Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama

Nautical guidebook for boaters making this popular 5,000-mile cruising route between the US coasts via the Panama Canal: Cuba, Mexico's Gulf Coast & Yucatan Channel, Belize's outer cays, Rio Dulce, W. Caribbean islands, Panama's Caribbean & Pacific cruising grounds, How To Transit the Panama Canal (new rules & fees), Costa Rica, Fonseca, El Salvador, Guatemala, Pacific Mexico, lower Sea of Cortez, Baja California. Nearly 1,000 destinations, this guidebook describes the safe approaches by sea (from either direction), safe anchorages, where to find a marina slip, fuel, water, provisions, how to clear papers or find a ship's agent, where to find boat yards, marine repairs & services, nearby eateries, land transport, sportfishing & diving spots, side trips, plus historical & cultural notes. 424 pages, 350 photos (many aerials), 100 GPS-accurate charts with anchorages, soundings, hazards and GPS approach waypoints. Many of the Rainses charts are of tiny anchorages too small to appear with sufficient detail on NIMA, DMA or government-issue charts. Text contains great detail, more than 1,000 GPS positions en route. 'Paperwork Cha Cha' chapter explains the official Port Clearance dance, what documents you must have onboard before departing the US, includes blank CREW LIST forms for Mexico & Spanish-speaking countries. 'Preparations' for boat & crew; 'Weather & Routing' help captains choose the safest passages and most enjoyable itineraries. 'Resource Guide' lists the marinas, yacht clubs, fuel docks, boat yards, ship's agents, chandlers, port captains, weather routing service & other vital yacht-oriented help along this route, including contacts via VHF, phone, email & websites. Appendices list 300+ GPS Waypoints in geo-order; Radio Frequencies for HAM, SSB, WX-fax, VHF; Spanish lexicon of nautical, mechanical & navigation terms; Index lists 3,000 places & topics. "Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama" is the only nautical guidebook to cover this popular cruising route. And it's written for boaters traveling in either direction.