This has been under discussion elsewhere on here but here are (I hope)some interesting observations.
I have read the handlining transit info.published by the Panama Canal as well as various articles to be found online but have never seen a yacht transit the Canal that is until this evening(UK time)
A new series of programmes called "my crazy family gap year"
Tonight a trip transatlantic;trans caribbean;transPacific in a 45 foot Cat with wife and very young children.
It showed some very good footage of centre lockage thru the Canal.
First comment of note-the lines were neither one inch diameter as demanded by the Canal Authority-more like 3/4.
They were soft polypropelyne film lines such as are used as tie downs on trucks.
The Lock walls were no worse than your average granite harbour wall-I would be quite happy with my fenders;a couple of ball fenders and a rubbing board as is often carried over here in the UK by those of us used to mooring/drying out along side harbour walls.
The current generated by flooding and emptying the lock was no different to that generated in any lock-a greater volume of water but equally a bigger space for it to occupy.
The height of the lock walls were no different to several of the locks on our local ship canal-The Caledonian Canal-the grandfather of all the worlds ship canals.
All in all the transit itself appeared very simple and straightforward.
Costs and buerocracy are a different matter.
I have read the handlining transit info.published by the Panama Canal as well as various articles to be found online but have never seen a yacht transit the Canal that is until this evening(UK time)
A new series of programmes called "my crazy family gap year"
Tonight a trip transatlantic;trans caribbean;transPacific in a 45 foot Cat with wife and very young children.
It showed some very good footage of centre lockage thru the Canal.
First comment of note-the lines were neither one inch diameter as demanded by the Canal Authority-more like 3/4.
They were soft polypropelyne film lines such as are used as tie downs on trucks.
The Lock walls were no worse than your average granite harbour wall-I would be quite happy with my fenders;a couple of ball fenders and a rubbing board as is often carried over here in the UK by those of us used to mooring/drying out along side harbour walls.
The current generated by flooding and emptying the lock was no different to that generated in any lock-a greater volume of water but equally a bigger space for it to occupy.
The height of the lock walls were no different to several of the locks on our local ship canal-The Caledonian Canal-the grandfather of all the worlds ship canals.
All in all the transit itself appeared very simple and straightforward.
Costs and buerocracy are a different matter.