Hi Dick and Ray,

Thanks for the info; I'll have a go at finding a trucking company at
the borth end; it shouldn't be beyond Google. My sister speaks
Spanish, but maybe someone there speaks English. It's hard to believe
no-one has done this before - it'so obviously a good idea from the map
that there must be a way. As Panama gets less yacht-friendly there's a
business opportunity for someone here!

Cheers,
David.

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:48:53 -0700, ray wrote:

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 12:27:38 +0100, wrote:

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of (or even useful comments on)
trucking a boat across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec? I'm planning on
getting from the Caribbean to the West Coast of the US sometime after
Christmas - this looks like a possible alternative to Panama (saving
thousands of miles!) or trucking from Florida orTexas. While I'm at
it, how about trucking from the North end of the Sea of Cortez to say,
San Diego, to avoid the California current and headwinds? We're
talking about 4 tons of long-keeled steel 26 footer here, so it
wouldn't need a huge vehicle.

any help much appreciated.

David

How's your Spanish? I've never heard of a commercial boat hauler in
this area but it seems like you could put it on any sizable flatbed
truck by finding a boat lift, setting the keel on some dunnage then
building a cradle around it with scrap lumber. Some of those crankdown
straps, a little gas money and you're ready to roll. You need a lift
on the other end of course. I think Puerto Madero is a commercial
shipping center so you could find a crane capable of picking it off
the truck. You would need cash and luck. An Irishman who spoke fluent
Spanish could do this. If you do find the great NW passage please post
it here and let us know. Buenas suerte.

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:55:14 +0100, wrote:

It's hard to believe
no-one has done this before - it'so obviously a good idea from the map
that there must be a way.

The road is a two lane Mexican highway. I haven't driven it, but I
know that the Mexican govt is strongly considering a modern rail line
connecting the ports on each end. That would be used for transfering
containers from ship to ship. It's interesting they are going for rail
over road.

Not sure what the overall height of your boat is without mast but it's
probably at least 8 feet meaning a low rise flatbed might be needed.
You also have the issue of de masting and re masting (assuming it's a
sailing vessel) and the latter step at least can be tricky.

The folks in San Carlos are fluent in English and Spanish...