Impounded boats in Mexico

[model 10]

According to Latitude 38, well over 300 boats have been impounded in western Mexico in the last week or so. Paper work problems with some of them. Whatever the problem, these boats are stuck where they are for perhaps months until it is cleared up.
I would make sure you have your ducks in line before you head down there, east or west coast.

[Blue Skye]

There's a decent thread under Cruising news & events about this. Merry Christmas

[Rhapsody-NS27]

It's been discussed. Apparently, someone was talking about getting fake documents so it got everyone getting checked closer. headaches for everyone.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-116348.html

[model 10]

Even though the other thread was closed, there is still more to be said about this. For those of us in Mexico now, this is an important issue.
Thankfully Latitude 38 has been a great source of information, however there does not seem to be much being said by the other victims of this travesty.
For anyone to say that too much is being made of this is just BS. It looks pretty real to me.

[SV THIRD DAY]

You can read the Latest update:

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

[TacomaSailor]

Several old gringos who spent a lot of time in Baja California and along the NE coast of the Sea of Cortez in the '80s and '90s have talked with me about this issue.

They pointed out that a very similar problem occurred several times in that time frame - only it was real estate that was seized. Mexico suddenly changed the rules and interpretation of rules governing ownership of Mexican real estate by foreigners.

Many foreigners lost land, houses, trailers, camps to which they thought they had held clear title for decades. Many others were told their titles were not clear and had to be re-established.

The end result was total confusion for several years and different folks suffered different consequences in seemingly identical situations.

I sure hope this TIP thing does not go the same way.

We are still delaying our January 2014 departure to Mexico to see how this TIP fiasco shakes out. I have been to Mexico twice before and spent most of 2000 - 2004 cruising there and loved the land and the people. But; I am not willing to risk our boat which is our only home, given the stories I've heard from the many friends I have that are currently cruising in Mexico.

Confusion, Uncertainty, Doubt

[zeehag]

seems strange to me that those who remained in mexico with their boats were cleared from this situation within a day whereas those insisting on doing this "the gringo way" which entails interwebs and mailings, are still waiting. is interesting....might be something in the coming down and dealing individually with sat, as did john hards and others..

[TacomaSailor]

zeehag,

WHO has 'cleared' and who has gotten their boat out of embargo?

Details?

How did they accomplish that act?

So - are you saying the Latitude 38 article is incorrect or mis-leading?
Are the quoted Mexican marina officials not telling an accurate story?

Please tell me something that will allow me to cut the dock lines and head south 'cause the correspondence I receive from cruisers in the Sea of Cortez who are currently embargoed is scary and disheartening.

[CarinaPDX]

Zee-

Unusually for your posts, I beg to differ. I know a couple who live aboard in Mexico and were planning on heading back to LA in December for work (with the boat). They are still stuck in Mexico, the job (and income) just went away. The have been working with the marina, port captain, and lawyer since the beginning and are still seized. Perhaps you have knowledge of a boat that has somehow been released, but this is not across the board for those aboard during this fiasco.

Greg

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Rhapsody-NS27

It's been discussed. Apparently, someone was talking about getting fake documents so it got everyone getting checked closer. headaches for everyone.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-116348.html

So not true.

[zeehag]

there was a man mentioned in the first article posted in latitude 38 name of john hards. he is cleared and was early on. he lives on his boat. it seems if you are HERE and GO TO SAT WITH PAPERS that you clear a lot faster thsan trying to do things from remote locations, email or snailmail. that is how mexico works..IN PERSON.

btw..john is a friend of mine, having beeen a dockmate for a looooong time in la cruz.

[Celestialsailor]

Well...rumors have it that we're next. Most people here have been making sure all their paperwork and HIN's are in order. I'm happy to see this thread is still going.
My hopes are that we can all keep to the topic at hand and not stray with personal opinions formulated from 3rd party sources. You know...I know somebody who knew somebody who's Uncle's boat was seized while at gun point from a tank while emailing the President.
I'll let you know what the results are if we do have a visit. I'm sure it will be courteous and efficient.

[boatman61]

Well I'm not in Mexico and have no 'coals in the fire'...
But.. the way I see it is Zee is on the spot in her own boat and has resolved her situation quickly and satisfactorily... also she knows and/or has contact with a few others in Mexico on boats at the moment... so to accuse her of being a Troll is I feel unfair...
To me its more the scaremongers sitting behind their desktops back in good ole US of A pumping third and fourth hand scare stories into the thread are the Trolls..
Everyone in prison is innocent.. didn't you know..?

[TacomaSailor]

Back to my question:

Is Richard at Latitude 38 telling us the truth about his problems with his boat that is in Mexico?

why would the most outspoken and "money on the line" advocate of cruising in Mexico write the articles in Latitude 38 that are so detailed and specific about his problems with AGACE if they were not true?

He says he gave all the necessary and valid papers to AGACE and his boat is still embargoed. Is Zeehag, boatman 61 telling us that Latitude 38 is misstating the truth?

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Well I'm not in Mexico and have no 'coals in the fire'...
But.. the way I see it is Zee is on the spot in her own boat and has resolved her situation quickly and satisfactorily... also she knows and/or has contact with a few others in Mexico on boats at the moment... so to accuse her of being a Troll is I feel unfair...
To me its more the scaremongers sitting behind their desktops back in good ole US of A pumping third and fourth hand scare stories into the thread are the Trolls..
Everyone in prison is innocent.. didn't you know..?

Hey now!!!!!!!

I was in a Mexican prison and WAS..... INNOCENT!

It all worked out though...