[QUOTE=Sailshabby;2914252]Via SSCA:
Effective January 1, 2020, the
Panama Canal will double the minimum charge toll for small vessels, with the lowest new toll starting at $1,600. A public comment period is provided to enable concerned parties to voice their responses. Proposal and tolls of the June 2019 announcement
They say it's because small boats make the locks use more
water.
I've never seen them put just small boats in a lock. They're always stuffed in the locks with big ships.
Small boats are like fleas on a cat compared to a big ship when going through the locks.
It's just a
money grab ! Not only the
money, but the weeks it takes, and the royal PITA of having to put up with stupid rules like they have to come on board and measure your
boat with a tape measure . What kind of nonsense is that ?
And having to rent a bunch of junkyard tires to use as bumpers that mark up your
boat, never mind if they don't like your
cooking (because you have to feed the crew you hire) ,they can order take-out at your expense.
In a few years boaters won't need locks, when they can go around Canada's northwest
passage.
Less people will use the
Canal and more will go around the horn.
Both Oceans are big enough to stay in either one for that matter. You could spend most of your time cruising the
Med.
S/V Delos went around
South Africa and it was a fine sail and they had a great time doing it.
If people knew what they had to put up with to go through the
canal, they would never bother most of the time.
Also
Panama is the
lightning capitol of the world. Who wants to be sitting out in the harbour getting blasted by
lightning every day for a couple of weeks ?
The list goes on and on. I wouldn't go through the
Panama Canal if they paid me $2,000.00 to do it. Just Sayin'.