Cost of Panama Canal Transit

[exon111]

I've been looking all over the internet for a way to calculate the toll for a motor sailboat to go through the Panama Canal, but with no success. Does anyone know how to calculate the toll for a sailboat with the following specifications:
LOA: 17 M
Beam: 5.0 M
Displacment: 47 tons
Drat: 2.5 M

Thanks!

[S/V Elusive]

Try: Maritime Operations - PanCanal.com

[Viking Sailor]

Latest at noonsite.com

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doin...7-05-06-1/view

[3Eagles]

Do not use Y&J Yachts!!! We used Yara's services last March and she has yet to pay us our buffer back! She still owes us over $1,000 USD and is claiming that her business partner stole our money. PLEASE, do not use this agent. I would be happy to provide more information so email me if required (or read my post that was confirmed on Noonsite.com).

Noonsite: Panama Canal Transit - Cruisers Notes

[Martinini]

How many keel boats out there can do 8 knots---------not many?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Martinini

How many keel boats out there can do 8 knots---------not many?

Everyone who doesn't want to pay an extra $1,200.

[Artful Dodger]

There is a first had account of the cost and the procedure on Zoc's blog when he went throught the Canal Zac's Blog not to mention if you haven't already it's a good read.

[robw_fl]

Originally Posted by Martinini

How many keel boats out there can do 8 knots---------not many?

Magically, in that specific part of the world, all keelboats that expect to transit can make 8 knots....

[3Eagles]

Hello, you can click on the link below for video and more information on crossing through the Panama Canal, which we did last March on our Lagoon 380.

Regarding 8 Knots, if your boat can make 7 knots then that will suffice. They just want to ensure that you can cross the Gantun Lake in a timely fashion and you do not really travel at 8 knots. If 6 knots is your highest speed, then you might need to pay slightly more. But it is not a strict regulation.

Regarding costs, we were charged the following for a Lagoon 380:
$850 US Buffer (normally returned to you after your transit.)
$250 US Transit Fee based on our LOW (or pay an agent $300 to $500.)
$3 US per Tire (you will want at least 14 tires tied to your hull in plastic bags.)
$65 US Per Line Handler (if you cannot get others to help, you need 4 total.)
$20 Line Rentals (you need 4 x 100 feet lines for the locks, included w/ line handler).

So, as you can see, transiting the Canal is actually not that costly. Had our agent not stolen our buffer (she claims her business partner stole her funds) we would have transited for just a few hundred dollars. As I write in my blog, I would highly recommend that you do not leave yourself up to the mercy of an agent and just go pay your fees in town yourself. Why give the money away and risk not having her pay you back. Lesson learned...

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/hone...?xjMsgID=84899

[John A]

When ever I had any questions or needed assistance while in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. I always had three great sources: locals, taxi drivers, or fellow cruisiers.

Buy the tires from someone who just made the transit, $10 tops. They need to get rid of them.
Other cruisiers will jump at the chance to be a linehandler, cost - return bus fare. Or go to the Hostal, those backpackers will pay you for the oppertunity.
If a taxi driver/agent doesn't meet you at the dinghy dock to offer his services, ask. One will appear, check with several, one will have the required lines or a cousin who does.

.

[3Eagles]

BTW, I agree completely with John A. The entire process is much easier than an Agent would make you want to believe.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by 3Eagles

If 6 knots is your highest speed, then you might need to pay slightly more. But it is not a strict regulation.

Its FAR more than 'slightly' more It more than double the transit fee bringing it up well over US$2,000
I think the transit fee was $650 and the extra for slow boats made it $2,200?

Anyway, even if you only go 5 knots LIE!!!!

You never need to go fast anyway. They run all the yachts in packets of 3 similar size boats and they will know smaller boats don't do over 6.

On the second day you just drop the moring lines the momment the advisor gets on board... you'll be 15 minutes ahead of the others and that will be fione for your advisor.
The time slot at the other end is reasonably flexable. We were waiting for about 1 hour at the end so could have run slower all day (its about 30 nm)

Mark

[andreas.mehlin]

Don't worry to much about the speed. As long as you can keep a speed of 5-5.5kt. Of course...when they ask you and what you fill in the papers...you´ll write 8kt. Have never heard of anybody who have had problems. I stayed in Panama for 6 months....did the transit once...and kept a speed around 5.5-6kt

/Andreas

[John A]

The rules appear to change from time to time making it difficult to give informed information.
I stayed at the Pedro Migual Yacht Club for three months after going up two locks. I understand that it's no longer possible as the area has slited in.

I left Pedro Migual early in the morning and traveled at about 5 knots, took two shortcuts suggested by the advisior and had to wait two hours before locking down to the Caribbean.

Slightly off topic question about conditions on each side of Panama. Why is the tideal range 15 feet on the Pacific side and 2 feet on the Alantic side?

John

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by John A

Slightly off topic question about conditions on each side of Panama. Why is the tideal range 15 feet on the Pacific side and 2 feet on the Alantic side?

John

Yeah, I've not had an answer to that either