How to Transit the Panama Canal with a Sailboat, Part 1 - Preparing & Paperwork

[@ghost307]

Based on how much the toll is I figure it's only a matter of time before somebody modifies a large ship to carry the pleasurecraft onboard at a much lower cost per boat.

[@IrishLegend64]

I used to live in Panama! Awesome place! Can’t wait to go back one day, I’m 18 now

[@DistantShoresTV]

Indeed its awesome Peter! We are also looking forward to getting back especially since our boat is thee right now!

[@davidc6510]

I was in Panama at the age of 18 almost 40 years ago. From what I have seen and heard it is quite a different place now.

[@Halcyonyachts]

Great video. We have delivered lots of yachts through the Panama Canal. Always a great experience!

[@ratusbagus]

You can never stop teaching docking! You could have done with being able to surge forward on that stern line though. People never do quite everything you want them to do they? Good calm kept though. Thanks for this. I doubt I will need, just live in the Solent. but it's good to know what's involved.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for your comment, Ratus. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@polarbear111000]

What an incredible experience!! Thanks, and hi from Saskatchewan 😉

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad you enjoyed the video! It was a real highlight to go through the canal.

[@msulemanf]

Such a useful, pleasant and well produced video

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thank you kindly, Mark!

[@mm-zw1zc]

Professional editing shows. Love it. Can't wait for Season 11.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thank you very much!

[@SerbanOprescu]

Beautiful travel. Your videos are always so nice! This one is no exception.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thank you very much!

[@davidc6510]

Another great Distant Shores production. Great to see the contrast in the Panama transit experience DS3 vs RAN sailing. If you have the financial means then the agent path looks a whole lot smoother. Thanks Sheryl & Paul.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks so much, David! We wanted to present both options and we thought that both RAN Sailing and Gone with the Wynns showed the DIY method well.

[@markzieg3593]

Gosh! Your videos are so professional comprehensive and informative. Thank you so much for putting this series together.

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

thank you friends! so, my unrealistic goal is to, one day go from my South Texas city in the Gulf of Mexico, cross the panama canal and sail toward Hawaii. Ive never sailed before.

[@ctaylor1655]

Amazing. Looking forward to the days of more free movement between countries...!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks, Chris! We are looking forward to the same thing.

[@michaeldouglas6872]

Great to catch up with your episodes again..fell behind the past couple months. Shelter Bay Marina is a great marina., and interesting location (and better part of Colon for sure..). Worked on the Bond marine scenes there at that Marina years ago. You guys truly put out some of the most professional videos on KZbin. I am a big fan of GTW, RAN Sailing, Ruby Rose, Follow the Boat and Sailing Zatara, but your format and editing is still on the highest level. Check out Ruby Rose's latest episodes, they also have stepped up a lot on their production quality. Well done again.

[@andrewhansen8921]

Kris is anchored about a 100m from us here in Las Brisas. It was pretty cool to meet you both in Shelter Bay. Nice job on the video. It does bring back memories.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks, Andrew. Likewise! Hope you are doing well during these crazy times.

[@Cedandkikisailing]

Thanks! Another one for the Cruising Knowledge Vault...

[@DistantShoresTV]

More to come!

[@MetalDetectingwithCZkidd]

Nice Vid. Grew up in the Panama Canal Zone. My father loved boating, fishing, free diving and spearfishing. Even spent quite a few years with the San Blas Indians as a kid. By himself. Did quite a few transits as a kid, wouldn't miss another. My dad was an admeasurer. U yachties know who they are. Shelter Bay used to be Ft. Sherman. Went to the beach there and Devils beach nearby. Devils Beach has a fresh water stream running out to the Atl ocean. Rates are getting outrageous for small vessels. Still beats going around the corner, I guess, but definitely changed.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for your message! How wonderful to grow up in the Panama Canal Zone and have the experience of making many transits. We loved our time in Panama and look forward to returning.

[@MyNorthAmetican40]

I watch a lot of You Tube sailing videos, yours' are fabulous...thank you.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Wow, thank you, Ken! We appreciate your comment.

[@SuperVt100]

At first when I saw your video, I thought you were full time, but I see you're _major_ time about your boat.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes @SuperVt100 we cruise about 2/3 of the time and are back at the studio editing our sailing TV shows for the rest of the time :-)

[@pwdrhrn]

Are there any opportunities to explore and stay on the lakes during the transit? Or does scheduling prevent that? What a wonderful series, I hope you will get back out there soon.

[@gafrers]

Awesome as always

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed this new video.

[@petem6354]

I was thrilled by the promise to talk about the canal charges and associated costs of transit, but in reality all we got was a lightning look at the tolls for various lengths of vessel followed by an even quicker shot of the other outgoings involved. Such a pity because it's seems the lowest length rating is high enough that even a modest 37 foot sailboat is going to be hit by really quite big charges in relation to boat value. It's clear, for example, that to plan a passage to Galapagos from Europe, or Seattle/Vancouver say, and back, would be ruinous. Probably better to round The Horn!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Sorry we didn't leave the info up for as long as you'd hoped, Pete, but if you pause the video you can study the numbers longer. We included the general tolls as well as the detailed itemized invoice for our boat at 48 feet and also gave references where you can find out how to save money doing the paperwork yourself. Either way, it is an expensive operation which is what we wanted to prepare fellow sailors for.

[@TheKandyGuy]

wow very educational video, thanks for shearing and see you on the next one, be safe till then>!!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@VoyagesofNormanJames]

Hi Guys, another great video!! Seems like an eternity ago now, but happy times ⛵️⚓️🍺👍

[@DistantShoresTV]

It sure does seem like an eternity and I’m sure especially for you both on board😅🙏🏻 happy times indeed ❤️

[@Tom-cruiser]

Thank you.I love to wath yours video.Great job !

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@scyz2807]

I've been waiting for this! I think most people have heard of the Panama Canal and have seen some pictures of videos of it. But to go with you guys as you take your sailboat through, . . . this will be amazing. And I am also wondering, are you able to return to DS3 yet? If not, do you have an idea when you will be able? Scott W

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad you enjoyed it! We have not been able to return to our boat in Panama yet as the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the Panama City area so the airport remains closed to international travellers. At this point they say it will open at the end of July so we may be able to return in August if they don't delay opening again. We'll just have to wait and see. We'll keep everyone posted...

[@Alleycatthegadite]

I think at that cost. I’ll go around the horn again instead.

[@RogerWilco1]

Can’t imagine that would be cheaper.

[@andrewlabat9963]

Sweet.. Safe Sailing..

[@ratusbagus]

Stay safe BTW. RIP Patrick Childress.

[@markjennings2315]

Ratus Bagus I cannot watch any boating vlogs without thinking of Patrick and Rebecca. So upsetting.

[@laurabriggs1152]

Particularly loved the monkeys and birds!!!

[@DistantShoresTV]

So glad, Laura! We'll be doing more about the jungle and wildlife in Part 2 of the series coming soon!

[@rb30athorn]

Is that the Atlantic , or the gulf???

[@DistantShoresTV]

It’s the Caribbean Sea but people often refer to the Atlantic side or the Pacific side😅

[@jly104]

Eddie Vega is my uncle much Tio!!!

[@tbonemc2118]

I wonder why more people don't go the long way round instead of going through the canal. Surely if the aim is for adventure and exploring then missing an entire continent doesn't make sense. The few videos we see of South America suggest such a journey would tick all the boxes.

[@DistantShoresTV]

There are definitely pros and cons to both routes, for sure. Paul and I happen to love canals, the history and engineering of them, so the Panama Canal transit was a highlight for us and worth the cost of the experience. The things that motivate each of us to go cruising and what we enjoy or define as adventure is indeed personal. Thanks for watching and for you comment.

[@MrBignick88]

wouldn't it be cheaper to rent a car and trailer to take the boat to the other side

[@ratusbagus]

The date hasn't changed since you published this yet you have 4 thumbs down already. What is wrong with the world? Who gets off on doing that.

[@milessweiss7975]

The thumbs down is really a thumbs up from those in the Southern Hemisphere.

[@The-Travel-Man]

Panama's fees are beyond outrageous. Given the fact that U.S. had built the Panama canal, the passage of U.S. vessels should be free to U.S. registered sailboats and very inexpensive for Canadians. For less than $2,000 I can have a sailboat hauled out, trucker shipped from Texas to California, and not go through the hassle. Panama can stick it!

[@IWLDELJ]

Could I get a link to that service? I'm calculating nearly six grand to get mine trucked from TX to CA.

[@MrJerrettj]

Why do you tell the viewers that this was film before covad?

[@DistantShoresTV]

We explain that the video is before COVID19 so that people don't ask why we're not practicing social distancing. Panama is now locked down and very restricted. Thanks for your question, Jerrett.

[@svbluewatersuite3383]

Kind of mild! ;-DDDD Don`t ask a german how the carpaccio is. ;-)))

[@miguelangelcalderonperez1325]

woaaa a real theft to use those agencies, they charge for additionals more than what the channel authority charges for tolls

[@markjennings2315]

It must be really hot in the tropics with that volumous hair?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Keeps the sun off, Mark :-)

[@tomhermens7698]

Not quite sailing on a shoe string!! More like much luxury!!! Money buys a lot.

[@paulfrancis4479]

Soo 15 minutes to say.... Get an agent.

[@kentwood2914]

Take off that damn ankle boot and walk like you never sprained your ankle and you would have been well within 2 weeks easily. Unless bones are broken or a ligament or tendon is separated with the need of reattachment, boots and immobility result in slower healing, increased scar tissue, and much longer inconvenience and pain. The lymphatic system is very capable of healing you far better than a doctors advice. The only mammals that isolate and immobilize injured limbs are humans and that only happens as a result of incorrect and misguided medical advice from 40-50 years ago that has now been proven through science to have been incorrect. Including raising your limb to reduce swelling, icing, along with the incorrect need for immobility Happy sails and maybe if there is a next time, you will only have a couple days of pain in moving.

[@m.sawmill3136]

Thanks for the props of the other sailors out there.. I know them but I do not know you, I will subscribe to your channel now. I'f your boring. I will unsubscribe from your channel. We like substance, not just pretty places.. Thanks for your vid, I found tons of info by watching your youtube post.. TY!!!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad you enjoyed and found it useful. Welcome aboard 💕