Wightlink ferry Lymington - Yarmouth

Bod
Bod Forum Participant Posts: 71
edited July 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

We have recently returned from a fabulous 10 night stay at Southlands CC site which is probably the best site we have ever stayed on - but would like to give a word of warning re. the Wightlink ferry. From Lymington it has a very steep ramp and unfortunately for us the caravan bottomed at the top. We heard quite a crunch - the ferry operatives said no damage had been done (we thought afterwards they must have meant to the ferry) but on arrival at site we found one the jack feet was missing. They must have seen this but didn't inform us. On the return journey which we were dreading the staff on the ferry seemed more helpful advising us to take it steady on the way down the ramp and that for a long vehicle like ours it is better to load at low tide. This was our first experience of towing a caravan onto a ferry and we feel at the time of booking via the CC perhaps this information should given. Our caravan measures 7.43 and car just under 5m. Apparently this is a common occurrence so we removed them for the return journey - annoying we lost one because they were brand new as is the caravan. 

Comments

  • Randomcamper
    Randomcamper Club Member Posts: 1,062 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #2

    It is a problem if you have a long overhang whether caravan or motorhome if the type of ferry or the state of the tide means that there is a relatively steep ramp to negotiate. 

    Sometimes traversing ferry ramps at an angle can help.

    Going very very slowly at the point you may ground is also advised.

    I think if you have only lost a jack foot you are lucky.  It is easy to damage the bodywork at the back if the rear grounds.......

     

  • anothersunrise
    anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264
    edited July 2016 #3

    Hope you enjoyed the IW. We use the IW ferries regularly and have never bottomed out. Our car is 5.3 and van 7.3.   We use both ferries but  prefer to use the Red funnel ferries  

  • Bellsboy
    Bellsboy Forum Participant Posts: 68
    First Comment
    edited July 2016 #4

    We prefer Red Funnel too and often take their five or ten day return ferry and campsite offers.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #5

    I believe it depends on the height of the tide.

    We had no problems on this ferry, but we may have been lucky?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #6

    We have used Lymington crossing for years with numerous c/vans & m/vans to visit my Brother, and have never "grounded" on the ferry or the ramps and have used Southlands site years before the cc brought it

     

     

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