Thinking out loud -Finding someone to deliver/cruise my boat to Panama from west coast.

[Black Jack]

I have no time to sail her down myself. Shipping her to the east coast is going to cost more than she is worth. Considering finding a nice, competent sailor or couple to cruise my boat from San Francisco, Cabo or Mazatlan to Panama in this next year. I was thinking of giving them a ready in good shape boat, a few months, and airline tickets home. I know some things will break - I can fix those once in Panama - it is factored in. I could give them a small bonus if she remains in good shape when they do a proper, responsible handoff. If things go really sideways - I could afford to lose the boat.

Thoughts?

 

[NanuNanu]

What boat?

 

[Zonker]

I think it's smarter to pay for a professional delivery skipper and crew than hope some well meaning amateurs (who may be perfectly good sailors) to take on this task.

 

[cmonkey]

OR - just a thought- buy a boat in Panama?

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

I have no time to sail her down myself. Shipping her to the east coast is going to cost more than she is worth. Considering finding a nice, competent sailor or couple to cruise my boat from San Francisco, Cabo or Mazatlan to Panama in this next year. I was thinking of giving them a ready in good shape boat, a few months, and airline tickets home. I know some things will break - I can fix those once in Panama - it is factored in. I could give them a small bonus if she remains in good shape when they do a proper, responsible handoff. If things go really sideways - I could afford to lose the boat.

Thoughts?

I recently came across a professional delivery skipper on a local Facebook saiking/cruising group for the BC, Canada coast area (where I live), but he’s based in WA or OR, can’t recall which. CG licenced, I seem to recall, amd sounded quite knowledgeable (as opposed to boastful, etc.). Based on reading his various posts about west coast sailing/weather/routing from Vancouver to Mexico, it’s pretty clear he knows what he’s talking about, and several others in the group appeared to know him.

If you like, I can find out more for you.

EDIT: I have the person’s delivery captain resume (he’s based in Vancouver, WA). I’ve never used him/don’t know him, but I recall him on a sailing group. Very thorough sailing and sail training/captains by raining resume - PM me if you want me to send it to you.

 

[Black Jack]

I went down to check on the boats this morning during the break in storms. Next door at the Grand Marina ramp, someone tried to get their decent old boat on a once loved trailer. - it changed my mind on trailering on a budget.

 

[Black Jack]

OR - just a thought- buy a boat in Panama?

My wife would kill me. I can't even sell the ones I own which is why i am thinking of sending one.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

BTW, here’s the first two pages of the delivery captain resume I mentioned above. (First two of 25 pages.). Again, no affiliation whatsoever, but I remember him from a local Facebook sailing group several months ago, and I had been curious what sort of resume a professional skipper would have. The full resume has offshore sea miles logged.

 

[Cruisin Loser]

I think it's smarter to pay for a professional delivery skipper and crew than hope some well meaning amateurs (who may be perfectly good sailors) to take on this task.

Wisdom.

For the east coast the guy is Andy Burton or someone he recommends. No idea for the west coast.

 

[Black Jack]

I think it's smarter to pay for a professional delivery skipper and crew than hope some well meaning amateurs (who may be perfectly good sailors) to take on this task.

Very wise advice.

A good professional delivery captain on a schedule would require at least 30 to 40 days if only sailing with some motoring. They would require a second crew. It would be far more reasonable to buy where I want to sail. The canal transits another 3k in fees and expenses even if i can get my own pilot, a childhood friend.

It may just not be possible on a paupers budget.

 

[kinardly]

Very wise advice.

A good professional delivery captain on a schedule would require at least 30 to 40 days if only sailing with some motoring. They would require a second crew. It would be far more reasonable to buy where I want to sail. The canal transits another 3k in fees and expenses even if i can get my own pilot, a childhood friend.

It may just not be possible on a paupers budget.

Just for curiosity’s sake, what would that cost?

 

[estarzinger]

Just for curiosity’s sake, what would that cost?

it would not be unusual for a 'good' captain to be $500/day, and that is just the start of the costs.

You can ofc find cheaper ones, but .....

I have no time to sail her down myself. Shipping her to the east coast is going to cost more than she is worth. Considering finding a nice, competent sailor or couple to cruise my boat from San Francisco, Cabo or Mazatlan to Panama in this next year.

probably not a financially viable idea. If you want a boat on the east coast - then sell this one where it is and buy one on the east coast. Using a pro to relocate a boat to the other coast is only going to make sense for a pretty high-end boat. BUT do consider taking the time to do the trip yourself - that's what you have the boat for, make life space to use the boat and experience the adventure - THAT makes sense.

 

[Out West]

someone tried to get their decent old boat on a once loved trailer. - it changed my mind on trailering on a budget.

View attachment 566398

Admittedly off topic (should be in the trailer boat thread) but what boat is this? If it is a centerboard, it seems like the board dropped after the attempt to load? Otherwise there's no way that keel was going on that trailer. Boat should have been recovered if the board went back into the trunk, no inboard so light hull for dual axle, heave over and drag back on?

 

[CriticalPath]

I went down to check on the boats this morning during the break in storms. Next door at the Grand Marina ramp, someone tried to get their decent old boat on a once loved trailer. - it changed my mind on trailering on a budget.

View attachment 566398

View attachment 566400

"Decent old boat" kinda looks like a Ranger 26 (designed by Mull). Or is it a Santana 27 (also a Mull)?

Frickin' ironic or what?

Cheers!

 

[Crash]

"Decent old boat" kinda looks like a Ranger 26 (designed by Mull). Or is it a Santana 27 (also a Mull)?

Frickin' ironic or what?

Cheers!

The keel, with the "clubfoot" at the bottom is wrong for the Mull boats. Both the Ranger 26 and Santana 27 had swept back trapazoids...

 

[221J]

I know the OP is taken aback by the recent trailer accident, but I still think that trailering will be cheaper and safer than amateur crew and maybe even pro delivery.

 

[CriticalPath]

The keel, with the "clubfoot" at the bottom is wrong for the Mull boats. Both the Ranger 26 and Santana 27 had swept back trapazoids...

Good catch, I couldn’t discern detail of the keel profile on my phone screen but pretty clear on my laptop.

 

[Crash]

Somewhere, back in my foggy memory is a builder from the 70's who built boats with that shaped keel, but so far, I haven't been able to drag it out from its resting place

 

[blurocketsmate]

I know the OP is taken aback by the recent trailer accident, but I still think that trailering will be cheaper and safer than amateur crew and maybe even pro delivery.

It depends on how big a boat. Under a certain size it would definitely be cheaper, but somewhere 30-40' maybe not. Have you looked into it?

 

[Veeger]

Having used a couple yacht transport companies aboard a ship between FL and PNW, I'd tell you that for the size of your boat, it's probably surprisingly competitive to a delivery or trailering. It's hassle free (you can even keep the mast up) and a quick 3 weeks or less. The other really nice benny is that all that wear and tear and hours on the engine, sails and rig is no worse than having the boat in its marina slip for a month. I just don't know if the transport company would have a lower limit or minimum charge. The benefits would even outweigh some increase in cost. You go from dropping off a fully commissioned and operable boat to receiving same 3weeks later.