Delivery and Transport Options From Panama to San Diego

[RyanC]

My wife are currently in the BVI trying to figure out what to do with the rest of our 2 year sabbatical. We initially thought we'd bring our boat through the canal and up the West Coast, but being pressed for time we're not sure we want to spend a number of months bashing our way against wind and current.

We'd love to hear about options on getting a Lagoon 400 up the west coast by mid spring 2014. Shipping, Delivery Captain . . . talk us into doing it ourselves?

Any insight would be much appreciated!

[Big Kahuna]

Hi Ryan,

I'm a delivery Skipper who has done that trip a few times. At most, you are looking at a two month trip and that's with stopping and smelling the coffee in a few ports. Do your calculations and look to cover between 100 to 120NM per day. Minus the 7 days+ it will take to get in the lineup in Panama, it would be a 6 week delivery.

I hope that help a little. I recommend that you do the delivery. Memories will last a lifetime.

[TacomaSailor]

What does "up the West Coast" mean?
Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Escondido?
Bahia de Los Angles?
San Diego?
San Francisco?
Seattle?
Tampa?
Pensacola?

Where are you trying to get to by Mid-spring 2014?

[Sailing Cowboy]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

What does "up the West Coast" mean?
Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Escondido?
Bahia de Los Angles?
San Diego?
San Francisco?
Seattle?
Tampa?
Pensacola?

Where are you trying to get to by Mid-spring 2014?

The title says San Diego.

[Big Kahuna]

Ryan / Tacoma,

Hey guys,
In my reply, I was just trying to give a quick time frame. The point the Tacoma has brought up is really the planning stage. An important aspect of any sail. But if that is what your looking for then we would need a lot more information, not just the "West Coast" like:
1)The Caribbean Islands : where have you've been?
2) what do you still want to see?
3) Going South: Do you want the windward or leeward Islands.
4) What does your insurance say about the range you will have to stay away from South America? Mainly Colombia! A lot of insurance is cancelled if you go within a 200 mile radius.
5) What about going to USVI then onto PR then to Jamaica before the southbound trek to Panama.
6) I recommend hiring an agent to expedite the paperwork in Panama. You will still be there a week plus, but you will get through quicker. If that happens, go visit Portobello.
7) Then Ryans question: West Coast. By international law you will need to stop at the first port of entry in any country you plan on visiting. In America, that will be San Diego. But you have Mexico, Coast Rica and Nic to think about.

And San Diego, is where I made my quick reference to the time frame. Adda day to L.A. another Day to Santa Barbara.. Couple days to S.F. and so on and so on.


As you can see Ryan, there are many items to think about before