Panama has almost no Florida-style dry stack. On Amador there is no rack building. Dry storage here means a boat blocked ashore in a yard, a forklift rack at a few marinas, or a trailer at home. In warm water, a hull left in a slip grows weed and barnacles fast. So for small boats used now and then, and for any boat left for months, dry storage often wins.
What dry storage exists in Panama
- Yard storage on the hard. Shelter Bay has secure long-term storage for up to 120 boats, with 24/7 video, dehumidifiers and shrink-wrapping. Linton Bay has about 16,500 m² of hard standing and a 160-tonne Travelift. Panamarina has a fenced dry-storage area with 24-hour security. In Panama City, Flamenco's shipyard stores boats ashore by arrangement.
- Trailer haul-out and yard. Vista Mar in San Carlos hauls on a hydraulic trailer at high tide, takes beams up to 40 ft and stores boats in its yard.
- Forklift racks. Buenaventura Marina, on the Pacific coast west of the city, advertises dry storage up to 34 ft with forklift moves up to 25,000 lb. In Chiriquí, Pedregal has a ramp and dry storage for boats to about 30 ft.
- Trailer at home or in a lot. Common for boats to about 26 ft. See boat ramps around Panama.
Why the tropics push you toward dry storage
Bottom growth is the big difference from Florida. A boat that sits in Panamanian water for a few weeks needs a diver, and a boat that sits for months needs a haul-out. Antifouling helps, but even good paint loses the fight in a warm, still basin. See bottom growth in the tropics.
The trade-off is weather on land. The rainy season, May to November, brings daily downpours and lightning. A boat on the hard needs clear cockpit drains, a cover that sheds water and ventilation against mould. Ask the yard about lightning protection, and see lightning protection. Panamarina doesn't connect power or water to dry-stored boats, so batteries need a plan. Shelter Bay sells battery maintenance and dehumidifiers.
There are no hurricanes to plan for, which is why owners leave boats ashore in Panama between seasons.
What the two options cost
Panamarina is the only marina that publishes both mooring and dry-storage rates. That makes it the cleanest comparison. A 40 ft monohull left for 200 days, before 7% ITBMS:
| Option | Rate | 200 days |
|---|---|---|
| Mooring, over 181 days | $0.29 per ft per day | $2,320 |
| Dry storage, over 181 days | $0.32 per ft per day | $2,560 |
| Haul-out and launch | $10.03 per ft, once | $401.20 |
| Dry storage total | $2,961.20 |
On paper the mooring is about $640 cheaper. But the moored boat comes back with a fouled bottom, needs a clean or a haul-out anyway, and has sat through a rainy season in the water. For long absences, the hard usually wins once you count the bottom job. Other yards quote on request. See marina costs in Panama and haul-out yards.
The Pacific tide changes the launch
On the Pacific coast every haul and launch follows the tide. Flamenco's yard hauls at high tide. Vista Mar's trailer works its ramp at high tide. Pedregal is a rising-tide river approach. Fast in-and-out dry stack, as in Florida, doesn't really exist here, because the tide sets the timing. Book the launch with the day's tide table in hand, and see docking with Pacific tides. On the Caribbean coast the tide is under 0.6 m, so the timing is easier.
Preparing a boat for storage ashore
- Clear every cockpit and deck drain, and test them with a hose before you leave.
- Fit a breathable cover that sheds tropical rain, or ask the yard about shrink-wrapping.
- Leave hatches vented against rain, and use moisture absorbers or a dehumidifier if power is available.
- Disconnect or maintain the batteries, since many yards connect no power to stored boats.
- Remove valuables and electronics you can carry. Lock the companionway and the lockers.
- Photograph the boat on the stands, and agree in writing who checks it and how often. Panamarina, for example, sells a visit with photos for $5.61.
Which suits your boat
- Under about 30 ft, used now and then: dry storage or a trailer. You avoid the growth and the slip bill.
- Used every week, any size: wet slip, with a diver on a schedule.
- Left for months: on the hard at Shelter Bay, Linton Bay or Panamarina, or at Vista Mar on the Pacific.
- Wide catamaran on the Pacific: Vista Mar's trailer is the main haul option outside a city shipyard.
The Florida version of this choice is dry storage vs wet slip. In Panama, the growth argument for dry storage is stronger.
Your practical starting checklist
- Decide how often you will use the boat and how long it will sit between uses.
- Ask yards for written day or month rates, the haul-and-launch price and any minimum.
- Confirm the yard's security, lightning protection, and whether power can be connected.
- Book Pacific haul-outs and launches against the ACP tide table.
- Prepare the boat for the rainy season ashore: drains, cover, ventilation and batteries.
- Arrange for someone to visit and photograph the boat while you are away.
Frequently asked questions
Is there dry-stack boat storage in Panama City?
There is no Florida-style dry-stack building on Amador. City options are yard storage at Flamenco's shipyard by arrangement, Vista Mar's yard an hour west, or a trailer.
How much is dry storage in Panama?
Panamarina publishes $0.39 per foot per day for a monohull for 1–90 days and $0.32 for over 181 days, plus 7% ITBMS and $10.03 per foot to haul and launch. Other yards quote on request.
Is it safe to leave a boat on the hard in Panama?
Yes, at a secure yard. Panama has no hurricanes. The risks are rain, lightning, mould and theft, so choose a yard with security and arrange regular checks.
Should I keep a small boat in a wet slip in Panama?
Only if you use it every week and pay a diver to clean the hull. Otherwise a trailer or yard storage costs less and spares you the growth.
Can I store a catamaran on land in Panama?
Yes. Linton Bay's Travelift takes beams up to 39 ft, and Vista Mar's trailer haul-out says it takes up to 40 ft. Panamarina and Shelter Bay also store multihulls.
The next question to answer
The sub-hub for every marina, anchoring and docking guide. Read Marinas, docking and anchoring in Panama.
Travelifts, trailers and yards on both coasts. Read Haul-out yards in Panama.
Every published slip, mooring and storage rate. Read Marina costs in Panama.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare One moment, please....
Official resources
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.
- Panamarina: prices ↗
- Shelter Bay Marina: dry storage ↗
- Buenaventura Marina: services ↗
- Noonsite (secondary): Pedregal ↗