Transiting the Panama Canal is a once in a lifetime experience.  But it is also expensive, requires a Panama Canal Inspection with a lot of paperwork, and can be dangerous for your boat.  We spoke to many cruisers, did a lot of research, and changed our minds several times before we decided to transit the canal and leave the Atlantic ocean.  It is a big decision as very few boats come back to the Atlantic (there is no easy way to return).

Once you decide to transit the canal, you have to decide whether or not to hire an agent.  After interviewing 5 agents, we decided to go with Erick Galvez.  An agent can guarantee your bond so you do not have to put an $800 deposit down, will assist with all of the paperwork, schedule the inspection and ad measure, provide fenders and lines (required for transit), and be your advocate.  Various agents charge different amounts, but Erick charges $350 and for us it is well worth it.  He has been exceedingly responsive, professional, and helpful in all of his communications.  See below for transit costs.

The first thing you need to do is submit a pertinent information on your boat to get a “Ship ID.”  This includes boat specifications, speed under motor, and the last 10 ports you have visited.  We submitted that information to Erick and a few days later he provided us with our Ship ID number  – we are official.

After you receive your Ship ID you need to be inspected and measured (which is called “Ad measure”).  In order to get your Panama Canal inspection you need to be in Shelter Bay Marina or the flats so the Panama Canal agent can board the boat.  The flats are used as a staging area for boats preparing to transit the canal and the holding is not very good.  So, we decided to go to Shelter Bay Marina.

Within an hour of arrival, Erick stopped by our boat to introduce himself.  He went over a few basics for the inspection and instructed us on what to request for positioning during the transit.

The inspector arrived the next day and went through various documents.  He asked us where we wanted to be located in the transit – we asked for “center chamber”.  You don’t want to be near the sidewall as you could damage your mast.  He asked if we wanted to tied to a tug and we held firm on the negative as the rub rail from the tug could damage our life lines and stanchions.  He asked if we wanted to be nested and we said “sure.”  Typically, they will put a catamaran in the middle and tie a monohull on either side.  Great for us as we are protected in the center and are the power for controlling movement of all nested vessels.

He asked some interesting questions:

• How much fuel will we have during the transit? (full tanks)
• How fast can you go under motor? (6-7 knots is our comfort speed)
• What RPM are you at to make that speed? (2k-2400)
• How much fuel would you consume in 24 hours at that RPM? (192 liters or 50 gal)

Reviewing paper work with Panama Canal Inspector

The inspector reviews the process for transiting the Panama Canal.  The day before the transit date, our agent will drop off our rented fenders and lines and the Canal authority will schedule our transit time.  Typically, transits from Atlantic to the Pacific start at 1600 (and 0400 from Pacific to Atlantic).

An adviser boards every boat to assist with the transit and it is our responsibility to provide him with hot meals, water, and a working head (toilet).  So, the inspector checked our bathrooms to ensure they were suitable.  He also wanted to hear our handheld horn to ensure we had a way to communicate a warning.

Then it was time to measure the boat.  He takes out a giant tape measure and while Matt holds one end at the bow he walks to the stern and says “49.7 feet do you agree?”  What!  No way, we are a 47 catamaran with no bow sprit, and nothing sticking off the sterns (the davits and dinghy do not pass the sugar scoops).  He measured the slope down the stairs.  The reason I am flipping out is because the transit cost jumps $500+ if you hit 50′ in length.  But, he corrected it once on the dock and came back with 46.9′ which made me beam from ear to ear!

Ad measure for Panama Canal Transit

Our inspector does some more calculations to complete the paperwork:

Inspector calculations

And we are handed our official SHIP ID, Panama Canal Transit pamphlet and lockage request.

Official Panama Canal Inspection Complete

Panama Canal inspection complete.  Job well done!  We successfully completed the inspection, ad measure and paperwork and have a transit date of 6 March 2018.  We specifically scheduled it a month out so we could have our friends fly in from the United States to transit the Panama Canal with us.

Successful inspection and ad measure.

Added notes:

• Typical scheduling time from inspection to transit is 4-6 days, but with this busy season it is 2-3 weeks.
• We over compensated and asked for a date 4 weeks out to ensure our guests had plenty of time to travel to Panama.

Busiest time of the year to transit:

• We came into SBM just as the ARC (Atlantic Rally Crossing) of 38 boats completed their transit.
• Carnival is scheduled to start in a few days and Panama will shut down for the 4 day celebration

Panama Canal Expenses:  $1,504.00

• $800.00  Transit fee for boats 49′ and under (50′-80′ cost is $1300)
• $350.00  Agent fee
• $  54.00  Transit  inspection
• $130.00  Transit security fee
• $  75.00  Fender and line rental (real fenders and not tires covered with trash bags)
• $  60.00  Bank fees
• $  35.00  Check out fee
• The above does not include the marina fees for 8-9 days (approx. $1k), fuel, extra food/beverages to feed line handlers, stay at Balboa Yacht Club on the other side ($500)