The costs are not overwhelming. less than $2000, including the costs of an agent if you so desire. We have transited 3 times--1983, 1986, 1996. Each time we did our own leg work and enjoyed it. We even ended up in the office of the chief pilot one time, and he arranged for us to transit the next day, and complete the transit from the last lock to Balboa Yacht Club after dropping off our advisor. We have never had to stay overnight in the canal. You do have to have four 125 foot dock lines (I used two 400 foot anchor rodes which were sized appropriately for our boat. We have done both center lock and along side a tug. I would avoid side wall if at all possible. Although center lock is desirable, on the first transit, we had a jerk rafted on one side of us, who did not listen to his advisor, kept his engine in gear, and managed to foul one of our lines (the center boat does all of the line tending if boats are rafted)--that lead to some excitement when we had got about 30 feet of slack in the line as we were up locking. The vessel has to be "admeasured". It is a measure of volume basically with is done with a tape measure--not weight. The measurement is expressed in tonnage. The admeasurer also checks for adequate chocks, and cleats. We had a sail boat which had two windlasses forward and heavy duty cockpit winches aft, so we used these for taking up or letting out line. Power boats will just use the cleats. A 44 foot boat probably will be OK with 5/8" lines--we used 1' lines for a 62 footer. You also need four line handlers--we always found other boaters who wanted to do the canal first before they did it in their own boat, or we had friends fly down. You can hire line handlers and rent the lines. You also can rent tires to protect the hull. We found that normal fenders were fine for the side tie to the tug. But they would not be for side wall. The actual time of transit is about 8 to 10 hours. But often yachts have to stay overnight. This means putting up the "crew". The advisor goes home for the night. You also have to provide food for the crew and advisor. Pilots are reserved for super yachts and larger ships. Our advisors were in training to become pilots. They all had gone to one of the world's major maritime colleges, and had unlimited Tonnage masters licenses for all oceans, with towing endorsements. Nice people! In the last few years there has been some delay transiting from Caribbean to Pacific--less the other way. It is a great experience. Be sure that you have the fuel range if you are going up the coast. The question would be central America. Currently the political situation is reasonably stable, but at times there have been places you don't want to go. I don't know where you are headed, but if you are going up the Baja Coast, it can be a thrash into wind and waves. I have been up and down that coast over a dozen times--and only a couple of times it has been calm for the entire run. Most of the time, you are beating into 20 to 30 knots of breeze and seas which are up to 10 + feet. Seven Seas Cruising Association is a good resource for current cruising information. They have become "Trawler friendly" recently. Good luck and keep us informed of your plans and experience. Bob Austin