Ferry Crossing

D3V!L

I'm taking the "Swift" to Holyhead from Dublin soon and I was wondering what peoples expieriences are with ferry crossings and bikes ?

Its been a long time since I was on a ferry with a bike so a little unsure. Is there someone to strap the bike down for you or do you have to do it yourself ?

Does the Irish Ferries Swift ferry have two levels in its hold, going up a wet ramp on my old ZZR14 scared the shite out of me the last time ?

GBX

They are well used to taking bikes these days. Bike will be strapped down - they have straps. Bring a towel/old rag to put under the straps so it doesn't dig into the seat cover too much.

stewygriffin

On board the Johnathan Swift in May with the R1.Dublin to Holyhead,and then back to Dublin.:)

The bike is strapped down and held in place with a chock too.Ratchet straps come with protective rubber mats too,so it wont eat into your saddle.

Stick the bike in 1st gear,hold the front brake on with some tape or a cable tie,and then let the ferry lads strap it down for you.They take great care with the bikes.:)

I used an old towel for added piece of mind,or you can use your gloves under the ratchet strap.

stewygriffin

Both ways I noticed that IF gave priority to the bikers,we were allowed to board the Swift 1st,before anyone else.They were very good with all the bikers and they took great care to make sure the bikes were well secure and not damaged in any way.

Just take your time on the ramps and have your right foot hovering over the rear brake,just incase.

listermint

Is the Swift service not coming to an end or is that just Dun Laoighaire ?

stewygriffin

listermint wrote: »

Is the Swift service not coming to an end or is that just Dun Laoighaire ?

Thats Stena Line you are thinking of,and thats gone ages now.:(

The Swift fast ferry is Irish Ferries,and that operates out of Dublin Port.:)

1 hour 50 minutes from Dublin to Holyhead and very nice too.:)



Byebye Wales.:pac:

D3V!L

stewygriffin wrote: »

On board the Johnathan Swift in May with the R1.Dublin to Holyhead,and then back to Dublin.:)

The bike is strapped down and held in place with a chock too.Ratchet straps come with protective rubber mats too,so it wont eat into your saddle.

Stick the bike in 1st gear,hold the front brake on with some tape or a cable tie,and then let the ferry lads strap it down for you.They take great care with the bikes.:)

I used an old towel for added piece of mind,or you can use your gloves under the ratchet strap.

Looks good and its put my mind at rest

I got one of these for holding the brake

stewygriffin

D3V!L wrote: »

Looks good and its put my mind at rest

I got one of these for holding the brake

How much?:)

A bag of reusable cable ties in Lidl for 2 euro did the trick for me.

Only needed 1 to hold the front brake.

D3V!L

stewygriffin wrote: »

How much?:)

A bag of reusable cable ties in Lidl for 2 euro did the trick for me.

Only needed 1 to hold the front brake.

It was 9.99 from Wunderlich. Its only got TÜV type approval for BMW's though :pac:

stewygriffin

D3V!L wrote: »

It was 9.99 from Wunderlich. Its only got TÜV type approval for BMW's though :pac:

Ah the good auld TUV,that makes things more expensive.

Its a love hate thing with me at the moment,Ive the S1000RR stripped down at the front end trying to trace an electrical problem.

The actual horn is working,fuse is good,so it can only be a fooked horn switch on the handlebar.
And sure BMW,s dont have problems with switches and fooked micro-switches,oh no wait..:rolleyes:

stewygriffin

How much were your ferry tickets?

Hope you dont mind me asking?:)

D3V!L

stewygriffin wrote: »

How much were your ferry tickets?

Hope you dont mind me asking?:)

212.40 return, one bike, two people. We're heading down to Tyrol and back. I think it'll be about 5k driving for the 8 days.

stewygriffin

D3V!L wrote: »

212.40 return, one bike, two people. We're heading down to Tyrol and back. I think it'll be about 5k driving for the 8 days.

Thats not bad at all for 2 people and the bike.:)

Hotblack Desiato

I miss the good old days of the HSS and 99 minute crossings first they made it slower to save fuel, then they laid them up entirely. Fuel costs, the end of duty free, and cheap air fares killed the economics.

I took the Swift with the bike once, not nice at all, much smaller ship than the HSS and more affected by the weather, it had to go off course to try to avoid the worst of it and slow down but for half an hour before that it was continuously rolling quite quickly side to side, a case of sit down at the bar tables and hold on, nobody was drinking a drop!! Would be fine on a smooth day but whatever way the waves/wind were coming it seemed to hit a resonant frequency on the rolling motion of the ship

Used the channel tunnel a few times with the bike and found it grand.

stewygriffin

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I miss the good old days of the HSS and 99 minute crossings first they made it slower to save fuel, then they laid them up entirely. Fuel costs, the end of duty free, and cheap air fares killed the economics.

I took the Swift with the bike once, not nice at all, much smaller ship than the HSS and more affected by the weather, it had to go off course to try to avoid the worst of it and slow down but for half an hour before that it was continuously rolling quite quickly side to side, a case of sit down at the bar tables and hold on, nobody was drinking a drop!! Would be fine on a smooth day but whatever way the waves/wind were coming it seemed to hit a resonant frequency on the rolling motion of the ship

Used the channel tunnel a few times with the bike and found it grand.

HSS was good allright,much bigger boat,and there would be regular price wars between Stena Line and Irish ferries to get people to use their fast ferries.:)

The Swift isnt too bad in rough-ish seas,yeah it moves around a bit,but sure what boat doesnt.

Zebbedee

@ stewygriffin
Slightly off topic I know but do the cops not give ya hassle for the tax disc obscuring your reg plate?
I got reefed out of it years back by cops for the same thing.

stewygriffin

Zebbedee wrote: »

@ stewygriffin
Slightly off topic I know but do the cops not give ya hassle for the tax disc obscuring your reg plate?
I got reefed out of it years back by cops for the same thing.

pesky little kids constantly pushing it up over my reg plate.

Wonda-Boy

stewygriffin wrote: »

pesky little kids constantly pushing it up over my reg plate.

Its the vibration of the big engine on mine that does it......:D:D;)

stewygriffin

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Its the vibration of the big engine on mine that does it......:D:D;)

Thats what she said too.


My ex girlfrend used to love being on the back of the Ducati.














:pac::D

AgileMyth

stewygriffin wrote: »

Ya lost your bag Stewy!!

stewygriffin

AgileMyth wrote: »

Ya lost your bag Stewy!!

I was waiting to see if anyone would cop that,and if so,how long it would take them to mention it.:pac::D

D3V!L

Back last night from my little 5500k jaunt around the alps.

Had a funny experience on the ferry where while I was dismounting my bike one of the deck hands threw the strap over my leg from behind me and tried to rachet it down !! This was after he was warned to wait by my pillion.

Needless to say I wasn't happy as I nearly fell taking the bike with me. Your man was reported and got in serious trouble over it.

stewygriffin

D3V!L wrote: »

Back last night from my little 5500k jaunt around the alps.

Had a funny experience on the ferry where while I was dismounting my bike one of the deck hands threw the strap over my leg from behind me and tried to rachet it down !! This was after he was warned to wait by my pillion.

Needless to say I wasn't happy as I nearly fell taking the bike with me. Your man was reported and got in serious trouble over it.

Sorry to hear that.


My most recent ferry crossing with IF was pure bliss. Chap went out of his way to secure my bike perfectly with huge foam padded straps,and the Irish Sea was like a mirror,it was that calm and clear.

Hotblack Desiato

Maybe he was just into bondage :pac:

Hotblack Desiato

stewygriffin wrote: »

HSS was good allright,much bigger boat,and there would be regular price wars between Stena Line and Irish ferries to get people to use their fast ferries.:)

The Swift isnt too bad in rough-ish seas,yeah it moves around a bit,but sure what boat doesnt.

Just seemed to be particularly bad luck with the wind and waves on the day. It set up a good 25 degree (if not more) roll at a 2Hz frequency, keep that up for half an hour and I guarantee just about anybody's stomach will be well aware of it :pac: we turned north and slowed right down to get out of the worst of it. A slow ferry wouldn't have been affected in the same way and the HSS is too wide to generate that kind of roll. I was probably very unlucky to encounter those conditions but nonetheless it's a narrow enough ship which is less laterally stable than a slow ferry.

D3V!L

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Maybe he was just into bondage :pac:

Well I do look particularly fetching in my leathers :pac:

goodlad

D3V!L wrote: »

Back last night from my little 5500k jaunt around the alps.

Had a funny experience on the ferry where while I was dismounting my bike one of the deck hands threw the strap over my leg from behind me and tried to rachet it down !! This was after he was warned to wait by my pillion.

Needless to say I wasn't happy as I nearly fell taking the bike with me. Your man was reported and got in serious trouble over it.

D3V!L

goodlad wrote: »

Thanks for your approval, really means a lot to me .....