Panama Canal for catamarans: rafting and center chamber

Catamarans transit the Panama Canal as handlines like any boat up to 125 ft, and pay the same toll as a monohull of the same length, because the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) sets small-craft tolls by length overall only. In the locks you may be held alone in the centre of the chamber, rafted (nested) with other yachts, tied to the wall, or alongside an ACP tug. The Canal Port Captain decides, but every boat must be equipped for centre chamber.

The four lockage types

The ACP's procedure says the Canal Port Captain or his designee decides whether your boat locks centre chamber or sidewall, based on hull shape, protruding railings, awnings, tall masts, spars and anything else that could be damaged against a chamber wall. When you file the transit request, you state which lockage types you accept. Noonsite (a cruiser resource) lists four:

• Centre chamber: held in the middle of the chamber by two bow and two stern lines to the walls. All four of your line handlers work.
• Nested centre: two or three yachts raft together and the raft is held in the middle; usually only the outside boats' lines go to the walls.
• Sidewall: tied directly to the rough concrete wall with two lines. Hard on fenders, topsides and, if the boat rolls, rigging.
• Alongside an ACP tug: you tie to a tug that is tied to the wall. It depends on the day's traffic and cannot be scheduled.

Noonsite reports that monohull sailboats may decline sidewall and tug lockages, and catamarans and motorboats may decline tugs. Whatever you pick, the ACP still requires the five crew and four lines for a centre-chamber lockage.

Catamarans: cost, beam and practicalities

• Cost: no beam surcharge. The ACP's small-vessel toll bands (under 65 ft, 65–80, over 80–100, over 100 ft) depend only on LOA. See transit costs.
• Beam: the Panamax chambers are 33.53 m (110 ft) wide, far wider than any cruising catamaran. The ACP's small-craft procedure sets no separate beam limit for handlines. Declare beam accurately in ASEM; it affects how the advisor and lock staff plan rafts.
• Rafting: a catamaran's flat sides and wide beam make it a stable centre boat in a raft, but a three-boat raft with a cat in it is very wide. Expect the advisors to decide the arrangement on the day.
• Line handling: corners are far apart on a cat. Make sure each handler can reach a cleat and a fairlead without crossing the deck.

How rafting works and who is in charge

Rafting is normally done just before the lock, in open water, as directed by the advisors. Each boat still has its own advisor, skipper and responsibility for its own boat. Common practice, as reported by cruisers:

• The centre boat provides the propulsion and steering for the raft; the outside boats keep engines ready but mostly in neutral.
• The outside boats put their two lines each to the walls, so a three-boat raft uses four lines in total, two on each side.
• Masts are staggered fore and aft so spreaders cannot touch if the raft rolls.
• Bow, stern and spring lines between boats are tight, with every fender you have between hulls.

The ACP's procedure is clear that it is not responsible for damage caused by defective equipment or mishandling, so agree the plan with the other skippers before you go in.

Fender plans by lockage type

• Centre chamber: fenders on both sides in case you are pushed towards a wall; tyres at the widest point.
• Nested: your largest fenders on the side facing the other boat, positioned at the beam where the hulls meet. Tyres on the wall side if you are an outside boat.
• Sidewall: wrapped tyres along the full length on the wall side, lowered to the rubbing line; concrete chews regular fenders.
• Alongside a tug: big fenders, because tugs have high, hard rubbing strakes and move with their own propellers.

The ACP minimum is four fenders; most boats use several times that. See line handlers, lines and fenders.

The real risks

• Turbulence when locking up pushes a raft sideways; outside line handlers must take in slack steadily.
• Propeller wash from the ship ahead as it leaves the chamber.
• Rig contact between rafted sailboats, or with the wall in a sidewall lockage.
• Fittings tearing out under load. The ACP warns cleats and chocks will be under heavy strain.
• Engine failure in the centre boat. Discuss in advance who takes over steering.

For the full sequence of the day see what transit day looks like.

Your practical starting checklist

1. Decide which lockage types you will accept and declare them in ASEM.
2. Fender for centre chamber, nested and sidewall: both sides, tyres plus your own fenders.
3. Check all four corner cleats and fairleads; on a catamaran, plan where each handler stands.
4. Before entering a lock rafted, agree with the other skippers who drives and who handles lines.
5. Stagger masts and double up fenders between hulls.
6. Follow the advisor's instructions and keep engines ready on every boat in the raft.

Frequently asked questions

The next question to answer

The full step-by-step, from ASEM to the Pacific. Read How to transit the Panama Canal in a yacht.

Four handlers, four 125-ft lines, enough fenders. Read Line handlers, lines and fenders.

Advisor, locks, Gatún Lake and the Cut, in order. Read What transit day looks like.

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.

• ACP: Procedures for securing a handline transit, form 4352-I, V.08-2026 (requirements, ASEM/VUMPA steps, charges table, transit hours, lockage types) ↗
• ACP: Maritime Services Tariffs, February 2026 (small-vessel tolls 1010.0910–0940 effective 1 Jan 2025; TVI 1080.RIN1; security 1081.RSE1; scheduling 1050.IPB1; delay 1060.IPD2; launch 1800.ILA1) ↗
• ACP: The Panama Canal (length ~80 km, Gatún Lake 26 m above sea level, Culebra Cut 13.7 km) ↗
• Noonsite: Panama Canal transit guide for small craft, updated Aug 2025 (secondary) ↗