Irish Ferries. Be warned.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Now had a response...

It is accepted practice to ask the owner to lash his own motorcycle but there is a duty to ensure this is done correctly. At times the crew may assist or complete the lashing to ensure that the bike is secure. They crew will ask the owner to place gloves on the seat to prevent damage when tightening. We can completely understand your frustration as a result of this matter and I'm more than happy to review this further.

In that case, the ferry operator should state that it is for the owner to lash their own bikes!!! I was prevented from doing it myself by the deckhand and will tell them so, word fail me!! Maybe stop an oil mark, but bugger all else.

.

"Place gloves on the seat?" That doesn't prevent damage to the seat and if there are hard protective panels in the gloves it may either wreck them or drive them through the seat cover. In this case the problem is the crew used more force than the seat could take. Gloves would not have prevented it.

As for using gloves to "prevent damage".....

[frenchy3]

I have been on Brittany ferries many times and i wince each time they crunch down the bike with a heavy duty lorry ratchet strap that has no place holding a motorcycle. My brothers seat base was broken once,i end up with a deformed lowrider seat which is really uncomfortable until the seat foam reforms itself. For most motorcycles a one inch camlock strap would hold the bike. I know they do not wish to leave themselves open to damage claims if a bike falls over as i have seen a large superbike that had fallen and spent the next 18 hours sliding up and down on the deck plates(not a pretty sight for it,s owner when they were let onto the car deck) Many modern bikes have ecu,s and complex electrics under the seat and in extreme cases the bike could be rendered useless to ride off the ferry if grollied down too tight. I have never been given the option to tie my own bike down before.

[SteveR]

Generally speaking I'm in agreement with Andy 99% of the time but not on this. If they write back and roll over, fine, job done.

If he comes back and says no, write a letter again and give them 28 days to send you the funds for a new seat. Get a dealer to put it in writing to you in a letter on their headed paper which you can then copy and send with your letter. Don't make threats, dont be unreasonable but do say "as a direct result of actions taken by your employee, the seat of my bike has been damaged beyond repair. Pics are good too. End the letter with the para "I would be grateful if you could please remedy this situation within 28 days by way of sending me a cheque for £X as per the attached letter from a Honda dealer.

Social media can be effective but it will just drag it out and is toothless, ultimately. If they don't respond after your letter give them a further 14 days and "...with reference to my letter of x month, i note you have not responded. I hereby give you a further and final 14 days to settle my claim..etc"

if they dont do it, start a small claim at moneyclaim.

ETA - and dont accept if the bastards try fobbing you off with "vouchers", its £££ you want

Some good stuff Mike, thanks for that. I have winged a detailed email back to the guy already, containing photos and a link showing the price of a new seat from David Silver. Good idea to get a written figure from them if I need to escalate to snailmail!

[SteveR]

Now had a response...

It is accepted practice to ask the owner to lash his own motorcycle but there is a duty to ensure this is done correctly. At times the crew may assist or complete the lashing to ensure that the bike is secure. They crew will ask the owner to place gloves on the seat to prevent damage when tightening. We can completely understand your frustration as a result of this matter and I'm more than happy to review this further.

In that case, the ferry operator should state that it is for the owner to lash their own bikes!!! I was prevented from doing it myself by the deckhand and will tell them so, word fail me!! Maybe stop an oil mark, but bugger all else.

.

"Place gloves on the seat?" That doesn't prevent damage to the seat and if there are hard protective panels in the gloves it may either wreck them or drive them through the seat cover. In this case the problem is the crew used more force than the seat could take. Gloves would not have prevented it.

As for using gloves to "prevent damage".....

I have pointed this out quite specifically and in some detail!! When inspired (or annoyed) I write a mean letter!! :laugh:

[SteveR]

"as a direct result of actions taken by your employee,

Tbh I'd have put "agent" as they may not be directly employed by the ferry Co

Point. I am using the generic, "deckhand", to cover all options!!

[SteveR]

This happened to me on the way over to the NW200 a few weeks ago.

Whoops! OUCH!!!

I seem to recall the last time I saw your XC it was on the floor on a green lane in Thetford?? Wasn't it black then...?

[dom501]

When I went to the NW200 last year a guy called Popeye tied my 990 adventure down. The side stand is bolted directly to the sump. He was tightening that ratchet strap up so tight I was cringing (and was just waiting for that sump to crack), I even said... that's enough you might hurt it!!!
His reply "It can get pretty rough on these eer' sea's" then he just took a deep breath ate another can of spinach and kept crankin' on that damn ratchet strap! At that point I was thinking why didn't you fit that side stand relocator kit thats now sitting in your garage.
Luckily all that was damaged was my gloves that had been under the strap. Then there's my uncle that always rips the piss because when they got to his bike all the straps had gone and he could tie his up with rope.

[SteveR]

The best fastening down I ever saw was on the motorail to italy from Holland. 4 separate loops put on the bike, 2F, 2R. then ratchet straps from loop to train deck. Firm as a firm thing, although I did wince at the loading on the forks....

[catcitrus]

This is a strange situation as when I use P and O for the channel crossing its up to you to tie the bike down. I wrote a long letter to P and O about safety at sea and their responsibility for safety, no spilled fuel and so on--and that I have no insurance cover whilst my bike is "cargo". The other issue is whether or not you as an individual have the "expertise" to securely lash your bike for sea--typically not (although in my case I'm ex navy and I think I can do it). To cover myself I get a deckhand to "inspect my work" for insurance purposes. The reason P and O gave for making you do it yourself was that they were getting too many false claims for damages--and there are even notices up saying that its a DIY situation. Now I would not let them do it, or step in and stop them from overdoing it. Lashing across the seat is never secure on its own--and I always use an extra strap from a rear footrest hanger or similar to a deck eye--and then its going nowhere.

[AndyB]

If I've got room I'll usually take a couple of small straps of my own and put them from the frame to whatever mounting points are available. Big straps such as P&O use are difficult to thread anywhere small and the load you can put on with them is worrying.