First time at the TT this year so a bit green . Treated myself to a new bike but have heard stories of bikes getting damaged on sailings to and from the island . Anybody know if this is true and if it is how to limit damages

it can happen
but dont listen to all the storys there quit offten from people who cant get sailings or people whove never ever been
the best thing to do is wait with your bike till they tie it up then try return to your bike before they untie it
sometimes the bikes move slightly and when you untie them they can slde or slip off the stand but its rare

Cheers scaramanga . Do riders take packaging to protect paint work or are bikes lashed by frame .
who straps bikes down ?
trying to keep my Trumper like new

They will tie it down and have rags to protect your bike.

I have NEVER had any damage in years of coming over.

Accidents can happen of course but they are rare.

Have a great time and take it steady. roads are V busy

The Steam Packet workers will tie it down,
I always take an old towel to put between rope & seat,
although they will have a piece of material/foam you can use.

the rope usually goes round footpeg & over seat.

cheers BcakWeleher that's put my mind at rest

No doubt I'll have more stupid questions .DOH

I've never had a problem and neither have my mates who have been with me. The guys securing the bikes are the best Ive seen and Ive been on a few ferries.

One piece of advice, if you have a pillion get them to board and disembark as foot passengers.

hope this isn't another dumb question but why embark as a foot passenger if riding as pillion ?

(01-06-2016, 10:18 PM)Frieman Wrote: hope this isn't another dumb question but why embark as a foot passenger if riding as pillion ?

Couple of reasons, the ramps and decks can be slippery and you can be asked to make u turns in tight spaces, secondly when disembarking there are far to many muppets who feel the need to start their bikes ages before they need to creating a lot of fumes.

cheers for that . Me and the Mrs just recovering from leg injuries after been taken out by a Muppet in a CRX on the seafront so taking care not aggravate injuries more than necessary .

just watched the "One life" video posted on here. Boat looks like Mayhem

The first time we crossed from Heysham on an old boat was horrendous, I don't get seasick, but a lot did ! All the other crossings have been fine and outbound everyone is excited, inbound most are disappointed to be going home and exhausted from camping.

Bike deck congested, and I feel its simply easier to dump and pick up your Pillion off the boat. Pillion can also take some carry on stuff and perhaps board earlier to get you a seat..... if your not in any of the pre-booked lounges.

Have great time....I am sure you will....but go cannae!

Never had any trouble with the bike being damaged, you should be fine. Sending the other half through as foot passenger to get a seat though.
Have a superb time mate

Seems theres a few tricks to learn

Been to the island before with the kids in the car and had a shoker of a trip back on Ben my chree

Similar to riding Nemesis at Alton Towers

I took the grandkids last April. Sick bags everywhere. Maybe the lesson is don't take the kids!

We should also remember there is a world of difference between the Ben & the Mannannannannannannan.
The fastcraft suffers a lot more than the Ben in rough sea, presume because it's got 2 hulls it's twice as bad!.
When the first Seacat arrived they put on a daytrip from Fleetwood (about 20 years ago?) during Manx GP practice week.
That was a gimmee!!,
a grand day out it was.
It wasn't that rough out there, but a lot of (new) staff were being sick, we were Ok though.
I always panic in the run up to the TT (specially last year) that the wind will pick up & lead to cancellations for the Mannannan, then what would we do?
At this moment I can see (on the AIS website) that she is ontime, heading to Douglas, but that the Ben is slowly circling round in Douglas bay, she should have landed 10 minutes ago!

Anyone interested in boats & that can see where they are here - (if that's Ok, Malcolm?)
http://www.shipais.com/showship.php?refr...=235070199