Last trip thru the Panama Canal was in 1996--about 8 1/2 years ago--there were certainly more boats then than in 1983--however the clearance itself was easier and faster--the only more difficult item was the boat inspection where it had to be taken to Flaminco Station--where as in the past the admeasurer came to the boat at the Balboa Yacht Club mooring. I also left Mexico once without clearance--because I had made an unscheduled stop and the Port Captain was on vacation for a week. I was told Manana two times--then noticed the schedule on the wall--he was not due back for 7 days. No problem clearing into Costa Rica--even though I had two more "crew members" who had lost their passports (rescued from a shipwreck--and the reason for the stop). The U S State Department had already notified the officials on Costa Rica that we had picked up the survivors (apparently someone was monitering HAM radio). Bob Austin