West Coast to East Coast Trip

It will probably be cheaper to ship it when you add up all the expenses, crew/food/fuel/repairs/marinas/canal transit/etc. etc. Just the fee for going through the canal is most likely going to be $12,000-15,000. This trip will really test all of the systems of the boat and if it is as old as it sounds you're going to have a million break downs. First, Yachts traveling West going East is always transited during daylight hours, East going West is always at night, it has been this way for at least the past decade. 125' will be paired up with a short freighter and some other yachts most likely.

If you have a good agent for the canal, I use Enrique Plumer, the only thing the canal does is come out and measure the boat and get the measurements. But it will take days to get them out to do that, and then schedule you in. You will need heavy and long lines for the canal and he may be able to supply them, you will also need probably 4 line handlers for that boat required to go through the canal. Will also need a proper meal for the pilot that will be on board your boat for the duration of the crossing or they'll provide one for an astronomical fee of around $750.

Aren't you going to have a Captain and crew for the boat once it gets to Alabama? If so it might be best to have them on salaray and them run the boat. You will have some weather delays and some long long voyages with nowhere to stop. You should have an engineer and lots of parts to fix things also.

Safer routes??? Look at a map, there is only one route pretty much. Yes it usually is rough and you're crossing long distances of open ocean. I have done a few canal crossings and have customers in Panama, but am probably not interested in doing this. You most likely are going to need a crew of 4 to do this and maintain a proper watch as you'll be doing overnights and running non stop for long distances. Crew cost alone will be several thousand per day. I'd be looking for a dinner party boat much closer to home.

It would most likely be much cheaper to have full time crew on salary than it would be for daily crew. Perhaps hire a few daily crew also.

You can, there's also a marina that can accomodate that boat. Shelter Cova marina it's on the North side of the Canal on the Atlantic side.

OP, I would quote Ensenada to Ft. Laud or WPB. Then run it up from there, that would be the logical way to do it. As a 50 year old dinner party boat, I would think A LOT of maintenance on items necessary on a passage like this would be deferred and are going to constantly bear their heads.