Can this be done?

[trisstan87]

I was speaking with my grandfather about a lot of sailing subjects as he has been a sailor for many many years. He actually with my uncle Doug sailed a Hobie Cat from New Smyrna Beach down to Man-O-War Cay in the Abaco's in two days. The story he told me about arriving at customs is a very entertaining one to say the least.
Anywhoo, I was speaking to my grandfather about the cost of the Canal and how I had been thinking about the difference in cost of sailing down through the straits of Magellan as opposed to paying so much for the canal passage.
My grandfather told me that:
When you go to the canal you shouldn't have to pay anything near the costs listed. He said you can find a freighter that carries deck cargo and has extra room, make a contract with that boats captain to be lifted aboard his freighter and carried accross the canal for a fraction of the cost than if you tried to just pass through. My grandfather is in his upper 80's and while I thought his idea to be marvelous I wanted to ask on here if it is still possible to do?
Thanks for the info!

[nolatom]

I don't want to sound like a wet blanket, but I doubt most captains would take on the responsibility, or the headache of getting permission from the home office to do it, and for a comparatively small fee. And logistically it wouldn't be simple, they'd need slings, a lifting frame for them, and a cradle to put you in, and then do it all over again on the other side.

And they'd risk losing their turn if your logistics delayed them.

What you're looking for is a very "informal" freighter or crane barge that wasn't in a hurry and would improvise. There are such ships, but most of them don't have the canal dues to start with.

Have you investigated what your dues would be? Might not be that bad since likely you'd lock thru with another larger vessel who's "already" using the lock.

I will defer to others with actual experience down there, but that's my first thought.

[k1vsk]

Let's see - "Cap'n, can you swing that crane around and pick up my boat to hide wile going through?" Cap'n replies: :Turn around and put your hands behind your back". Pause... View sight of idiot being taken away to a Panama jail never to be seen again. Thanks grandpa

[puddinlegs]

OK, I'll be rude... why do you keep posting this nonsense? You have NO idea what sailing a boat costs, so you're still thinking that $1000 is a lot of money... It isn't considering what you want to do. For a 35' boat, that'll buy you three halyards and if you shop really well, maybe an extra jib sheet. You continue to post without doing any semblance of research on your own. You're being lazy.

[doubleeboy]

Possibly a troll?

michael

[cormeum]

Originally Posted by doubleeboy

Possibly a troll?

michael

It's starting to appear so.

[puddinlegs]

Yep.

[DoctorK]

thank you puddin. we were all thinking it, but someone needed to say it

[cormeum]

C'mon! He want's to take his Hobie Cat through the Straits of Magellan to the Pacific!

Who are we to stifle his dreeeeam?

[jcalvinmarks]

Oh, cool, we're beating up on him now. I was beginning to think I was just being viciously and fanatically judgmental, as usual, but I guess I'm not alone.

Oh, and that avatar is stupid. It makes my blood pressure go up.

[seriously, now]This sounds like a total pipe dream. As others have pointed out, it's impractical and unfeasible on so many different levels.[/seriously, you guys]