Warning - Cork Swansea Ferry

[suffolkfox]

Having just got back from an excellent trip to Southern Ireland, superb hospitality & brilliant reception from our contact & Chim driving friend, Jerry, I feel I must post a warning about the ferry. They insisted we took our cars up the ramp to the top deck, even though we were all worried about the undersides (the ramp appears to be at 45degrees)and argued repeatedly to be allowed to stay down. First two got up OK, my underside connected with the top of the ramp and crushed/ripped the protection plate from under the cats and damaged the exhaust connections, resulting in servere damage to the whole lot.

DO NOT LET THEM PUT YOU UP TOP, INSIST ON LOWER DECK.

When challenged, the loading chief's responce was ' It's your fault for buying a low car!' The crew did not give a stuff.

The bill will be winging its way to them in the next couple of days.

(PetrolTed - is it worth copying this to the other forums, any low cars could have the same problem?)

[zumbruk]

In direct contrast, FWIW, I've toured the Western Isles in my Cossie and found the Cal-Mac ferry operators couldn't have been more helpful, adjusting loading ramps, letting me park in odd places and in one case, reverse onto the ferry to avoid grounding the exhaust.

[S3 Kieran]

I did the IOW ferry recently (Red Funnel). On the way out, I had the big ferry, went up top and scraped exhausts on loading ramp (part of dock) on Southampton side. Made the missus walk down on other side to give me extra room - no probs.

On the way back, we had the smaller old ferry :grotty: and was pleased to see the lower deck. Unfortunately.......

to get to the lower deck, you first have to go up the ramp, therefore doubling the angle to traverse - got totally jammed on the little wood grip strips on and off - much to the amusement and huge cheers of local Cub sprout troop waiting at the exit, once I made it off!!

GBGaffer lives on IOW and says his S doesn't ground, so I think mine is due for new springs - not to mention another exhaust patch