I'm going to ask probably a really dumb question of you, Peter. Did you consider the Panama canal route? Is it even an option for pleasure boats?? I've been through the canal on a cruise ship...and I know the big ships pay an obscene amount of money to transit the canal. Does the canal even take pleasure boats? And if so, do you have any idea what the costs are like??
I absolutely did consider. When I was delivering boats, I went through the Canal twice. I really wanted to return and take my time as I passed by many places. My last trip was 25 days from Dana Point to Ft Lauderdale, a very fast transit for 4500 nms. I spent 36 hours in Acapulco, and about 48 hours in Panama City. My wife and I planned to retire this year. And make the trip with an open ended itinerary. Frankly, if timing was right I wanted to run up to the PNW for the summer season, another place I've delivered countless boats to but never explored.
But a few things changed the plan. First, refit on boat is running woeful late due to add-ons and covid shut down. Second, when covid reared its head in March, I got a bit scared when my stock portfolio tanked. I remembered 2008 all too well. Finally, I was offered a super job that would fill the gap. So we decided to hold off. My 401k has recovered (and then some), my house looks like it should sell quickly when ready in a couple months, and I'm wondering if I made the right choice.
We now live in Florida. I have a slip here and I'd really, really like to return to the Bahamas. I'd also like to head down to Rio Dulce, so it just made sense to finish the boat refit, then put her on a ship and bring her to Florida.
So a somewhat long explanation that we could have used the $17k for shipping and cruised for 6 months, but that wouldn't start for a while. In the end, there are many places we want to see, but really, we're just ready to be gone. Destination is less important than stowing the docklines in favor of the anchor rode. Fastest way for us to do that now is to ship her to Florida.
Boats do funny things to your pocketbook and sensibility. We've owned Weebles for 22 years. Deciding to refit her is the single most financially irrational decision in my life, and I've made some doozies. But here we are: staring-down 60 years old and there's no denying there's more highway in the rear view mirror than ahead of us. Time to fire up the Perkins and get going.
Peter