On shore mobility? Scooters, bikes, etc.
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Chit Chat
Forum Description: Talk about anything to do with your boat
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15019
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:40
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Topic: On shore mobility? Scooters, bikes, etc.
Posted By: Sounder
Subject: On shore mobility? Scooters, bikes, etc.
Date Posted: 13 March 2025 at 12:23
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I have a Hanse 348 with the extra port-side storage space and have been thinking about getting a folding bike, e-bike or e-scooter to use on-shore. I was interested to hear what experience, guidance and recommendations that the forum may have. Many thanks. ------------- David S NADINE (Hanse 348 #199) Western Long Island Sound |
Replies:
Posted By: Oline
Date Posted: 13 March 2025 at 19:51
We have an e-scooter (about 30 kgs). Very nice to have when the store is far away or we need to get somewhere quick while on shore. 
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Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 13 March 2025 at 22:18
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My wife and I have 4 bikes on our boat. 2 Dahon Mariners (7 speed folding bikes) and 2 BLIX 7 speed e-bikes. All of these store nicely in the 575 sail locker forward. In fact, I can also put my spinaker, spare anchor/chain, dock lines, fenders-when-not-in-use, etc. We really like being able to bike on islands like Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard with friends. We had the dahon mariners first and then decided on the e-bikes when age and hills made us think about riding in the next few years with our children and grandchildren. I know you might not have this kind of room, so I would recommend either the Dahon mariners (they are now 8 speed) or the BLIX. If you get an e-bike, think hard about wrestling something heavy into a dinghy to take ashore. You will want to take the battery off of it and reconnect it when on shore. The battery is pretty heavy. We also use our electric winches to lower them into the dinghy just to make sure we don't litter the bottom if some wake rolls the boat while we are transferring them to the dinghy. I also keep spare tubes, a spare tire, spare derailers, and some other parts likely to be needed but not found on some island. Think about this part carefully. The BLIX Vika+ is what we have and its great for regular biking as well as taking advantage of the "E" for hills. It weighs half as much as many other e-bikes. FWIW ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Dubs2021
Date Posted: 13 March 2025 at 22:25
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I removed the wheels and seat from a standard size Giant gravel bike and fit it in that lazerette. Had some nice rides on Lopez Island and San Juan Island. As long as I had a dock to get it to shore it was fine. Lugging to shore from an anchorage would have been a challenge! ------------- Hugh |
Posted By: Sounder
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 01:09
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This is terrific. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will look into these bikes. Cheers. ------------- David S NADINE (Hanse 348 #199) Western Long Island Sound |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 01:17
 BLIX Vika+ on Martha's Vineyard  Dahon Mariner in brushed aluminum Neither of the above are "light", but are manageable. We use them to get groceries, bike the islands, get some air, and otherwise be mobile at anchor or at the dock. The key measurement (as you seem to have found out) is getting it thru the opening. Usually there is room in the locker/lazerette/etc. but you need to figure out the angles and fit to get it through. Also important is a durable bike bag. I do that to keep things together, as well as protect them from the other contents of the locker. As well, it helps when lifting the bike out of the locker. We hook the spinaker halyard to the bags and lift them out with the winch and then swing them over the side into the dinghy. In the bag. The dinghy ride is not that bad. ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: H8jer
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 05:59
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Hi I had 4 bikes on my old 311 with huge storage locker. On our 370 we have 2 bikes in the port cockpit locker. We have the 3 cabin version. So not a lot of space. I have tried many bikes and can therefore provide a list that fills our needs. * Small = 16 inch wheels folding * Fit a grown man 185+/90 kg * High seat height = low fatigue * Internal gears = less dirt in gears/chain * 3 gears = KISS = just works * Shopping Basket on the handle bars / portable (reisenthel klickfix) * Heavy Duty bag for storage * No ebike! = Fire/charging/too heavy (they use cheep Chinese Lithium and not Lifepo4 batteries) * Burn calories instead = more wine calories We ride long trips on the Danish Islands and with our NeoBike Access mark 2 we go far.  This bike is discontinued but here is a webpage with similar bikes: eg. Brompton M3L or Dahon K3 https://discerningcyclist.com/best-lightweight-folding-bikes/" rel="nofollow - https://discerningcyclist.com/best-lightweight-folding-bikes/
------------- Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 10:55
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I looked at the really expensive bikes as well. Carbon fiber, super light alloys, etc. i did not want to spend that kind of money. The Dahon were US$600 when we bought them and the Blix were low priced for e-bikes as well If you’ve got it, go ahead, but they get banged around on boats in a harsh environment and tou should factor that in. ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: samuel
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 14:26
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Brompton every time. A class piece of kit that suits my height & weight OK. Over a million made. Available all round the world. Spares always available which cannot be said for some makes which change the design regularly & do not support the older patterns. If Brompton went belly up there will always be someone making spares. World record for folding a Brompton is 5.3 seconds. 7 year warranty on frame. 3 year on rest of it. Lots of additional items available, bags clothing etc., plus bits to bling them up I have 2 Brompton E bikes & they go in my 311 quite easily although being SH, I normally only take one.
------------- Daydream Believer- Hanse 311- No GBR9917T- Bradwell Essex |
Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 14 March 2025 at 17:41
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I have two old Dahons (20+ years) with the three internal gears. Both are in very good condition and work well. I have converted one of them to electric using a Swytch conversion kit and I’m really pleased with it and have no problem charging it from my solar setup. For general use around towns and villages I don’t bother with electric side, but where I found it really useful was last year sailing round Ireland when I had to get fuel when anchored in obscure places. Using the electric kit on the bike enabled me to transfer the added weight of 30 litres of fuel over longer distances and up and down hills and still be functional at the end of the journey. It also greatly extended my range when ashore enabling me to visit places that previously I would have considered too far. The actual Swytch kit only added about 3 - 4kg to the total weight of the bike. It has proven to be so successful that I’m converting the second bike as well. On my 370, with careful organisation I can carry a bike in each of the cockpit lockers as well as my necessary cruising bits. I also have an electric scooter but use the bikes in preference as the scooter is heavier and doesn’t have the same range or load carrying ability. It does however fold up smaller and takes less space. The scooter lives on the boat when I’m sailing around Strangford and the Irish east coast as it’s useful to scoot about places, but if I’m going anywhere like the Western Isles, IoM or Wales, it’s removed and the bikes are taken as they are better for exploring. If anyone has a good folding bike already, I’d really recommend that they consider converting it using a Swytch kit. It really transforms them and greatly increases your range and ease of use. Simon |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 15 March 2025 at 06:51
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Scooters are a inherentaccident risc with the little wheels especially in uneven terrain. Best solution would be a folding e-bike, with load carrying accessories. ------------- Frank |
Posted By: Typ2003
Date Posted: 15 May 2025 at 09:51
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Hi everyone, I plan to charge it via inverter while running the engine or generator, or plug in at the marina if I’m feeling civilized. |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 15 May 2025 at 13:01
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If you mean how do we get the bike to shore and back as the "last mile" mission, then for us: We use the spinaker halyard to lift the bikes out of the sail locker forward (where they are strapped to the hull for sailing). We lower the bike into the dinghy and reconnect the battery (which was usually charging below deck) once we get to shore. Reverse the process on the way back. Important to note is that your bike *WILL* get wet. If not from weather then from some clown motoring at high speed thru the anchorage while you are in the dinghy. This is why the Dahon Mariner and other brands use of aluminum, stainless or carbon is important. It won't degrade as easily in the marine environment. I have no knowledge of the Brompton, but its a high end bike so I assume it should be OK. ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |