Virginia to San Francisco - via Panama Canal

[s/v Faith]

IIRC, the canal fees all told are about $1500 for a boat <35' nowadays...

  I think that number is right, or close.  The problem comes in where they also require a 'deposit' to cover penalties.  The trip takes a small boat (hull speed less then 8knots) 2 days.  The deposit is largly consumed with the additional pilot fee, and the additional pilot boat fee.  I do not recall the blog, but IIRC a recient trip was over $3000 for a 30' boat. 

[CharlieJ]

The last thing I heard indicated a month to 6 week wait also. Can't verify that but I wouldn't be surprised

[Marc]

I do not know if this is true or not, but after taking a cruise and a stop in Colon, Panama, and a short 8 hour trip through the Miraflores locks our guide told us that alot of the smaller boats can "piggyback" with the larger ships through the locks but it is upt to that ships' Captain.  Again consider the source, a guide,  so it might be worth checking out.  I hope to someday.  Marc

[chris2998]

wow 1500-3000 gran quite a bit I guess I need to be buying my boat in the next year for sure and get going on my dream or I guess sail around south america LOL

[AdriftAtSea]

There are now companies setup in Panama and Mexico that will portage your boat across from one ocean to the other... Don't know how they're doing ATM, but as the fees for the canal go up, they'll have more and more customers.  Of course, the smaller the boat, the more readily it can get across by other means.

[CharlieJ]

well, compared to what it would cost both in provisions, supplies and time sailing around the Horn, not to mention the wear and tear on the boat itself, 1500 to 3000 isn't all that much. You just plan for it in advance, considering it a part of your cruise expenses.

Taking on Cape Horn is in itself quite a challenge and not something to be considered lightly. Particularly in a small vessel ;)

[nowell]

Taking on Cape Horn is in itself quite a challenge and not something to be considered lightly. Particularly in a small vessel ;)

Personally, its an accomplishment I would love to notch in my belt. Maybe after transitioning the Canal once.

[Pappy Jack]

Here is a website that has the info you need to transit the canal  http://www.pancanal.com/common/maritime/forms/f-4352.pdf  I hope this helps anybody contemplating the transit. Personally it would be hard to choose which to do, the canal or the Horn. The canal is one of the modern wonders of the world and the Horn is...well, THE HORN.

I would like to do both BUT, at the moment it is all I can do to get ready for "The Scoot" ::). I guess that it's one dream at a time, right?

Fair winds,

Pappy Jack

[chris2998]

The Canal maybe expensive but sure would be nice to say yeah I've been through the canal LOL but it would probally be best to go through the canal because if you had to go over land then would have to to demast the boat and all the riging heck it maybe best to just go through the canal. I agree i think i would go through sure would be an adventure and that what I'm after

Chris

[jotruk]

I have been through the Panama canal and also around the Horn. Both are very interesting places to see. When I went through the canal the last time there was a Swedish sail boat going through. It was about a 45 footer. They had it tied to a tug. I don't know for sure but was told by the canal plot that a escort vessel was required for smaller boats. I don't know if this is still true the canal was still under U.S. control at the time.
As to the Horn the time I went through there it was actually fairly calm. We had been  warned to expect very large seas and winds. The views that day were beautiful and the trip up the west coast of S. America through the Chilean in land passage was beyond description.
These trips were done on small US Navy ships.