Buying/shipping solar - W Carribean

[roland stockham]

Looking to fit 150-200w of solar. The boat is currently in Aruba and heading to Panama. From what I have found panels & controllers are very expensive and choice is limited in Aruba. So, am I likely to get a good deal in Panama? Anyone tried taking panels on a commercial flight? (delivery via Fedex to Aruba seems to cost more than the panels! traveling from Canada)

[colemj]

We bought a 140W Kyocera panel from the local Kyocera dealer in Panama city last April for $200.

FedEx will be expensive, however ocean shipping is cheap if you can wait 3 weeks.

Mark

[belizesailor]

I know a solar distributor in Panama. He does mostly off-grid homes, but I bought some panels from him a couple of years ago. In country shipping using Fletes Chevales is quite reasonable.

PM me if you want his contact info (gives me time to find it again too).

Altetnatively you could order via Marine Warehouse, very reasonable shipping rates and they handle the yacht-in-transit paperwork...so only 2% duty.

[roland stockham]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

I know a solar distributor in Panama. He does mostly off-grid homes, but I bought some panels from him a couple of years ago. In country shipping using Fletes Chevales is quite reasonable.

PM me if you want his contact info (gives me time to find it again too).

Altetnatively you could order via Marine Warehouse, very reasonable shipping rates and they handle the yacht-in-transit paperwork...so only 2% duty.

Many thanks, Marine warehouse can deliver to shelter bay at a very reasonable price.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Many thanks, Marine warehouse can deliver to shelter bay at a very reasonable price.

Yes, hard arrangement to beat...except that hanging out in SB is expensive.

[colemj]

For an extra $50, Arturo will deliver to Portobello. At least he did so for us a couple of years ago.

Mark

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

For an extra $50, Arturo will deliver to Portobello. At least he did so for us a couple of years ago.

Mark

Did he ship using Fletes Chevales?

Cheaper than a meal for two at SB now...FISH TACOS are $15 !!!

[colemj]

He delivered it himself, but he is so connected that he uses a lot of different people to drop things around. Is the person you mentioned the fedex driver? He uses him a lot for SB delivery.

We had fresh fish tacos the other night. I'm still amortizing my new pole spear, but they were much cheaper than that. In another couple weeks, they will be costing us pennies. Lobster is essentially free now...

Mark

[belizesailor]

Yes, Arutro is a great guy. His FEDEX buddy has dropped small stuff to me in SB.

Fletes Chevales is a freight company with offices all over Panama. Cost effective and reliable. Air Panama has good package service too...Ive even had stuff sent to Porvenir, San Blas.

Lobster...yum...time to get back to sea...Ive gotten caught up in too much land based BS recently.