Ferry Loading...Beware.

[regreid]

if there wasn't another biker around surely you could ask a fellow passenger of some kind

[paxovasa]

The guy insisted it was on it's main stand and left me to it. Now, this thing is 300kg loaded and humping it on it's stand is heavy work. I stood on the stand and lifted up and back, the main stand lifted to the apex and slipped on the steel decking!!!

Then I would have either put it on the side stand, or ask a wagon driver for assistance or remove some of the luggage

[arryace]

i think anyone boarding a ferry needs to remember and maybe remind the staff that you are a paying customer and if you require assistance you get assistance.

a French ferry company took over the Portsmouth Le harve service and they were not interested in helping and you were lucky if you got a strap and quite often had to strap two bikes with one strap.
that said even if i strapped it myself i all ways ask them to check it.

[Fonzie]

Hi All,
Just a heads up for any one taking ferries this year, it seems it's now practise to leave you to it when strapping down bikes on ferries, i suppose if your bike is not secure then you don't have a claim in the result of damage.

On the Harwich-Hook Stena run i was sent on to the lorry deck on my BMW K1300GT. The decks were slippy, wet and greasy. The idea was to position your bike over a 5 inch chain, and then strap it over the seat from the links. The guy insisted it was on it's main stand and left me to it. Now, this thing is 300kg loaded and humping it on it's stand is heavy work. I stood on the stand and lifted up and back, the main stand lifted to the apex and slipped on the steel decking!!! result ...broken ankle and snapped Achilles tendon. Operation and three months laid up.

The decks and ramps are treacherous on these ships...so beware.
Iv'e been riding 40yrs and the first time a bike bites me is putting it on the stand...DURRRR.

Anyway while sitting with my leg in the air i purchased a new S1000RR...not as heavy and more fun.

Bad luck on the leg (and bike damage) Acko 

Everyone I've been on, I've had to secure my own bike. No problem dib dib dib  and thats going back to my 1st IOM trip in the early 80's
Main problem I've had is folk parked next to my bike, that I doubt could tie their shoes 
A few times I've waited while they've gone then fastened theirs properly so it didn't fall on mine. This years NW was one such occasion.
Anyhoo, when the deck's are nearly cleared, the crew walk down the ranks checking them all and adjusting those that need it 

Advice for those doing it 1st time, take some tie downs. lots of seasoned travellers do just that, and it saves a lot of messing about 

[deerhunter]

Sorry to hear about your mishap Acko GWS
Been on quite a few ferries,seacat and euro tunnel with the bike and have they have always strapped the bike down themselves,but I have always re-checked it myself.seacat even supplied cardboard to go under the straps.
Used motorail once to get the bike from Tolouse to Paris and what a shower of twats they were.Loaders were sub contractors and would not listen to fcuk all when tying the bikes down.They used the plastic cord mainly used on pallets and tied it anywhere.Result was,we got to Paris first and when the trucks with the bikes came in we were the first to unload.My bike (only 3 months old)had a cracked and sprained faring paneland paint rubbed off the fork leg.I refused to unload it and things got a little heated coz loads of people were unable to get their cars off....eventually got an English speaking she devil to acknowledge the damage and it took me 4 months to get compo.
Yes I did cost them extra  but I will never use them cowboys again.

[Acko]

Thanks Guys,
The usual thing is to leave it on it's side stand and secure by strap over the seat. A tie on the brake lever helps. On this occasion it was the last sailing of the ship before a new ship took over the route, and to be honest the whole ship was a shambles. Restaurant and bar understocked, toilets not working etc.

This was the first time i had ever had my bike strapped to a shackled 5 inch chain on the deck. We were last on, (Bikes usually first or last)  most people had left the deck, and the deck hand had limited English, he just made it plain what he wanted by pointing and saying 'Big Stand...Big stand' and left to continue rigging for departure.

I knew the bike was a lump to put on its main stand, ive done it thousands of times, but extra loaded with full panniers and wet greasy decks was enough to cause it to slip.

My point is; The most innocent of circumstances can catch the unwary, even if you think you know what you are doing.

A while back i saw a guy lose a gixer on the metal boarding ramp....just be carefull thats all.

[paxovasa]

Sorry for the thread hijack

GWS 

[arryace]

even worse when it's a downward sloping loading ramp

however the sphincter muscle gets some exercise