Tie downs for ferries

[Canuck]

Sorry to keep asking silly questions but..

When travelling on the ferries between the continent and Ireland/England, do the ferry companies tie down your bike or are you expected to provide your own tie downs?? What is the procedure??

Patrick

 

[judge]

Sorry to keep asking silly questions but..

When travelling on the ferries between the continent and Ireland/England, do the ferry companies tie down your bike or are you expected to provide your own tie downs?? What is the procedure??

Patrick

Different companies, different routes different policies.

From experience:

Eurotunnel train: No tie downs, bike on side stand, in gear, apply handbrake!!

Seafrance: Ratchet Tie-Downs supplied, crew secured.
P&O : Ratchet Tie-Downs supplied, crew secured.
Irish Ferries (Pembroke-Rosslare): Greasy bit of rope - DIY!!

(all the above used in the last 12 months)

Where the securing of bikes is crew assisted I always supervise to ensure they don't fix the bike anywhere likely to damage the bike (i.e. NOT across the seat).

In the case of Irish Ferries bless 'em - I carry my own ratchet tie downs but have only ever crossed in good weather. If the weather was looking dodgy I'd INSIST they tie the bike down. If the deckhands are reluctant, seek out the white cap and start talking about insusrance claims etc. that will work. Also the Dublin-Holyhead routes use the most up to date fleet, they might have updated their bike securing policy, especially on the Dublin Swift (fast ferry).

 

[Colt]

P&O ferrry Plymouth to Santander You have to secure your own bike.
They provide the dirty blue rope You might get a plastic covered foam pad as well.
Take your own tie downs.

 

[roadrider]

Tie Downs

P&O crew do it with ratchet straps across the seat
Sea France do it with ratchet straps across the seat
P&O North Sea tie your own.
I put my gloves on the seat to protect it from the straps.
never had a problem with any of the above.

All above within the past 6 months

John

 

[roadrider]

Tie Downs

P&O crew do it with ratchet straps across the seat
Sea France do it with ratchet straps across the seat
P&O North Sea tie your own. or use greasy rope.
I put my gloves on the seat to protect it from the straps.
never had a problem with any of the above.

All above within the past 6 months

John

 

[retroman]

Re: Re: Tie downs for ferries

Irish Ferries (Pembroke-Rosslare): Greasy bit of rope - DIY!!

(all the above used in the last 12 months)

In the case of Irish Ferries bless 'em - I carry my own ratchet tie downs but have only ever crossed in good weather. If the weather was looking dodgy I'd INSIST they tie the bike down. If the deckhands are reluctant, seek out the white cap and start talking about insusrance claims etc. that will work. Also the Dublin-Holyhead routes use the most up to date fleet, they might have updated their bike securing policy, especially on the Dublin Swift (fast ferry).

Doing both these ferry routes in a fortnight ...

Where might I buy ratchet tie-downs, Judge?

 

[judge]

Re: Re: Re: Tie downs for ferries

Doing both these ferry routes in a fortnight ...

Where might I buy ratchet tie-downs, Judge?

Your mates down at Heine Gericke Cardiff should be able to sort you out. I got mine from my local branch.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Tie Downs for ferries

Hey Retroman,
Confirmed you'll get ratchet straps at Gericke Cardiff,watch out for the moody teenager behind the the counter,my oldest son is doing "work experience" there for a fortnight,not sure what he'll learn though!
Probably some new swear words and how to analyze the female form through the shop window at 50 paces I shouldn't wonder!

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Tie Downs for ferries

A tip;
Scan the deck as you ride on to the ferry,most park the bikes in parralel rows of 2,look for the cleats or eyes in the floor and park with these to the left of your bike,that way the tie downs will be pulling the bike in the direction of the sidestand,leave the bike in gear and put a strong elastic band or cable tie around the front brake,tie 1 strap to the passenger footpeg bracket going rearwards and one to the engine bar going forward-worked for me!
And leave as much of your riding gear secured to the bike as poss-so you don't have to cart it around with you
Of course if you're on a fast ferry you may well have steel cables running the length of the deck to tie on to,no worries park where you're told!
Have a good trip

 

[retroman]

Re: Tie Downs for ferries

Hey Retroman,
Confirmed you'll get ratchet straps at Gericke Cardiff,watch out for the moody teenager behind the the counter

Sounds like he's ideally qualified already

Thanks for the advice chaps, off there later 2day.

 

[retroman]

got them

£7.99 - bargain

And who is this I see? Humvee and Son, new managers of the Teutonic HG empire!!

 

[wessie]

I have found it varies, even on the same boat.

I recently went with Sea France Dover-Calais. We had the same ship for the return leg.

On the outbound trip the crew ran away pointing to bits of rope. There were about 20 bikes.

On the return leg, with even more bikes as there was a group returning from the Nurburgring, the crew tied the bikes down.

 

[DavidHolmes]

Ferries

The FRS fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangier had a big padded forked arm which swung down onto the seat and clamped there. Outstanding.

On the Brittany ferries Santander - Plymouth route we were left with bits of string, but the regular travellers suggested that the this meant that the crew were confidant of a smooth crossing. Apparently on other days the crew have tied the bikes down.

Still, the guy with the R6 parked next to me didn't look to happy. Something about if my GS came loose it was gonna pulverise his poor thing.

 

[Colt]

david.you must have frightened him with those jesses