Searching for a home port...

[Diesel Duck]

Hello all TF members. Some of you have read my earlier post, February 12, 2025, where I announced I am the new owner of a Seahorse Marine built Diesel Duck that was located on the Gold Coast of Australia. I've already begun the long journey back to her eventual home port and that's where I'll be seeking recommendations here (first some info about my intended journey). I've moved the boat, Duckin Out, from the GCCM on the Gold Coast to Townsville, QLD and this July I return to Oz to begin the second leg of my journey. This second leg will be to get to Thursday Island (TI) where I'll need to go through the process of legally exporting my once Australian registered vessel. From TI I will head directly to Tual, Indonesia. From Tual I'll island hop to Raja Ampat for a few weeks of R&R along with some epic scuba diving. Then it's on up to the Philippines, either Cebu City or Subic Bay, or both. From there I might head down to Palawan Island for some more scuba diving... Okay, now that I've made you all envious, enough about my route, now I'll get to the real reason for my post... I'm conflicted about where to call my home port. Pieces of my puzzle... I live in Colombia, South America and am only a 30 minute drive from the MDE airport. My goal is to keep the boat close enough so that it will be convenient and I won't grimace each time I buy the plane ticket(s). Panama is a single one hour flight and the Pacific coast of Mexico is two flights with a duration of about 8 hours considering connections and varied locations from Baja California down to Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca. That being said my options are marinas located on the Pacific coast of Mexico from Baja California to Huatulco or the Atlantic/Caribbean side of Panama or even the Pacific side of Panama. Another possibility would be to keep the boat in Cartagena or Santa Marta, Colombia. My decision on where to keep the boat also needs to take into consideration on how I intend to use the boat which is for scuba diving and fishing along with exploring the surrounding areas (surrounding areas need to be interesting). Know that I won't be making weekend only visits. I'll be planning to be on the boat for one, two or possibly three months at a time. Okay, with all of the above being said, I'm curious to hear recommendations from those with some knowledge, or not, of the areas I'm considering. Let the comments begin... *Confession... After reading my post, just prior to posting it, I had a light bulb moment about where to keep my boat. I still would like to hear your comments...

 

[Diep]

I would paint Buenaventura on the back and who cares where you park it.

The best thing about your vessel is it doesn't need a home port parking space. Cruise it like you plan to and leave it wherever you find yourself when it is time to go home. If you are looking for months-long periods of use just go from place to place as the weather/mood/interests suit. If you find yourself happy in a spot you don't want to leave you can repaint the back.

This is assuming you plan to register/flag in Columbia. Of course there are many other practical and legal considerations but that wasn't the question.

 

[Diesel Duck]

Thanks for your response...

When I purchased my boat I did a lot of research I with all I discovered I chose to have her flagged in the Marshall Islands (Bikini). I have no plans of changing the registration to ColOmbia.

Curious why you say "paint Buenaventura on the back"?

 

[Diep]

I was trying to joke about the difference between the registered home port and where a boat is physically. So I was suggesting to make the home port somewhere nearby to you and then just move around and see where you settle, which might be nowhere for too long with a capable vessel such as yours.

Seeing as you are registering in the MI you will need to "paint Bikini" (or Majuro or something) on the back. But the rest is the same.

 

[mvweebles]

Lot of name dropping in the OP. And tough weather along the Colombian coast to Panama. If you're okay with plane rides, my vote would be to base the boat out of Mazatlan. Tons of nice cruising - south to Banderas Bay (perhaps Huatulco) and north to the SoC. Active cruiser community in Mazatlan.

Best of luck on the trip.

Peter

 

[SteveK]

@Diesel Duck you did not say the length of time between the 1-3 months tours. In general I agree with post 2 saying do your trip and park it at a location you can leave and fly back to easy. With 1-3 months I would not want to bring it back to a home port at the end of the trip as long as it is not 1-3 months and wait a year before returning.

 

[Diesel Duck]

I was trying to joke about the difference between the registered home port and where a boat is physically. So I was suggesting to make the home port somewhere nearby to you and then just move around and see where you settle, which might be nowhere for too long with a capable vessel such as yours.

Seeing as you are registering in the MI you will need to "paint Bikini" (or Majuro or something) on the back. But the rest is the same.

see my profile photo...

 

[Diesel Duck]

posted in error... deleted.

 

[Diesel Duck]

@Diesel Duck you did not say the length of time between the 1-3 months tours. In general I agree with post 2 saying do your trip and park it at a location you can leave and fly back to easy. With 1-3 months I would not want to bring it back to a home port at the end of the trip as long as it is not 1-3 months and wait a year before returning.

At this moment I imagine I will be off the boat about the same amount of time I'll be aboard. Planning on rotating back and forth on and off the boat two to three on and two to three off.