location
    Ngaio Wellington
    Posts
    47
    Quote Originally Posted by DMNTD View Post
    Quick question...I'm riding down to Wellington tomorrow to take the ferry over the great divide.
    Now then...can someone give me a heads up re how easy it is to find the ferry terminal?
    I'll do the real answer

    SR 1 south, exit onto Aotea Quay. Take the first right, go around the bend and it will dump you into the car park.

    Easy as, and there are signs pointing you to it as well.

  15. #150
    Join Date
    25th May 2006 - 02:00
    Bike
    Speed Triple
    Location
    Straya.....cunt
    Posts
    2,467
    Its sign posted. If you can read then your fine.

    Otherwise down the big hill with the speed camera and take the exit at the bottom.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •