Panama Outboard Boat Licences

[sailingwithacat]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

other fees don't really stop people from going places so I doubt this one would be any different

But rape and pillage on boats in the anchorage, followed by this, will stop people from coming here. this is not a fee, it is a decoy to take the cruisers attention away from the lack of security here.

[Don L]

Originally Posted by sailingwithacat

But rape and pillage on boats in the anchorage, followed by this, will stop people from coming here. this is not a fee, it is a decoy to take the cruisers attention away from the lack of security here.

Maybe, but this thread wasn't about rape and pillage. Yet even with rape and pillage I notice the cruisers are still there, so I don't believe a fee would make most of them leave!

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by youmeandthed

we had the port captain on the vhf net this morning responding to questions..... people are not happy

Is it paid in cash to the Port Captain?

[Garyosborne1]

It seems that the message to the port captain was misinterpreted somewhere along the line, the latest is that this license requirement does not effect cruisers dinghys.

[Canibul]

If it were me, I think I'd use this as just the justification I needed to get rid of the RIB and buy a Walker Bay rigid dinghy with both a motor mount and the sail kit and oars.

[colemj]

What about the fines for not wearing a lifejacket in the dinghy?

Mark

[Garyosborne1]

The info requiring a license for driving a dinghy was a mistake in communication from the port captains office and has been rectified. The license the license requirement should have no effect on cruisers visiting Panama. There is a requirement for PFDs in small boats but not much in the way enforcement except around holidays.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Garyosborne1

The info requiring a license for driving a dinghy was a mistake in communication from the port captains office and has been rectified. The license the license requirement should have no effect on cruisers visiting Panama. There is a requirement for PFDs in small boats but not much in the way enforcement except around holidays.

with this level of mis-information it won't be long before cruisers avoid the area entirely

[Garyosborne1]

If a mistake in translation or interpretation would keep anyone from visiting this beautiful archipelago, shame on them.

[sanssouci]

Is there a central/commercial dingy dock in town? A dock that caters to cruising boats and local residents, non-watertaxi.

[youmeandthed]

The government here seems to be on a user fee frenzy, and clearing in costs in bocas are the cruising permit plus whatever the group of officials think you are worth. WE look less rich (and we could have made our point clearer but I felt like cleaning the boat a bit after a long passage) and they took $20 a head each other cruisers I just talked to got $30 a head because they were in a nicer boat. If you clear in at a marina... it will be $40 a head.... I don't think the money is getting to the government. Maybe they should look into better management practices like the use of a visa card to pay. Or set up an online site where you pay your fees. I bet they notice revenues increase at least three fold.

Oh and there are at least 5 dinghy docks just for tenders (no pangas) in bocas provided by bocas marina and some of the establishments.

I agree everyone lets out info that is wrong and then they back track all the time here. When the port Captain anounced it, he was pretty clear that everyone was included in the licence, then back tracked a day later saying cruisers were exempt. If the police or port captain do decide to get out and enforce this, I hope they are a bit clearer on the rules.

[sanssouci]

I assume some of the establishments provide dingy docks for their customers. Does the Bocas Marina provide dingy dockage for boats at anchor?
The yacht club in Colon has public dingy dock with full time watchman for a price.

[sanssouci]

Clearing in and obtaining a zarpe is easier in Chiriqui Grande.

[youmeandthed]

Sorry, the marina has three docks that some of the restaurants tie up to their dock specifically for the cruisers. There are lots of places to dock your boat for free and walk around town.

[Garyosborne1]

The three dinghy docks provided by Bocas Marina are free to any dinghy, The Pirate, the Reef, and my favorite at Lillie's.