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04-01-2012, 17:28
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6
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Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Hi all
We have purchased a yacht in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and plan to sail it across the Pacific this year. We need to get some boat work done before we commence le grande voyage and have been advised that Cartagena in Columbia is the best place to get this done, in terms of cost and quality of labour.
We'll be sailing to Cartagena at the beginning of March and have heard that conditions for this trip at this time can be quite hairy! Does anyone have any experience of doing this journey at this time of year? We'll be stopping briefly in Colon and the San Blas islands on the way.
Also any feedback on the current state of Club Nautico marina in Cartagena would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Jo
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04-01-2012, 17:57
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#2
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,591
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
better bet is miraflores yacht club in the canal if you are going to the pacific!
Pedro Miguel Boat Club
Tel  507) 232-4148 / 4509
http://pmbc.ws/, pmbc@pmbc.ws
Page Sponsor
source noonsite.com
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04-01-2012, 20:41
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: Catalina 30 "Niunia"
Posts: 180
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Jo -
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to CF.
I just came from Shelter Bay on Dec 25. We had difficult time against the current (much stronger than expected) and some wind on the nose last night before Bocas.
I heard good things about Cartagena and it will probably my yard of choice in near future. Shelter Bay may be an option if you can do the work yourself and have the tools and materials.
Atoll - I had to miss the Pedro Miguel Boat Club while transiting the canal. Do they still exist? It looks like their page is from 2003.
__________________
Michał
"The acquisition of the knowledge of navigation has a strange effect on the minds of men." /Jack London/
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04-01-2012, 20:48
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#4
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,591
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misiu
Jo -
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to CF.
I just came from Shelter Bay on Dec 25. We had difficult time against the current (much stronger than expected) and some wind on the nose last night before Bocas.
I heard good things about Cartagena and it will probably my yard of choice in near future. Shelter Bay may be an option if you can do the work yourself and have the tools and materials.
Atoll - I had to miss the Pedro Miguel Boat club while traniting the canal. Do they still exist? It looks like their page is from 2003.
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not sure though,nick on "jedi" will have current info as he is there.
a bash to cartagena is not advised for newbie, sailors or experinced ones speacially if they are planning on going the other way anyway....
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05-01-2012, 08:44
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Pedro Miguel Y C was closed by the Canal a few years ago. Shelter Bay is decent place to haul. Baloboa YC on the Pacaific side has low cost rails./
__________________
Paul
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05-01-2012, 08:57
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: Catalina 30 "Niunia"
Posts: 180
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
I assume Flamenco would be very good but VERY expensive
__________________
Michał
"The acquisition of the knowledge of navigation has a strange effect on the minds of men." /Jack London/
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05-01-2012, 09:25
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#7
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Seaman, Delivery skipper


Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 29,937
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misiu
I assume Flamenco would be very good but VERY expensive
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Its bloody excellent mate... and there's Good News... its free here....
Flamenco Dancer Seville Spain.mpg - YouTube
__________________
It was a dark and stormy night and the captain of the ship said.. "Hey Jim, spin us a yarn." and the yarn began like this.. "It was a dark and stormy night.."
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05-01-2012, 09:53
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: Catalina 30 "Niunia"
Posts: 180
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatman61
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How about bottom pressure wash? Free as well?
__________________
Michał
"The acquisition of the knowledge of navigation has a strange effect on the minds of men." /Jack London/
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05-01-2012, 17:23
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#10
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Do… or do not

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 16,071
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pacific2012
Hi all
We have purchased a yacht in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and plan to sail it across the Pacific this year. We need to get some boat work done before we commence le grande voyage and have been advised that Cartagena in Columbia is the best place to get this done, in terms of cost and quality of labour.
We'll be sailing to Cartagena at the beginning of March and have heard that conditions for this trip at this time can be quite hairy! Does anyone have any experience of doing this journey at this time of year? We'll be stopping briefly in Colon and the San Blas islands on the way.
Also any feedback on the current state of Club Nautico marina in Cartagena would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Jo
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Can you explain what kind of work you need done? For much Colon is a better choice.
Club Nautico is a heap of rubble.
cheers,
Nick.
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05-01-2012, 21:07
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6
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Thanks for the useful (and if not useful, at least amusing) replies!
Nick, the work we need to get done is:
Antifoul the hull
Replace corroded seacocks
Replace plastic window on canvas Bimini
New kitchen worktop (not essential)
Get life raft and epirb serviced
Do you know if Shelter Bay/Colon has the required facilities and craftsmen? Presumably with the boat on the hard at Shelter Bay we could get someone from Colon/Panama city to come over and do the work??
Interesting that a year after it was meant to be completed, club nautico is still a pile of rubble. Does this mean it's not functioning as a useful marina?
Cheers
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06-01-2012, 04:46
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#12
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Do… or do not

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 16,071
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pacific2012
Thanks for the useful (and if not useful, at least amusing) replies!
Nick, the work we need to get done is:
Antifoul the hull
Replace corroded seacocks
Replace plastic window on canvas Bimini
New kitchen worktop (not essential)
Get life raft and epirb serviced
Do you know if Shelter Bay/Colon has the required facilities and craftsmen? Presumably with the boat on the hard at Shelter Bay we could get someone from Colon/Panama city to come over and do the work??
Interesting that a year after it was meant to be completed, club nautico is still a pile of rubble. Does this mean it's not functioning as a useful marina?
Cheers
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Lets see, antifoul is standard yard job. The rest you need to do yourself or hire contractors. All materials need to be ordered from Marine Warehouse in Miami for best price. You can do that before arriving and have it shipped ocean freight (cheap).
Assuming fiberglass boat, I would suggest you install bronze thru-hulls with flanged adapters, both made by Groco and shown in detail by member Maine Sail here: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/s..._primer&page=2
You install a bronze ball-valve on the adapter for which I would also select Groco. Study the link above, it's worth it.
The plastic window... there is a sail/canvas maker atound who might have the material but I would order it to make sure, plus you get exactly what you want.
Kitchen top, there is a good shipwright employed by the marina (Ramon). But you would need to supply the new top material, so needs to be ordered.
Life raft and Epirb service is no problem in Panama but NOT possible in Cartagena I think.
I would not do these jobs in Cartagena. The only reason to do any of hem there is cost which will be lower. But getting the materials there (from US because not available locally) is a challenge and the yards are messy and hard to deal with.
Your problem is going to be that he high season is starting so that things will get busy everywhere. There is no economic crisis in these countries, so you might have to wait your turn.
EDIT: Club Nautico... the dock master is now manager in Colon, does that answer your question?
cheers,
Nick.
__________________
May the Force be with you!
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06-01-2012, 06:05
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pacific2012
Antifoul the hull
Replace corroded seacocks
Replace plastic window on canvas Bimini
New kitchen worktop (not essential)
Get life raft and epirb serviced
Do you know if Shelter Bay/Colon has the required facilities and craftsmen? Presumably with the boat on the hard at Shelter Bay we could get someone from Colon/Panama city to come over and do the work??
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Of the items on your list, you would NOT be able to get the bimini and liferaft/epirb work done in Cartagena. These are easily done in Colon - where there are several canvas makers and a liferaft/epirb service center in the free trade zone. Panama City has canvas supplies and is a cheap bus ride away. The corian guy in Cartagena, who has been so good in the past, has developed a recent reputation of taking people's money and not delivering.
I certainly would not travel to Cartagena in the winter season just to paint the bottom and service seacocks (and possibly get a new counter). You don't mention your boat, but if you have a catamaran, you won't be pulling out in Cartagena.
On the other hand, Cartagena is a fantastic city, and worth the trip just to visit it (but in the spring, when the weather is better for the trip).
Mark
__________________
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You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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07-01-2012, 15:57
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
Thanks for this invaluable advice Nick and Mark. I think we will change our plans and get this work done in Shelter Bay as you both suggest.
There was a great document on the Club Nautico website that was compiled by cruisers, which detailed names and contact details of recommended people to use for everything you could possibly need in terms of boat maintenance. Do you know if a similar document exists anywhere on the web for Colon/Panama City?
Cheers
Jo
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07-01-2012, 18:21
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: Bocas del Toro to Cartagena
The Yahoo South Bound Group has the 2011 Panama City Cruisers Guide posted under Files!Country!Panama
southbound_group : The Southbound Group
Great info on Balboa and Panama City, not much on Colon.
__________________
Paul
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