Panama Canal

[greenpointyeraser]

Ahoy all ye salty sea dogs! i just got a great deal on a boat in slip at Washington. I currently live in south texas and shipping it on land would be waayyy too much money. The alternative is to cruise down the west coast and through the panama canal into the gulf but does anyone know anything about access to the panama canal for sailboats and if there are any fees?

[mdbee]

IF there are fees?

Although I am ignorant of the amount, there are fees. $$

Just ran across this:Standard Canal Fees

Originally Posted by greenpointyeraser

Ahoy all ye salty sea dogs! i just got a great deal on a boat in slip at Washington. I currently live in south texas and shipping it on land would be waayyy too much money. The alternative is to cruise down the west coast and through the panama canal into the gulf but does anyone know anything about access to the panama canal for sailboats and if there are any fees?

[greenpointyeraser]

haha, i suppose that makes more sense. Thank you

[Beyond2012]

I recently read that fees are almost 2000 dollars to go through, for permit papers and tires and you can wait for up to three weeks to go through, this was in a british boating magazine either "Sailing Today" or Boat Owner, cannot remember which one exactly, i was shocked at the fees.

[sck5]

check noonsite

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Pa...rc=Formalities

[Faster]

At near two grand, that's a pretty good chunk of the trucking fee... you'll also have to factor in the real cost of the voyage south and back (unless you're doing this primarily for the experience)

Financially speaking I'd not be surprised if trucking works out to be less expensive overall...

[maru657]

With a LOA under 40' it should run under $1000. and @ half of that will be refundable. You will need a minimum of Four 200' tending lines for raft ups. and Four people on board for line handlers. This info is based on a friend who recently used the canal.

[imagine2frolic]

Here's the real story, and I just made the transit 2 weeks ago. I am still in Panama City. If you go with thr right broker you can get everything done for under $1100.00, or you can save some money, and do it yourself. You will save several hundred $'s, but have to pout out an extra buffer fee of $850. This will be returned to you, but sometime in the near future. We opted to pay the extra money.

This includes cruising permit, tires, lines, but no crew. You can pay for crew. You can find fellow cruiser willing to go for the experience. You can also get ahold of the Maritime College here, and get 4 crew for under $100.

If you think doing the canal is cheaper.....you are very wrong. It cost money, and time to get here. Not to mention wear & tear on the boat. Especially if the boat is a wee bit worn already. Your boat will need to be in TOP CONDITION to make the trip.......i2f

[ffiill]

Just check out the Panama Canal site for proper details and pricing.
http://www.pancanal.com/common/marit...rms/4352-i.pdf.
Tells you exactly what it costs and regulations re transiting.

[sailor50]

It was 15 years ago when we transited. You need an admeasurer, this person is employed by the Canal Transit Authority. They come with a measuring tape and measure the fuel and water tanks (adds tonnage weight). If the vessel had previously gone through the Canal, you will find an Admeasurer's Certificate which states the boat was previously measured and completed a transit.

You post bond which insures you are in control of your vessel, and you get that back if no problems arise.

We made a call to the Peace Corps, albeit while there still was a yacht club there (B4 it burned down), and we had 3 additional line handlers under the age of 21! Very agile, excited, and free of cost! We paid their bus fare and added a few bucks for their trouble.