[Poacher]

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Hi all, I am thinking of taking my 1200 cross the water to do a bit of touring around Wales. Does anyone have any tips about taking a bike on the car ferry, should I leave it on side stand or centre stand.:?

 

[Silicon Sam]

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Most definately on the side stand. Either way your bike has 3 points in contact with the ground. On the center stand, 2 of the contact points are only a foot apart, thus making for a very unstable platform. On the side stand, you have the front and rear tie, and the side stand as your 3 points, much, much further apart. Thus more stable.

Raymond

 

[SilverDave]

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On the coastal ferries around here...  (BC )  almost everyone leaves their machines on the side stands...  I usually leave mine in gear as well.. and if you want, the nice ferry people will drag out a pair of wooden chocks for front and rear tire... I saw a smaller (250 cc ?) bike fall off its center stand  on a choppy crossing... but he was tight against the ferry wall, so only fell until the seat hit the wall.... you want to make the largest stable triangle  and two tires, and side stand does just that ... SilverDave /forums/images/emoticons/emoticonsxtra/cooldj.gif

 

[rcmatt007]

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no matter what, make sure it is secure... I would agree three points are the most stable....

when I first read the thread line I thought you were asking about giving tinker-bell a ride.... "taking a farie on a wing"

 

[Silverfox]

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So, Poacher, is Wales as far as you are gonna get:baffled:

What about the rest of the Island? You'de be more than welcome to our "cafe" down in the South East corner:clapper:

Pete

 

[Redwing]

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Yeah when im crossing to the main land on the car ferry, i place my neighbours :18redn the side stand and engage reverse gear and she never moves, and boy some times it can be rocky. :crying:

:weightlifter::18red::weightlifter:

 

[exavid]

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The old curmudgeon has it right, on the Alaska Ferries the recommended way to park a bike is against the side of the vessel with the side stand facing away from the bulkhead. I've seen several tied down to the deck in rougher voyages. If you have reverse that's the best, otherwise first gear.

 

[fatalattraction]

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Yep, side stand and reverse or first. I just got back from Vancouver Island and all the bikes were on the side stand...'course most of themwere Harley's that didn't have a center stand. :jumper: That's a pretty rough crossing and I believe it could fall off the center stand with enough rocking and swaying.

 

[axelwik]

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Yep, I use the sidestand and 1st gear on the ferrys around Washington and B.C. Never had a problem.

 

[BRowan]

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Yes it has to be sidestand and in gear. On many ferries the crew will insist you put the bike on sidestand anyway. Also make sure you use the ratchet on the sidestand side of the bike so you tie it down, I've seen guys put the ratchet on the other side and efectively pull the bike up off the stand.

 

[Phil]

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just to be bloody different on the Seacat crossing from Holyhead to Ireland (in May of this year) the deckhands insisted that the bikes be on their centre stands, tie down with ratchet straps, in gear and with a tight rubber o-ring around the front brake handle. Make sure you use the matting thats available to go under the tie downs. On the Seacat crossing the bikes are stored in the middle of the ferry under the various deck ramps etc.

rgds
Phil

 

[Redwing]

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exavid wrote:

The old curmudgeon :blushing:has it right, If you have reverse that's the best, otherwise first gear.

Hurragh the "Senior Guru" agrees with me. :clapper:I wonder should i start looking for promotion again. :stumped:

:weightlifter::18red::weightlifter:

 

[exavid]

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Redwing wrote:

exavid wrote:

The old curmudgeon :blushing:has it right, If you have reverse that's the best, otherwise first gear.

Hurragh the "Senior Guru" agrees with me. :clapper:I wonder should i start looking for promotion again. :stumped:

AHA!! You admit you'rea curmudgeon!

 

[Redwing]

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exavid wrote:

AHA!! You admit you'rea curmudgeon!

Hey, :stumped:you can call me what you like i dont mind. :stumped: I dont even know what curmudgeon means. :baffled::baffled::baffled::baffled: Im 80 yrs young. :crying:

:leprechaun::18red::leprechaun:

 

[fatalattraction]

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Phil wrote:

just to be bloody different on the Seacat crossing from Holyhead to Ireland (in May of this year) the deckhands insisted that the bikes be on their centre stands, tie down with ratchet straps, in gear and with a tight rubber o-ring around the front brake handle. Make sure you use the matting thats available to go under the tie downs. On the Seacat crossing the bikes are stored in the middle of the ferry under the various deck ramps etc.

rgds
Phil

I don't think any of the ferries around here are that prepared. No tie downs. But I suppose our crossings are not as long as yours. 18 miles or so is our longest.

 

[exavid]

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fatalattraction wrote:

I don't think any of the ferries around here are that prepared. No tie downs. But I suppose our crossings are not as long as yours. 18 miles or so is our longest.

Crossing the Irish Sea can be an experience as a bunch of yachtsmen can attest. In 1979 a storm took a heavy toll on a fleet of racing yachts. The Alaska ferry can give a pretty rough ride in some parts of its route, Dixon Entrance comes to mind. The Kodiak run with the Tustemena is known as the "Dramamine express". Those vessels do have tie downs. About 25 years ago a semi trailer broke loose and fell on a couple cars in one the ferry Matanuska in Dixon Entrance. The Washington routes are a lot more protected, although the Black Ball ferry Coho between Anacortes WA and Victoria BC can roll her guts out at times.

 

[fatalattraction]

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Paul, the Coho is in Port Angeles. Port Angeles to Victoria, and it does roll...rock and roll. :goofygrin: 1 1/2 hours of it. I haven't ridden the Anacortes route yet, but Sydney to Vancouver is a nice ride.

 

[fred_langa]

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the crossing from nova scotia to newfoundland is 7-8 hours on a modified icebreaker.

they insist on puitting bikes on sidestands, forks turned and locked, bike in gear, front brake cinched shut, and 4 ratchet tiedowns to welded deck plates.

I think they expect rough crossings from time to time. :shock:

 

[exavid]

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fatalattraction wrote:

Paul, the Coho is in Port Angeles. Port Angeles to Victoria, and it does roll...rock and roll. :goofygrin: 1 1/2 hours of it. I haven't ridden the Anacortes route yet, but Sydney to Vancouver is a nice ride.

Alert! Alert! Alert! Brain Fart! Yeah of course, don't know why I said Anacortes been on the thing enough with buses hauling tourists to Victoria. Getting old ain't as much fun as I thought it'd be! Had a bus starter fail on the Sydney route once, not much fun either.

 

[exavid]

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flanga wrote:

the crossing from nova scotia to newfoundland is 7-8 hours on a modified icebreaker.

they insist on puitting bikes on sidestands, forks turned and locked, bike in gear, front brake cinched shut, and 4 ratchet tiedowns to welded deck plates.

I think they expect rough crossings from time to time. :shock:

:waving::waving:Welcome to the Best Goldwing Site on the Internet flanga!:waving::waving:

I like their belt and suspenders approach! My kind of folks.