Mexico Boating
- Thread starter Bearbait
- Start date
If any one is considering traveling to Mexico, you might consider joining Vagabundos.
At one time I was considering traveling down, but I just don't like being in a country where I have no rights-- especially when they come up here and have more rights than we do :twisted:
Roger
At one time I was considering traveling down, but I just don't like being in a country where I have no rights-- especially when they come up here and have more rights than we do :twisted:
Roger
It's not just Baja. We live near Mexico and have traveled there frequently. Violent crime across the border is definitely up. We have suspended day trips into Mexico for entertainment or meals, until/unless the situation improves. Their economy is in rough shape and the political climate seems somewhat unstable... not a good combination. We feel there's no point in pushing our luck. Some border towns are better than others, but between higher gas prices and the questionable safety situation, we're staying on this side of the border for now.
Warren, you should have no problem with the caravan. Most of the crimes you hear about are crimes of opportunity... and the caravans certainly provide that security in numbers situation. The further you get from the border, the less petty thievery you will hear about. Just remember that they practice Napoleonic law, and behave like you are a guest and you will be fine.
Warren, you should have no problem with the caravan. Most of the crimes you hear about are crimes of opportunity... and the caravans certainly provide that security in numbers situation. The further you get from the border, the less petty thievery you will hear about. Just remember that they practice Napoleonic law, and behave like you are a guest and you will be fine.
Jack in Alaska
New member
Several years ago we met a man in Cabo from Oregon that was heading home with his 23' cabin cruiser after a month in Cabo. He had put his boat in the harbor in Cabo and had hell trying to get a tie-up spot, fuel or access to the pull-out ramp. The locals were letting him know that they had charters and private boats were not welcome.
Another incident...2 men from Brit.Col. bought a used panga in Cabo, worked on it to get it in good shape and stored it in a boat yard. The next yr. they brought a new 100 hp. outboard down and used it all winter. When leaving there for the season they took the outboard off stored it in a commercial storage locker and put the boat back in a storage yard. Seemed like a safe way to keep your outboard..
I would love to take my CD to Cabo but it is over 5k miles one way. Not in the cards @ $3.50 /gal..
Another incident...2 men from Brit.Col. bought a used panga in Cabo, worked on it to get it in good shape and stored it in a boat yard. The next yr. they brought a new 100 hp. outboard down and used it all winter. When leaving there for the season they took the outboard off stored it in a commercial storage locker and put the boat back in a storage yard. Seemed like a safe way to keep your outboard..
I would love to take my CD to Cabo but it is over 5k miles one way. Not in the cards @ $3.50 /gal..
You have gotten alot of advice. I would agree that the 1st thing to do is join the Vagabundos. They will get your permits and insurance. You must have Mexican insurance. When they want to look or inspect your boat , get in the boat with them to watch everything they do. Even the Military Officer will steal from you.
We have pulled our 22 ft ,Hunky Dory, to Rincon de Gauyabitos twice. You get on a toll road about as good as any in this country. I think it run us about $80.00 one way. We felt as safe as at home on that freeway. The local people of Rincon were good honest folks. The horror stories I hear about is enroute to Cabo. Fishing is great.
Ps. Don't even think to take a flare gun.
captd
We have pulled our 22 ft ,Hunky Dory, to Rincon de Gauyabitos twice. You get on a toll road about as good as any in this country. I think it run us about $80.00 one way. We felt as safe as at home on that freeway. The local people of Rincon were good honest folks. The horror stories I hear about is enroute to Cabo. Fishing is great.
Ps. Don't even think to take a flare gun.
captd
I'm a long time lurker............shopping for a boat and a C-dory is at the top of my list........but I had to create an account and chime in on this thread, as I've spent some time in Baja, including driving all the way to Cabo during this years Baja 1000 in November.
For starters, there are some things you just need to know about life in Baja. You can have absolutely no issues as long as you abide by certain rules. Rule number one: DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. I broke this rule coming back from Cabo, it was quite scary, but I survived. Another crew broke the rule........and two of them died.......one bled to death while waiting for emergency services.......which took nearly 3 hours to arrive. I bring this up to highlight the fact that......once night falls, Baja stops and you are on your own. Be prepared and conduct yourself accordingly.
Cell phones........AT&T is the best...........we had service in every town all the way down Mex 1 to Cabo, nothing else worked except around Ensenada and in Cabo. If you are going to be down there a while, it may be beneficial to rent or buy a sat phone.
Insurance........you got to have insurance on everything. I buy mine online from http://www.mexpro.com
You need liability and you need trailer insurance. You also need boating insurance which is seperate from the boat insurance when it's on the trailer. Buy the quote with travelers assistance and bail insurance.
You also, in theory, need to get an import license and permit and registration for your boat. This is in both Sonora and Baja. You can get this online through a club or through a tourist office. I say in theory, because it's in fact the law, if you are outside of the "free zone", but is enforced arbitrarily and even where you shouldn't need it. You can go down a hundred times and nobody asks for it.......then all the sudden it becomes an issue and you get shook down for hundreds in fines. It's cheap, so best to just get it and be done with it. Mexican police and the military like paperwork, the more you have with official stamps, the better. If you have a pocket knife, I don't care if it's a 3 inch swiss army knife.......put it in your tacklebox or a toolbox........there its a tool, in your pocket, glove box or under your seat......it's a weapon. This is arbitrarily enforced.........and often used as an excuse to threaten arrest for a shakedown.
Make sure you have at least 2 IDs and your birth certificate. Best to have a passport. The passport requirement has been put off yet again. Also, YOU MUST HAVE your registration for the boat, trailer, and your vehicles......including atv's or dirtbikes if you haul them down too. It's best to have the registration, and a copy of the titles.
Finally, this rule should never be broken...........do not cross from the US into TJ at night or early morning ever. Offroaders call the strip from TJ to ensendada the gauntlet for a reason. From dark until well after the sun comes up.......this is no mans land. The police don't venture in there, and the jackings are legendary and regular. In fact, there were so many jackings recently, the military has been deployed.
From what I've learned about the C-dory type folks from reading here.........my personal opinion is that the best place to go and visit for most on this site, both for fishing and the boating experience.......is Kino Bay, which is on the mainland (sonora) side. Lareto, on the Baja side is probably a good second choice. I say Kino Bay primarily because it's not "touristed out", very quiet, pleasant, white sandy beaches, not so much development, ready access to the islands, excellent boating as well as fishing, has a resident gringo boating club to help with launch arrangements, and still has quiet nice RV locations, as well as secure hotels.
Just my .02, and I hope a worthwhile first post!
Eric
And one more thing.........no matter where you go in Mexico, pay the locals the 20.00 to launch for you. Yes, you can launch yourself.........but if you do, expect never ending hassles. And the locals, with their special modded tractors do an excellent job anyway. This simple gesture will make it amazingly easy to get a tie up, fuel, everything. If you insist on launching yourself, be prepared for some negativism.
For starters, there are some things you just need to know about life in Baja. You can have absolutely no issues as long as you abide by certain rules. Rule number one: DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. I broke this rule coming back from Cabo, it was quite scary, but I survived. Another crew broke the rule........and two of them died.......one bled to death while waiting for emergency services.......which took nearly 3 hours to arrive. I bring this up to highlight the fact that......once night falls, Baja stops and you are on your own. Be prepared and conduct yourself accordingly.
Cell phones........AT&T is the best...........we had service in every town all the way down Mex 1 to Cabo, nothing else worked except around Ensenada and in Cabo. If you are going to be down there a while, it may be beneficial to rent or buy a sat phone.
Insurance........you got to have insurance on everything. I buy mine online from http://www.mexpro.com
You need liability and you need trailer insurance. You also need boating insurance which is seperate from the boat insurance when it's on the trailer. Buy the quote with travelers assistance and bail insurance.
You also, in theory, need to get an import license and permit and registration for your boat. This is in both Sonora and Baja. You can get this online through a club or through a tourist office. I say in theory, because it's in fact the law, if you are outside of the "free zone", but is enforced arbitrarily and even where you shouldn't need it. You can go down a hundred times and nobody asks for it.......then all the sudden it becomes an issue and you get shook down for hundreds in fines. It's cheap, so best to just get it and be done with it. Mexican police and the military like paperwork, the more you have with official stamps, the better. If you have a pocket knife, I don't care if it's a 3 inch swiss army knife.......put it in your tacklebox or a toolbox........there its a tool, in your pocket, glove box or under your seat......it's a weapon. This is arbitrarily enforced.........and often used as an excuse to threaten arrest for a shakedown.
Make sure you have at least 2 IDs and your birth certificate. Best to have a passport. The passport requirement has been put off yet again. Also, YOU MUST HAVE your registration for the boat, trailer, and your vehicles......including atv's or dirtbikes if you haul them down too. It's best to have the registration, and a copy of the titles.
Finally, this rule should never be broken...........do not cross from the US into TJ at night or early morning ever. Offroaders call the strip from TJ to ensendada the gauntlet for a reason. From dark until well after the sun comes up.......this is no mans land. The police don't venture in there, and the jackings are legendary and regular. In fact, there were so many jackings recently, the military has been deployed.
From what I've learned about the C-dory type folks from reading here.........my personal opinion is that the best place to go and visit for most on this site, both for fishing and the boating experience.......is Kino Bay, which is on the mainland (sonora) side. Lareto, on the Baja side is probably a good second choice. I say Kino Bay primarily because it's not "touristed out", very quiet, pleasant, white sandy beaches, not so much development, ready access to the islands, excellent boating as well as fishing, has a resident gringo boating club to help with launch arrangements, and still has quiet nice RV locations, as well as secure hotels.
Just my .02, and I hope a worthwhile first post!
Eric
And one more thing.........no matter where you go in Mexico, pay the locals the 20.00 to launch for you. Yes, you can launch yourself.........but if you do, expect never ending hassles. And the locals, with their special modded tractors do an excellent job anyway. This simple gesture will make it amazingly easy to get a tie up, fuel, everything. If you insist on launching yourself, be prepared for some negativism.
Great advice from Eric. Another of my threads from yesterday which got lost...Anyway, I organized and first took a floatella of sailboats to Baja in the mid 60's, when things were much different. We have spent over a year in Mexico; Baja, West Coast Mainland and Yucatan in our own boats with no problems. My daughter and her family went to Mexico twice this year and my Son and his family went also twice with no problems. All of these folks are fluent in Spanish--which is a destinct advantage.
I have little experience in the roads, except within 50 to 100 miles of the borders, or when we road our motor cycles on central Mexico mostly along the coastline. Sure agree about the nightime!
If you follow the rules very carefully the chances of problems are minimal. We love Mexico--but certainly defer to folks like Jim, who have more experience in this current year.
There are lots of "horror" stories. But remember that there are over 1000 recreational boats cruising Mexico this winter, and I have not heard of any serious incidents. I am in regular contact with some of these boats by E mail and occasionally Ham radio. Your chances of a problem with a C Dory type of boat are far less than if you are traveling in an RV. I would certainly agree with the suggestions about the Vagabundos Del Mar, and traveling with a group.
I have little experience in the roads, except within 50 to 100 miles of the borders, or when we road our motor cycles on central Mexico mostly along the coastline. Sure agree about the nightime!
If you follow the rules very carefully the chances of problems are minimal. We love Mexico--but certainly defer to folks like Jim, who have more experience in this current year.
There are lots of "horror" stories. But remember that there are over 1000 recreational boats cruising Mexico this winter, and I have not heard of any serious incidents. I am in regular contact with some of these boats by E mail and occasionally Ham radio. Your chances of a problem with a C Dory type of boat are far less than if you are traveling in an RV. I would certainly agree with the suggestions about the Vagabundos Del Mar, and traveling with a group.
FRED & DEB
New member
Hi everybody:
And Greetings from Cabo San Lucas. Deb and I have been on the Baja for the last 2 months and have spent most of that time enroute to Cabo. We've been camping on beaches, parking lots and RV parks along the way down and the only violence we hear about is from the news media. I'm not suggesting that there is no crime in Mexico but Deb and I both feel safe here.
We did not bring the TomCat along on this trip but the Baja is certainly a world class boating and fishermans paradise that's a definite must see.
The weather is fine... come on down.
FRED
And Greetings from Cabo San Lucas. Deb and I have been on the Baja for the last 2 months and have spent most of that time enroute to Cabo. We've been camping on beaches, parking lots and RV parks along the way down and the only violence we hear about is from the news media. I'm not suggesting that there is no crime in Mexico but Deb and I both feel safe here.
We did not bring the TomCat along on this trip but the Baja is certainly a world class boating and fishermans paradise that's a definite must see.
The weather is fine... come on down.
FRED
El and Bill
New member
Fred/Deb -
So glad to hear that all's well with you two, and that you are enjoying a fine trip down the Baja. Look forward to seeing you two on your return north. Enjoy the sun, amigos.
So glad to hear that all's well with you two, and that you are enjoying a fine trip down the Baja. Look forward to seeing you two on your return north. Enjoy the sun, amigos.
Roy and Lucky
New member
Here is the link for the U. S. Government's travel advisory site.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... s_970.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... s_970.html