Ever driven your Spyder onto a ferry?

[Poppie65]

We're planning a 10 day ride and considering taking the ferry across Lake Erie from Sandusky, OH over to Pelee Island and then on further to Leamington, ON. I found an older thread, last used in mid 2023, where some people shared their experiences of traveling by ferry but I'm expressly interested in knowing if anyone has loaded their Spyder onto a ferry. Considering that a ramp is used, was there any trouble with ground clearance coming on and off the ramp?

 

[Jackhartjr]

As a former truck driver, I've been on many ferries.
I don't remember any that if you simply approach the ramp at a 45 degree angle you would have a problem.

 

[blacklightning]

Not sure which one, but a friend and I did the entire hwy 12 along the Outer Banks of NC. We got a chance to ride on 2 ferrys and didn't have a problem at all.

 

[MNBK]

I've taken a ferry across Lake Michigan and there was no ramp. The deck was level with the dock, and I had no problem, drove straight on. That is what you need to look at.

 

[Snoking1127]

In Washington they load motorcycles/trikes first and and let them off first. The ramps adjust at two hinge points and at really low tides that try to not create a steep angle from the deck to the lower ramp area. We have around 14 feet from the lowest to highest tide. The moon controls tides.

 

[LongIsland]

I have taken the Cape May, NJ to Lewes, DE Ferry; the Port Jefferson, NY to Bridgeport CT Ferry; the Orient Point NY to New London CT Ferry; the Shelter Island NY North Ferry; the Shelter Island NY South Ferry; and a ferry between VT and NY. Rode straight on with absolutely no problems with clearance on any of these ferries. Some crossings I had my RT-622 trailer, again no problems. The only thing I would do is check to determine if a reservation is needed.

 

[JayBros]

There is a ferry across Bull Shoals Lake NE of Harrison, AR that was no problem for my RT with its SpyderPops bump skid or my touring partner's F3. It is a small ferry operation, two of them, powered by John Deere tractor engines.

 

[Gwolf]

I have ridden motorcycles and driven trucks on to a lot of ferries. I can tell you that there is no standard angle for the ramps. If the ferry is in a river or tributary influenced by tides the angle changes with the tides. In a river far enough away from tidal influence, the angles will be influenced by the rise or fall of the river due to rainfall. The operators might put in longer or shorter ramps, but they will not micro-adjust for river or lake levels.

It is whatever it is when you get there.

 

[Poppie65]

There are a lot of great responses here, thank you all very much. The ramp angle is my greatest concern and it sounds like shore to lake access should be relatively straight forward. Since reservations are required, I'll do a final confirmation when I call and speak to them.
You guys rock with your quick and on point responses, it's very much appreciated.

 

[spyderladyf3]

We're planning a 10 day ride and considering taking the ferry across Lake Erie from Sandusky, OH over to Pelee Island and then on further to Leamington, ON. I found an older thread, last used in mid 2023, where some people shared their experiences of traveling by ferry but I'm expressly interested in knowing if anyone has loaded their Spyder onto a ferry. Considering that a ramp is used, was there any trouble with ground clearance coming on and off the ramp?

That's a very good question,I'm planning on going on the ferry up in Cassville Wisconsin sometime this summer, its about a 75 mile trip one way riding up there so l'm waiting for the weather to not be so unpredictable. I've never been on a ferry with my Spyder.

 

[Poppie65]

That's a very good question, and since tI'm planning on going on the ferry up in Cassville Wisconsin sometime this summer, its about a 75 mile trip one way riding up there so l'm waiting for the weather to not be so unpredictable. I've never been on a ferry with my Spyder.

We're hoping the wild fire smoke won't be so bad that we have to change plans and direction.

 

[EdMat]

Been on 3 so far. No problems.

 

[X90rider]

The Pelee Islander is easy on and off with a Spyder.

 

[Poppie65]

The Pelee Islander is easy on and off with a Spyder.

Excellent! Thank you.

 

[Woodaddict]

Have been on ferries a few times. The attack angle is not as steep as loading on a trailer, unless its a tilt trailer, or another that has a long ramp situation

 

[PDXRTL]

A different question about ferries. I'll be heading north next month taking the Alaska Marine Hwy System from Bellingham to Haines. The two wheel motorcycles I'm with will be required to be tied down.

But has anyone taking the AMHS been asked to tie down their Spyder?

I can't imagine why since we can't fall over other than "it's a motorcycle so it has to be tied down."

 

[EdMat]

But has anyone taking the AMHS been asked to tie down their Spyder?

If asked, just mention the parking brake.

 

[Gwolf]

A different question about ferries. I'll be heading north next month taking the Alaska Marine Hwy System from Bellingham to Haines. The two wheel motorcycles I'm with will be required to be tied down.

But has anyone taking the AMHS been asked to tie down their Spyder?

I can't imagine why since we can't fall over other than "it's a motorcycle so it has to be tied down."

Never assume any rules or laws the government entities or rules committees come up with have any relationship to common sense.
The Ferry Operations are covered by DOT. Definitely rule out any common sense in that.

 

[BCNewell]

Put our two F3-S’s onto ferries at Bull Shoals in Arkansas, and Port Aransas in South Texas. No problems with either. As others have stated, if the angle looks a little suspect, hit it at about a 30° to 45° angle rather than head on. Same as with dips or speed humps in roads.

 

[Mikey]

Not a Spyder but a two-wheeler, there was no problem with the ramp going in, but I will say when they handed me four pieces of rope and told me to tie it to the deck above on all four corners, I was shaking my head!! It was a rough ride to Noviscosia.