Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Europe
Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20 Apr 2003
MCP MCP is offline
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dominican Republic
Posts: 59
Securing Your Bike On Ferries?

We are planning on taking many ferry crossings during our trip through Europe begining in May. I really never gave it much
thought as I assumed the ferry companies would provide the securing systems for tying bikes down.

Now I'm thinking we should pack straps of some sort, and space is at a premium. What are your experiences?

Ferries Planned
Nice to Corsica
Italy o Greece
Greece to Turkey
France to UK
UK to Ireland
Ireland to Scotland
Scotland to Norway

Many thanks to replys.

------------------
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 21 Apr 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Gent, Belgium
Posts: 68
Hello Nanaimo (?),

we have taken a few ferries left and right in Europe.
Experiences were mixed : SOME ferries provide special attachment buckles in their floors, and heavy duty straps with... eh... I don't know how you call these, but they make a "crack-crack" sound and can be tied VERY tight -> the ones they use on trucks. These methods were used on ferries to and from the continent to the UK. The boatsmen secured the bikes in the presence of the bikers, and asked specifically if this was o.k. with the biker.
I PRESUME they will always do this on storm-prone journeys such as the North Sea.

All other ferries (Italy (Genova) to Tunesia and back / Italy (Venice) to Greece (Igoumenitsa) / Turkey (Cesme) to Italy (Ancona) / Finland (Helsinki) to Estonia (Tallinn)) didn't have ANYthing to secure bikes or a just few short bits of thick rope... To our frustration and surprise of course.

We (luckily) always have good and long straps with us - to tighten our luggage rolls and to tow a bike in case of breakdowns in the countryside.
We park the bikes on the left side (in the direction you enter the boat), close to metal bars which you find all over on the side walls of boats.
We then park the bikes on the sidestand and in first gear -> because --without special attachment buckles in the floor-- a bike is more stable on 3 "standing points" then on the 2 of the "double stand" (?) plus 1 front OR rear wheel -> the triangle is larger.
Then we attach our straps on 2 or rather 3 points : front, rear and middle of the bike, on different heights as to provide as much stability as possible, and to as wide as possible attachment possibilities in the side walls of the boats.
To protect the bikes from damage-through-rubbing (by the straps), we use a few newspapers (preferably yesterday's). We also add some sort of padding between the bike and the boat wall - another newspaper, or just a reasonable distance.
We also turn the mirrors inward - they tend to stick out more.

That has always worked fine, even with rough sea.

We also undo the straps before entering a harbor, for the boats can make a few rough movements when docking -> we then sit on our bikes, or move them away from the side a bit and hold them tight. Then we're ready for the inhaling the fumes of all the other vehicles starting their engines long before they can ride off :-)

Wish you healthy and undamaged crossings in Europe !
Trui

------------------
Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, often travelling on motorbikes (now on DR650SE's)
2nd overland from home to Northern India and back, April-October 2002
__________________
Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, often travelling on motorbikes (now on DR650SE\'s)
2nd overland from home to Northern India and back, April-October 2002
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Nov 2003
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,123
There is a fairly detailed post that points out many problems with ferries, and includes pictures showing the best way to tie the bike down at this link:

http://www.my-mc.com/messages/16/688.html

The post also includes discussion of the pro's and con's of various ferry operators.

PanEuropean
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Nov 2003
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 188
My, some people seem to go to a lot of trouble when taking their bike by ferry. I'm probably saying that as most of my experiences have been with P&O - Dover-to-Calais. I park up, put the bike on the side stand, leave her in neutral, the crewman puts a strop across and with the large pad over the saddle, ratchets the thing down. One thing I am careful about is that the metal ratchet mechanism can get uncomfortably close to the plastic panels on the bike but a gauntlet jammed between the two usually sorts that out. Touch wood, in 35 years of travelling with a bike across the Channel, my bikes have never received so much as a scratch.
I do once remember coming back on a rough crossing with my Citroen 2CV, renowned for having a poor hand brake, and the car was facing up a 1:8 ramp! So it was handbrake on, in gear, plus wooden blocks under the wheels. I could just imagine her crashing back and forwards during the trip and coming back to find damage everwhere. I worried needlessly.
The only time I was a bit concerned was this year on the SeaCat between Liverpool and Douglas, Isle of Man, where scores of bikes were parked inches apart, and they were lashed down with lengths of rope. My pal, who goes to the TT races every year, remembers the year the ferry crashed into the harbour wall at Douglas, and the company were faced with hefty claims as the bikes toppled over like dominoes.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 23 Dec 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 81
I always carry at least 1 ratchet stap,never put it on the center stand and rachet towards the side stand, use your gloves to protect where the straps touch side panel ect. and leave it in gear and turn off your alarm
Have a good trip
Gary
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 23 Dec 2003
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 10
I've been on ferries from most ports in the UK and experiences are mixed (as said above). The assistance you get from the ferry men varies depending on how busy they are. Dover/Calais is probably the busiest service for bikes (lots of sports bikes through the summer) so they tend to be well organised and can tie a bike down in seconds (safely).

However other ports/ferries leave you to your own devices. For UK ferries you'll always have something to tie the bike to, though you can't rely on there being straps/ropes available (especially in summer when there's lots of bikes).

So if you're planning on taking a lot of ferries then get yourself a couple of ratchet straps (about £10) to make sure you're not scrabbling around in a panic and make a hastey job of securing your bike.

The investment in ratchet straps (and the weight) is well worth it when you can just hop off the bike and tie it down in a couple of minutes, then head off to get a coffee/. The alternative (I've experienced) is tangling up with some oily bits of rope and trying to remember how to tie secure knots while the ferry "clear the car deck" alarm is sounding.

Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:03.