Key west to west coast

[Huckins]

While we would love to find our perfect boat on the west coast (see thread in liveaboards ) it is looking more and more likely we may end up buying in Florida .not a problem except for the time to get back to San Francisco

Question has anyone ever done the trip form keywest thru the Panama Canal .i am curious as to how long it will take I understand weather and unforeseen problems always ruin in best layed plans but if all went well what is the best route to take with minimum stops and rough days at sea

Unfortunately time won't be on our side and we will have to get back ASAP with our business commitments being in the way .the boat will be 55 to 60 ft oyster ,Moody, type will sail or motor at at lets say an average of 7 knots .

Could this trip be done in jan or February time .i have done the trip from Mexico to San Francisco many time so know the issues on the west coast

[model 10]

One way is to go Fl to Isla. Then Isla to the Bay islands east of the current, in between northers of course. Then bop around to San Andres then straight down to Colon. Have met several boats who thought they would go from Isla to San Andres in one leg but ended up stopping in the Bay Islands . Most of this part could be sailed. After that it's probably a motor fest home from Panama
The wx in Jan and Fed is not so good in the NW carrib. Seems like there is a norther every week, or less. The leg from Isla to the Bay Islands could be the rough one. There always seems to be a wx window at some point but if you are in a hurry.... I don't think I could do it in less than 2 months. No deliveries for me.

[belizesailor]

Given your time constraints, and the usually unpleasant & long run up the W coast, take a look at trucking it across. By the time you factor in the costs & frustrations of sailing it around, or paying a delivery crew, I suspect the cost wont be that much different.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Given your time constraints, and the usually unpleasant & long run up the W coast, take a look at trucking it across. By the time you factor in the costs & frustrations of sailing it around, or paying a delivery crew, I suspect the cost wont be that much different.

Hmm, Oyster 575 has a 16.5' beam....can that be trucked?

[Sailingcouple13]

The beam is only one issue, to truck you would probably have to drop the keel as well. You are height restricted to 13'6" overall. I am sure you will exceed that sitting on the truck bed. The width will require extensive permitting with one to two escorts. Professional captain will be the way to go, you do not have to have him do the whole trip. Have the captain do half you do half. You can decide to do the hardest or the easiest leg.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Huckins]

Trucking may be an option we are looking at pricing right now .if anyone knows of a nice boat anywhere on the west coast let me know up to $400,000'.liveaboard with evidently long distance cruising

[Cadence]

My poor cousin bought a 47 Viking in Maryland, Had it taken by a delivery Capt. to Miami and put on a ship to Seattle. I would only guess it might be a smart option. He didn't get to be may poor cousin because he was stupid.

[jdazey]

You could put it on a ship (Seven Star) in FL, take delivery in Vancouver, and sail it down the coast to SF. Cost for a 48' cat would have been $37K.

Joe

[Huckins]

Thanks for all the help .Before we jump on anything on the east coast we are going to keep searching for a while longer on the west coast

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Huckins

While we would love to find our perfect boat on the west coast (see thread in liveaboards ) it is looking more and more likely we may end up buying in Florida .not a problem except for the time to get back to San Francisco

Question has anyone ever done the trip form keywest thru the Panama Canal .i am curious as to how long it will take I understand weather and unforeseen problems always ruin in best layed plans but if all went well what is the best route to take with minimum stops and rough days at sea

Unfortunately time won't be on our side and we will have to get back ASAP with our business commitments being in the way .the boat will be 55 to 60 ft oyster ,Moody, type will sail or motor at at lets say an average of 7 knots .

Could this trip be done in jan or February time .i have done the trip from Mexico to San Francisco many time so know the issues on the west coast

Hi.

This question has come up before (or very similar) and was extensively discussed on the forum a few months ago. At that time I think the boat owner was interested in sailing from Maryland area to San Francisco or Seattle. So the distance was almost the same, and the key issues were discussed at length. I don't recall the thread title, but if you do a Custom Google Search on some key terms, you are likely to find it. Sometime within the last 6 months for sure. As I recall the boat was a Beneteau and the owner had little experience sailing and wanted a delivery captain to do the long trip.

Some advice was focused on going to Hawaii first, rather than up the California coast.

Looking for Quick Answers?

This is the best and fastest method I have found to the answers I seek here.
Since you are relatively new to the forum, here is my favorite friendly forum search tip: Look at the green menu bar on the forum pages for the drop down "Search" menu. Click on that to drop down a list of search functions. From that drop down menu select the GOOGLE CUSTOM search feature (the second box down) and then enter several different descriptive terms for your topic of interest. That will do a Custom google search of ONLY this site and it is likely to find answers to your questions or results for you. Note: this is different from using the regular forum search box or field.
_____________________

Relevant searches might include:

Panama Canal

Etc.

Good luck!

[Cadence]

I guess I'm being the devil's advocate. Seems like a bunch on the west coast for sale?
It does not seem to make sense shipping cross country.

[Huckins]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I guess I'm being the devil's advocate. Seems like a bunch on the west coast for sale?
It does not seem to make sense shipping cross country.

If you can show me listings of a nice liveaboard on the west coast would love to see them with the same amenities as an oyster,hall berg raspy etc.i would be most greatful. I have searched daily and so have many brokers in the 55 to 60 ft range for around $400,000

[JPA Cate]

There is another thread on this subject right now, by a poster calling himself "dalke", about moving a yacht from the east coast to Juneau, AK. Some similar responses, including one from someone whose boat's beam exceeded the norm and had to have lead and follow cars the whole way, but the bill still only came to $30k, which for an expensive boat, is perhaps not prohibitive.

Ann

[Mikado]

I'm planning the same trip very soon from the Atlantic coast of Florida to San Francisco by way of Key West, Dry Tortugas, Havana, Isla, and Roatan, then on thru the canal.

This book is a must read. It will answer pretty much all your questions about weather and sea patterns, best ports to stop in and related customs. Lots of info on the Panama Canal crossing.

Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama
by Capt. John E. Rains (Author), Capt. Patricia Miller Rains (Author). I think they are on the 6th edition.

I plan on going south from Panama City to Ecuador and then loop up past the Galapagos and Hawaii and in to SF.

I too was looking for a specific set of requirements for a sailboat and couldn't find what I was looking for on the West Coast so I ended up purchasing in Florida. I looked at multiple options to get her west and in the end decided to do the refit in FL and sail her back.

Good luck,

Jeff

[Huckins]

Originally Posted by Mikado

I'm planning the same trip very soon from the Atlantic coast of Florida to San Francisco by way of Key West, Dry Tortugas, Havana, Isla, and Roatan, then on thru the canal.

This book is a must read. It will answer pretty much all your questions about weather and sea patterns, best ports to stop in and related customs. Lots of info on the Panama Canal crossing.

Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama
by Capt. John E. Rains (Author), Capt. Patricia Miller Rains (Author). I think they are on the 6th edition.

I plan on going south from Panama City to Ecuador and then loop up past the Galapagos and Hawaii and in to SF.

I too was looking for a specific set of requirements for a sailboat and couldn't find what I was looking for on the West Coast so I ended up purchasing in Florida. I looked at multiple options to get her west and in the end decided to do the refit in FL and sail her back.

Good luck,

Jeff

wow thanks so much for the link to the books .when do you plan to leave and what did you buy ??