tying your bike down on a ferry

[Fozz]

Brittany Ferries crossing being considered, any tips or can I leave it up to the deckhands?
cheers

[eezyrider123]

Done that one several times. Make sure you stand and watch 'em tie-down. They usually chuck a rope over the saddle with a cushion under but never had one of mine move yet. Leave it in 1st gear.

I used to carry a couple of straps but it's a waste of time 'cos you've gotta be lucky to have an anchor point nearby. Just make sure you're happy with what they're doing 'cos I even had one deckhand try to tie down off the back brake operating rod.

Also there's a new boat Armorique, running Plymouth to Roscoff. This boat has an open back end on the top car deck. If they try to park you there just point blank refuse and they'll move you inside.

All in all they're not too bad. Biggest fault if any is they pack the car decks dead tight.

[CovKid]

Hello Fozz
Just returned from France on Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth - St Malo and return. The ferry we were on catered for bikes quite well with individual little parking bays. The deckhands can be a bit rough and clang about with the straps so keep an eye on them. Like ER123 said leave it in first gear and they should strap it down over the seat and then ratchet it right down. The danger is that they don't put the cushion in just the right place and the paint has a strap rub it. On previous bikes I used to wedge my spare gloves in these points. On my Dyna it wasn't a problem.

Hope it all goes OK. You have my number if you talk about it.

Paul

[devon.john]

i usually put the bike alarm in workshop mode , i think you have too let the crew strap your bike down??

enjoy your trip if it your first you wont believe how little traffic there is and how good the roads are.

john (35 yrs of foreign travel on a bike)

[Trevor]

Some cross channel ferry companies now have signage where they park the bikes. They supply the ties downs and anchors on the deck for you. The crew will help you, but the signage states that the bike is your responsibility. Having said that I have used P&O, The Tunnel, LD Lines, Seafrance and Brittany Ferries recently, all without any problems.

Norfolk Line are the only ferry company I have had a problem with. If they damage your bike you will have to go to the Small Claims Court. I would never use them again.

Southern European ferry companies are hopeless, do what you want when you strap the bike down and ignore the crew. And take your own straps, if you can find a piece of rope on the boat you are doing well. The cyclists get on before you and use it all.

[MORDUEMAN]

For those of you using DFDS to Holland for the Centrum Rally, here is some info from their website regarding securing your bike onboard the car deck.

Click on checkin and onboard, then click on the Motorcycle link at the bottom of the list :

Frequently Asked Questions - DFDS Seaways

[Fozz]

thanks for the info guys.

Hey Paul, glad you had a good trip, we can swap stories at the next meeting! Going to poodle around Normandy, Bayeux, D Day beaches etc for 4 days, maybe try some wine and cheese...................

[simonDyna]

Just come back from Spain on Brittany Ferries. You may want to have a look at these pictures.

We had a VERY bumpy crossing. The bike got strapped down by the Brittany Ferries bloke. At some stage enough pressure from the strap over the seat, pushed the seat base onto the console which in turn moved the gauge slightly......and the seal that kept the petrol in the tank.

To say I am pissed off is an understatement but part of me wonders what would have happened of the bike hadnt been strapped down so tightly. I do know I'm up shit creek for race season unless I can magic another tank out of thin air in the next few days.

Brand new paint job as well.....

[XL Ged]

Not been on a ferry for years now, but I used to carry a ratchet strap. Put bike in gear on sidestand, fasten the footpeg nearest to the ground to a deck mounting point ( only a few inches ) and ratchet down. Don't know how I am going to go on with forward controls though, the principal is the same.

This stops the problem of passing a ratchet over the seat, and will keep the jiffy stand locked in.

Been on a few rough crossings in my time and this has never let me down where there have been deck loops.

Another trick I have seen is use the ratchet to gently lock the jiffy stand in place by using the strap between jiffy and front wheel. You'll need something else to stop it falling the other way, but at least the stand won't collapse.

[rit]

It seems most crossings to France crew tie your bike down. Mostly very good, but watch and insist they do it how you want. For North sea crossings and other European ports;
1) Buy your own tie-downs saves the scramble looking for the naff/dirty supplied ones,
2) Get one of those chock things that are designed to wedge against tyres. On the stand lean your bike towards the stand, and kick the chock under frame. This wedges the bike into a stable position, little or no movement.
3) Tie down; seat/forks or whatever your preference.
4) Don't panic! You've enough time, securing and un-tieing.
5) Get in the bar, relax and enjoy the crossing.
rit