Repairs in Panama

Created by doina. Last modified on 2003-03-26 14:20:07
Countries: Panama

Michael Tribe, Tortuga

We have sailed from Canet, France where our Catana 471, Tortuga , was launched last July to Panama. We have had a very positive experience here thanks to some really good people in Panama.

Panama is celebrating its 100 years of independence and 100 years of the start of the Canal. When Colombia required a large payment from the USA to build the canal, the US encouraged the province of Panama to become independent. The Canal Zone was created and work started as the ink was drying on the declaration of independence. Today Panama remains a striving modern and colonial city, with moments of order and total chaos.

Ingrid Ollar of Panama Yacht Services served as our shipping agents to cross the Canal. Most paperwork was completed before we arrived in Panama, and their representative walked us through the offices of the Canal Authority and Immigration quickly and efficiently. The canal crossing was easy and uneventful starting at 8.30 am in Cristobal, and arriving in Balboa by 3.30 pm. Finding parts and services is a full time adventure that must become close to impossible if you can not speak Spanish. We managed to haul out our 47’ catamaran, apply antifouling paint, service the engines, repair sails, repair the stove, buy and replace parts, provision and prepare the boat thoroughly for our next leg to Galapagos. Our main source of local knowledge was Tula, Alberto Roberto Robinson (Tel. 643 4566), a sailor that works at the Balboa Yacht Club. Without his help we probably would have spent many frustrating hours trying to find what we needed and possibly never find what we were looking for. Tula helped us find paint, materials and parts at better prices and worked very hard cleaning, repairing and painting the boat. He also personally knew of many service people to repair our stove, engine and friends in the marine industry that could help us locate parts.