Travel Lift Around Panama Canal Locks

[dandkg]

i read on blog awhile back about new travel lift that picks boat up before locks and puts boat back in water pass locks. they said @ same charge as locks but alot faster and less headaches. i have searched for days now can't find any info. ??? does this exist ??? or am i dreaming this should be in practice for smaller boats to free up locks??? thanks for info dandk

[donradcliffe]

Its still in the "good idea" stage. It would take more than the average travel lift, because it takes several miles of travel to bypass the locks. Maybe a combination of lifts and hydraulic trailers.

[dandkg]

ON BLOG I READ BOAT IS GUIDED ONTO TRAILER AND LARGE TRACTOR PULLS YOU OUT AND DROPS U BACK IN ON OTHER SIDE LOCK... AND YES IT IS A GREAT IDEA

[dandkg]

does anyone know if this is still good idea stage???

[MarkJ]

Sounds like a pretty stupid idea.

The Panama Canal Authority still requires you to have a pilot on board for the crossing over the lakes between each set of locks, so the fee would not be reduced much.

Anyway, the locking of yachts costs nothing to the canal as small boats share a lock with a ship.



See? We are right up the butt of a ship.

[dandkg]

someone now talking about there is a trucking service across panama.... i'm just trying to find out prices. we need to move boat from pacific (ca) to gulf coast. and have looked at all sites and no clue as to how much to get a 33' sailboat through panama canal or around it and nooooo my wife says horn no way thanks