"You will lose the better part of 2 days trying to make it to Charlotte Amalie and back."

Not really, especially if you are already in St.John. Maho to Crown Bay is about 12 miles or 2 hours in a cat. Note, the taxi from the airport to Red Hook is over $30 plus extra people and luggage. The Crown Bay is most convenient, but the Lindburg pick up is very cool, especially to newbees.