Sailing from Cartagena to Panama

Boatygringo says on Dec 9, 2005, 11:41:

Cartagena to Panama Panama to Cartagena Caution Caution, there are a lot of back packer boats leaving from Columbia to Panama and back again. My advise is to look the boat over befor you pay,interview the captain ask them how long they have been carring backpackers and if you dont feel comfortable DONT go. I know some of the boat and captains and I my self would not sail with them. Very few of the so called captains have any licence the boats are not inspected or insured and and some are down right unsafe, the whole operation is an un otherised thing that sprang up because some boat owners neede to make some money so the could stay in Colombia. Why am I saying this ? because it is only a matter of time befor there is a loss of life. Dont get me wrong there are some excelent boats and captains with well found boats but alot of boats are on the edge with no safety equipment, one I know of one that set sail with out even a radio. As my name implies I am very Knowagable about sail boats. I live on one and have sailed all over the Careibean. So check things out befor you sign on. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

goosekirk says on Dec 9, 2005, 11:48:

What about passport stamps If you do this, how do you get your passport stamped? Or does that not really matter?

NewBoy says on Dec 9, 2005, 14:22:

Boatygringo Usefull information, if you are a registered user to the above site you can add the info, or I can add it for you, with your permission.

Wastelandlive says on Dec 9, 2005, 18:11:

Boaty Gringo has a point I actually used to make the occassional passenger run to Colon myself when I lived in Cartagena.

Some of the guys in the trade aren't bad sailors.. but they are living on a fastly fraying shoe-string. Taking passengers for hire is a great way to defray costs, make friends, and even get a few watch standers.

But this is NOT a profitable business. Maintaining a yacht is expensive... and $200-$300 per passenger per journey just doesn't even break even after food, fuel, maintenence, insurance, depretiation, and risk is taken into account.

As a result a lot of these captains - who are unrealistic in their ambitions in the first place - are on the way down. They are cruisers who don't want to go to work, and are rapidly burning their savings. The first thing to go is basic seaworthiness.

My recommendation?

Ensure that your captain has an inspected life raft as well as sufficient life vests, and at the minimum a registered EPIRB.
Inquire as to his experience. Use your judgement when considering the general state of the vessel; if she looks rundown and beaten up to your untrained eye, well... the systems upon which your safety depend are also probably falling apart.

If all that looks good to you... and your captain conducts himself with some integrity and sobriety, relax and have a good time. Ask for a stop in the San Blas, and get ready for a rare adventure that few people get to experience.

To goosekirk, if you take a ride with one of these captains, you will technically be going as crew (because they don't have legal status to carry passengers for hire). Yes, you get your passport stamped... you are leaving and entering a country just as though you were flying, and your captain will have to take your passport to immigration in both ports.

Wasteland

Wasteland