View Full Version : Anyone have experience with the car on and off car ferries? Concerned about ground clearance.


PeterH
03-19-2008, 09:17 AM
Specifically WA state ferries if anyone here has attempted.

Gorobei
03-19-2008, 09:52 AM
my Avant is pretty low (it's on coilovers) and I use the ferries up here in WA fairly often without issue, even during extreme low and high tides. My biggest concern is always dragging the undercarriage as I pass the breakover point but that hasn't happened yet on a ferry boat. It does however happen every time I leave the downtown REI garage for some reason.

I know that's not a ton of help, but I thought I'd toss that out there. I usually take the Fauntleroy-Southworth run but have also taken the Clinton-Whidbey, Edmonds-Kingston, Seattle-Bainbridge, and Seattle-Bremerton without an issue yet in 1.5 years of ownership. When in doubt I just time my boarding in traffic so I can go at a bit of an angle up and down the ramp. Hope that helps a little.

firstR8
03-19-2008, 10:52 AM
Front spoilers on Ferraris can be EXTREMELY expensive and will weaken and break easily.

Gorobei
03-19-2008, 11:50 AM
Those grizzly old ferry workers would toss your ass in the Sound if they saw you doing that during the loading process :) Nevermind the people in line who are waiting to get on the boat behind you.

It's a great idea, just not doable when they are loading those boats.

PeterH
03-19-2008, 12:33 PM
a good idea to hold up either loading or unloading of those boats. I cant even imagine if it got to the point where I wasnt able to get on the boat and was forced to either damage the car or "attempt" to back up.

rally
03-19-2008, 12:51 PM
The bottom of the ramp at the ferry can be a very drastic angle at low tide. Invest in a tide chart at the book store and you're good to go!

Gorobei
03-19-2008, 01:46 PM
I went down on a run that I expected to be very empty and tested it then. I think it was early on a Saturday or something. That way there were fewer people to piss off.

But I can't honestly say that I would as daring if I was driving an R8.

Maybe check some other high-end sportscar forums and see if anyone has any input? Come to think of it, I've never seen anything especially high-end on any of those runs. Wonder if there is a reason for that.

agentwithA3
03-20-2008, 09:12 AM