Greetings all, for those in RMH, have one on me.

Planning a trip around the great lakes in a couple weeks. One of the
things we intend to do is take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry on Huron rather
than take the Trans Canada Highway around it. Does anyone have any
experience taking a bike on the boat? Their website says that they
provide tie downs and such so it seems like it should be no big deal.
I'm just wondering on the particulars of getting on and off, how much
lead time, etc.

Thanks,

Mark B

On 2008-08-27 05:39:17 -0700, Mark B <mark_bert@yahoo.com> said:

> Greetings all, for those in RMH, have one on me.
>
> Planning a trip around the great lakes in a couple weeks. One of the
> things we intend to do is take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry on Huron rather
> than take the Trans Canada Highway around it. Does anyone have any
> experience taking a bike on the boat? Their website says that they
> provide tie downs and such so it seems like it should be no big deal.
> I'm just wondering on the particulars of getting on and off, how much
> lead time, etc.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark B

Usually bikes on first and off first. If there are no doors prepare for
possible wetness.
--
Ryder Rick
< >

Mark B wrote:
> Greetings all, for those in RMH, have one on me.
>
> Planning a trip around the great lakes in a couple weeks. One of the
> things we intend to do is take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry on Huron rather
> than take the Trans Canada Highway around it. Does anyone have any
> experience taking a bike on the boat? Their website says that they
> provide tie downs and such so it seems like it should be no big deal.
> I'm just wondering on the particulars of getting on and off, how much
> lead time, etc.
>

We ride ferrys a lot here in Washington State and we have the biggest
auto ferry system in the world. Don't know that particular ferry but
usually bikes are first on/first off of a ferry pretty much all over the
world so you'll park up next to whereever the cars drive out and off of,
probably along the sides where cars will not fit. When you get to the
ferry dock, look for the bikes waiting up front waiting to board first
and one of them will tell you what to do. If your bike has a
centerstand, it might be more stable on the centerstand but it can be
hard to get it up on the centerstand if the ferry steel deck is smooth
with the anti-skid coating worn off so you might be using the sidestand
anyway. I've never used any kind of tie-down even on the ferry between
Finland and Germany which can get some big waves.

--
Posted with OS/2 Warp 4.52
and Sea Monkey 1.5a

Ryder Rick wrote:
> On 2008-08-27 05:39:17 -0700, Mark B <mark_bert@yahoo.com> said:
>
>> Greetings all, for those in RMH, have one on me.
>>
>> Planning a trip around the great lakes in a couple weeks. One of the
>> things we intend to do is take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry on Huron rather
>> than take the Trans Canada Highway around it. Does anyone have any
>> experience taking a bike on the boat? Their website says that they
>> provide tie downs and such so it seems like it should be no big deal.
>> I'm just wondering on the particulars of getting on and off, how much
>> lead time, etc.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Mark B
>
> Usually bikes on first and off first. If there are no doors prepare for
> possible wetness.

There is a door; the whole bow section lifts up. Unless it's a busy
weekend, an hour lead time is plenty.

On Aug 27, 10:22*am, "David T. Johnson" <djohn...@isomedia.com> wrote:

> If your bike has a
> centerstand, it might be more stable on the centerstand but it can be
> hard to get it up on the centerstand if the ferry steel deck is smooth
> with the anti-skid coating worn off so you might be using the sidestand
> anyway.

A bike on a centerstand is easier to tip over than one on a sidestand.

Also, the rocking of the boat is sometimes more abrupt side-to-side
than when it docks. It's sometimes best to angle park the bike, so
that it points to the left or right of the boat. While tie-downs may
not be supplied, there are sometimes stepped blocks along the side
that you can fit against the high side of the bike's frame (another
reason for using sidestand).

Road Glidin' Don wrote:
> On Aug 27, 10:22 am, "David T. Johnson" <djohn...@isomedia.com> wrote:
>
>> If your bike has a
>> centerstand, it might be more stable on the centerstand but it can be
>> hard to get it up on the centerstand if the ferry steel deck is smooth
>> with the anti-skid coating worn off so you might be using the sidestand
>> anyway.
>
> A bike on a centerstand is easier to tip over than one on a sidestand.
>
> Also, the rocking of the boat is sometimes more abrupt side-to-side
> than when it docks. It's sometimes best to angle park the bike, so
> that it points to the left or right of the boat. While tie-downs may
> not be supplied, there are sometimes stepped blocks along the side
> that you can fit against the high side of the bike's frame (another
> reason for using sidestand).

The deckhands on that particular ferry see probably several thousands
over the course of a summer. They're well-experienced at dealing with
them. There are very few abrupt changes in direction while en route
unless it's incredibly stormy; it has motion-stabilizers. I've never had
my bike go down while it's docking, although I suppose it could happen.
I always use the side-stand; as you say, it's more stable than the
centre-stand.

On Aug 27, 12:46*pm, Doug Payne <dwpa...@ist.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> Road Glidin' Don wrote:
> > On Aug 27, 10:22 am, "David T. Johnson" <djohn...@isomedia.com> wrote:
>
> >> If your bike has a
> >> centerstand, it might be more stable on the centerstand but it can be
> >> hard to get it up on the centerstand if the ferry steel deck is smooth
> >> with the anti-skid coating worn off so you might be using the sidestand
> >> anyway.
>
> > A bike on a centerstand is easier to tip over than one on a sidestand.
>
> > Also, the rocking of the boat is sometimes more abrupt side-to-side
> > than when it docks. *It's sometimes best to angle park the bike, so
> > that it points to the left or right of the boat. *While tie-downs may
> > not be supplied, there are sometimes stepped blocks along the side
> > that you can fit against the high side of the bike's frame (another
> > reason for using sidestand).
>
> The deckhands on that particular ferry see probably several thousands
> over the course of a summer. They're well-experienced at dealing with
> them. There are very few abrupt changes in direction while en route
> unless it's incredibly stormy; it has motion-stabilizers. I've never had
> my bike go down while it's docking, although I suppose it could happen.
> I always use the side-stand; as you say, it's more stable than the
> centre-stand.

Yeah, tipping over is not a huge concern anyway. I just returned from
a trip to Vancouver Island and, even with the large bodies of open
ocean there, the rocking wasn't much to write home about. The deck
hand on that ferry did make the suggestion that, for that kind of
crossing, the angle parking (to handle side-to-side motion) is
preferable though.

Thanks to all for the input. If there's any interest, here's the route
we'll be taking http://tinyurl.com/5w29zc . I'll post a ride report
when I get back.

Mark B

"Mark B" <> wrote in message One of the
> things we intend to do is take the Chi-Cheemaun ferry on Huron rather>
> than take the Trans Canada Highway around it. Does anyone have any>
> experience taking a bike on the boat?

The ferry ride is awesome! I wouldn't worry about rough water, there are so
many islands the water stays relatively calm. Take a camera, the
surroundings are beautiful. Maybe bring a bag of Cheetos, the seagulls like
to fly with the ferry, swoop and eat treats out of your hand.
Sorry, I don't know about the bike parking but my truck was happy. I do
remember the crew taking good care of everyone.
Have a wonderful time.
Sue
Minocqua, WI
Yamaha '00 VStar 650
'04 TW200 (mud = fun)
Kawasaki '95 Vulcan 1500 V#15937
Feminine Protection:
Light days - Glock 27 w/ Crimson Trace
Heavy days - Ruger Redhawk .44 mag

"Mark B" <mark_bert@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ee34047e-5464-41cb-a86d-cb7fca30d3db@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks to all for the input. If there's any interest, here's the route
> we'll be taking http://tinyurl.com/5w29zc . I'll post a ride report
> when I get back.
>
> Mark B

Mark, I'm about a 3 hour ride from the Tobermory docks serving that boat and
have taken it a few times- it runs 4 times per day (fewer in off-season).
On one occasion (mid August) I arrived 1.5 hours ahead of the crossing time
(11am) I wanted and did not get on, I was bike # 21 and they only had room
for 20 bikes. (of course I was first in line for the next crossing 5 hours
later :-) ). They do take reservations for the first (6:30am ?) and last
(10:00pm ?) crossings.

Usually bikes go on first but they do have additional tiedowns if it's not
full, it can handle 2 or 3 hundred cars and transports on 2 levels. Also,
how many bikes and riders in your group - the cost may add up quick.

You may want to consider traveling down the east side of Georgian Bay and
not using the ferry - it's a bit longer in distance (maybe 60-80 miles) but
you'll save 4 or more hours in time. The hwy (69 and 400) from Sudbury to
Barrie is about 150 miles of great scenery riding through the Canadian
shield, (100 foot granite rock walls, lots of lakes, not much traffic, 4
lanes for the most part). A few very nice towns exist as well.

From Barrie to Toronto it's 6 lanes - expect very heavy traffic on Sunday
evenings etc. however other routes do exist. If you do take the boat route
you shouldn't see much traffic till you're about an hour out of downtown
Toronto.

If you want more info, email me off-line.

Tim.