The Reality of Boat Repairs in Foreign Countries
Sailing around the world is an adventure of a lifetime, but preparing a boat for a Pacific crossing comes with its fair share of challenges—especially when you’re stuck in a foreign country waiting on repairs and parts. We’ve been in Panama since December, dealing with unexpected delays, costly surprises, and the all-too-familiar frustration of waiting.
The Forestay Fiasco
A forestay is a crucial part of a sailboat’s rigging—it’s the cable that runs from the top of the mast to the bow and helps support the mast. During a routine rigging inspection at Vista Mar Marina, the local repair team advised us that we needed to replace our roller furler and forestay.
We estimated the cost to be around $3,500, but after adding shipping, taxes, and customs fees, the total ballooned to $7,000! To make matters worse, the shipment took two weeks longer than expected to arrive.
Standing Rigging Woes
The standing rigging is what keeps our mast upright. Without strong, intact rigging, a sailboat is at serious risk—just ask the unfortunate solo sailor who lost his mast halfway across the Pacific. He is now drifting at 1-2 knots with a jury-rigged sail, relying on passing ships for food and water as he limps toward land.
Determined to avoid the same fate, we decided to replace our standing rigging. But, of course, Panama had none of the correct wire size for our shrouds. Shipping such a heavy item was astronomically expensive, so we took an 8-hour round trip across the country in search of materials. By sheer luck, we found one marine shop with just enough wire to get the job done.
Then came the next issue—the fittings to secure the rigging to the deck had to be ordered from the U.S. We paid for them, they were shipped, and now… they are lost somewhere in shipping limbo with no tracking updates.
Dinghy Davit and the Hunt for Pulleys
A dinghy davit is a metal frame that allows us to hoist our dinghy out of the water to prevent wear and theft. We hired a local welder who did fast, excellent, and affordable work. Finally, something went smoothly, right?
Not so fast. We needed pulleys to attach ropes for lifting the dinghy—and nowhere in Panama had them. After six hours of driving around Panama City in search of them, we came up empty-handed. The only solution? Shipping them from abroad and hoping they arrive before we leave.
The Solar Panel Tragedy
To support our growing power needs, we ordered an extra lithium-ion battery and needed an additional solar panel to charge it. This required a custom metal frame for mounting. Our trusted welder gave us a price, but when it came time for the solar panel bracket, the cost was double what we expected. With no other choice, we paid up and moved forward.
We purchased the massive solar panel, too large to fit in our rental car, and had it delivered to the marina. It took three of us to haul it down the dock and onto the boat. Exhausted, we secured it and went below for lunch.
Then the windstorm hit.
The violent gusts came out of nowhere, and suddenly we heard a sickening crash. Our brand-new solar panel had blown over and shattered into a spiderweb of cracks—completely destroyed before we ever got the chance to install it.
The Endless Visa Process
Beyond boat repairs, we’ve also had to navigate the bureaucratic maze of visas. Since we plan to spend two sailing seasons in French Polynesia, we applied for an extended-stay visa. The process was a marathon of paperwork, fees, and waiting.
After six weeks, the visas finally arrived—but not in our passports. To get them officially stamped, we have to:
- Drive two hours back to the embassy
- Hand in our passports
- Wait one to two more days for them to be processed
- Drive another four-hour round trip to retrieve them
All for a simple stapled page. We either spend money on a hotel or endure the long journey twice.
The Reality of a World Voyage
This isn’t the first time we’ve been stuck waiting on boat parts in a foreign country. We’ve spent 3-5 months in five different places now, dealing with similar challenges:
- Portugal
- Spain
- Canary Islands
- Cape Verde
- Now, Panama
Each country presents its own unique frustrations when it comes to repairs, shipping, and customs. But while the delays are maddening, they are also part of the journey. The silver lining? We get to experience the beauty of each place while we wait—the people, the culture, the landscapes, and the local food.
Listening to fellow sailors, we realize our struggles are not unique. These obstacles are a shared experience that binds us together. We are the 0.01% of the world that has taken on this adventure. We are the persevering, the resourceful, the bold.
And we will prevail.
We will be sailing again soon. I hope and pray.
Have you ever faced travel delays or repair nightmares? Drop a comment below and share your experience!
Fair winds,
S/V Equus
Alison and Dan