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Cooler provisioning question

Posted By: Schwendy

Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 04:58 PM

We will be on a tight budget so I'm thinking of bringing meat down in a cooler this trip. I know a lot of you do that but this is a first for me. What type of cooler do you use? Styrofoam seems too flimsy. I have an old plastic, bulky Rubbermaid cooler I could just leave there. Two pilots traveling with me so they can take free checked luggage. How do you keep it from coming open? Duct tape? What if customs/airport wants to inspect? I was thinking of some inexpensive nylon webbing straps that buckle or ratchet down. Does everyone use dry ice or ice packs?

For the rest of our food I've used Bobby's in the past on land based trips and they were great. I'll be chartering out of Moorings in RT so is the current recommendation Riteway or One Mart? Drinks/alcohol Ticos or Caribbean Cellars?

Last question! I want to fish and will be bringing a trolling rod. Do these boats (Moorings Leopard 43 Power Cat) have a rod holder? Can I rent one from Moorings or should I buy a cheap one or is there another method? Bringing some paracord to tie it so it doesn't go overboard. Thanks!
Posted By: IWIWSE

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 05:47 PM

We use a Polar Bear backpack cooler
and it seems to be head and shoulders
better than others. Plus, they offer a
TTOL discount.
We use dry ice the night before and
transfer all (except any remaining dry ice)
to the Polar Bear just before
heading to the airport.
Completely fill all air space with food
or something and don't open the cooler
for any reason other than a requirement
by TSA.
Stuff will arrive frozen rock hard.

Mike
Posted By: StormJib

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 06:12 PM

No need for any dry ice. Freeze it all rock hard in your own freezer. Zip lock anything that might leak. Fill all the space with rock hard frozen foods just before you leave for the airport. Buy extra inexpensive stuff for filling space. Smoked sausage, frozen corn, hot dogs stuff that you can always use for your family at home or on the boat with this crew. We always leave the house with one cooler of frozen stuff we want to have. An igloo duct taped works for us with a small roll thrown in the igloo incase it must be retaped. A taped igloo full of fully frozen material will last for many days. No ice, no dry ice, always full, everything goes in frozen. You can never have too many appetizers and bits for grilling on a boat. It was once easy to sell the empty igloo on the dock when you returned for a profit. We use the igloo for ice during many trips. The empty igloo is great to stuff the wet and dirtiest stuff in for the return trip home.
Posted By: Schwendy

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 06:20 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I have a Polar soft cooler and love it but it's too small. Don't want to buy another right now and wouldn't care about leaving my old hard plastic cooler. I was thinking of skipping the dry ice and taking my chances on everything being frozen when I put it in. My local dry ice co. website says not to store it in an air tight container as the released co2 gas can cause it to explode. Long term storage but can't imagine just for travel or I'd think the airlines would have a major problem with that.
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 06:26 PM

You're already spending a fair amount for this vacation so spring for a Polar Bear!! DO NOT try a Styrofoam/plastic cooler as you'll waste enough in food to have easily paid for a Polar Bear. We take our 24 pack with steaks, fish, bolognaise sauce that I vacuum seal then freeze. Never any need for ice of any sort and don't even attempt to fill up the 1/3 empty space with any type filler and it always gets to our villa after a 12 hour travel day frozen solid! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Schwendy

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 06:52 PM

That's the size I have. Didn't want to buy the 48 can size so maybe I can squeeze into the 24. Do you check it or carry it on? I've carried mine on with clothes in it before but do they allow carry on full of frozen food?
Posted By: StormJib

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 06:56 PM

We do not always make it door to door with all our luggage within 12 hours. Since 1979 we have been traveling the globe with 48 quart igloos fully loaded with frozen food sealed with duct tape without issue even when the door to door travel is 72 hours or more. Styrofoam will only survive if it is packed in a matching cardboard box meant for that purpose.
Posted By: CottageGirl

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 09:03 PM

We've done 2 trips in the last year with a polar bear cooler.
Vacuum seal all food and freeze it. Stuff the cooler full of frozen food. We use the 24 can cooler. You'd be surprised at the amount it holds.
We check it as luggage. Everything arrives frozen solid.
You may be charged a 10% tax at customs in Tortola on the value of what's in the cooler. I tell them it's $100, give them a $10 and we're on our way.
Use the cooler on the way home to stuff wet towels and clothes - or rum. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Orange_Burst

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 09:42 PM


We use a rolling cooler like this http://www.target.com/p/igloo-maxcold-40...page.vertical_1

Checked as a piece of luggage, it has kept meat frozen for 3 days before we get on the boat.

We freeze everything on a cookie sheet so it lays very flat and stacks together in one block. The night before our flight we load the cooler and add 10#'s of dry ice. The next morning, we remove the dry ice (too much of a hassle to fly with dry ice). It will stay frozen for 3-4 days.

This cooler is great on the boat, we don't go through near as much ice.

The reason we bring food is for ease in the galley. At home I pre-cook bacon and sausage (no messing with grease), make taco meat, marinate chicken breast, inject a pork tenderloin and make homemade spag. sauce. Makes meals for 8 a lot easier.
Posted By: Schwendy

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 10:50 PM

Anyone have pref of Riteway vs One Mart?
Posted By: Twalsh

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/06/2016 11:12 PM

Sounds like a good idea. We'll be heading down 3/25. Is there any paperwork involved prior to arriving the BVIs?
Posted By: Chriskal

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 01:26 AM

Quote
Schwendy said:
Anyone have pref of Riteway vs One Mart?


I used the Moorings provisioning service last trip and was very satisfied. The selection is solid, if not as vast as Riteway, and all of the items were put away on the boat when we boarded for our sleepaboard. Super convenient. Prices were comparable on most items.
Posted By: Mardi_Gras

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 01:37 AM

We too bring frozen food to the BVI. I've done it several ways, the best solution I have found is to use a 28 qt foam cooler, 1.5"wall thickness. I buy the cooler for $7.50 and a cardboard box for '$2.75 from a local packing and shipping store. I vacuum seal the frozen food and put it our deep freezer prior to the trip. I fill the cooler completely with the frozen food, no ice, no gel packs. I purchase a second box, same size as the cooler"s box and tape the two together. I put light dry food items in the box. When taped together the boxes are just under the 62 linear inches, the limit for checked luggage. I use the fiber reinforced tape to tape the boxes together, I then wrap both boxes with shrink wrap ( in case they get exposed to rain while being loaded onto the plane). They are almost always inspected by TSA. We typically have an overnight stay in SJU or STT on the way to the BVI. We don't open the box until we get to the boat. The frozen food has always been still frozen solid when we get to the boat. We give the cooler to the TMM employees who are appreciative.

Cheers,

Tony
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 02:37 AM

Quote
Schwendy said:
That's the size I have. Didn't want to buy the 48 can size so maybe I can squeeze into the 24. Do you check it or carry it on? I've carried mine on with clothes in it before but do they allow carry on full of frozen food?


ALWAYS carry on and never a problem! These other suggestions while they apparently work are WAY to much effort and time spent. Just buy the Polar Bear.
Posted By: YachtReprise

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 04:04 AM

Quote
Schwendy said:
Anyone have pref of Riteway vs One Mart?


Oh, Riteway...hands down! You'll see it quite clearly!
Posted By: WayneC

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 12:08 PM

All that and I saved $5.00
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 02:04 PM

Curious if TSA always inspects this shrink wrapped, duct taped, double cardboard boxed package how is it you "don't open the box until we get on the boat"? How about BVI Customs inspection as well?
Posted By: StormJib

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 06:22 PM

We have never experienced an open search on anything. The TSA has X-rays and computers that is expected to do much of the work for them. The TSA has tape and other tools to reseal items if they must. We also throw our own short roll of tape in as we close the lid. Like much in life many things come down to how you behave, appear, present, and carry yourself. Please note millions of pounds of seafood and beef are flying on our passenger planes each and everyday. Our igloos have traveled the globe since 1979 without issues right next to our dive gear.
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 06:39 PM

Quote
StormJib said:

We have never experienced an open search on anything. The TSA has X-rays and computers that is expected to do much of the work for them. The TSA has tape and other tools to reseal items if they must. We also throw our own short roll of tape in as we close the lid. Like much in life many things come down to how you behave, appear, present, and carry yourself. Please note millions of pounds of seafood and beef are flying on our passenger planes each and everyday. Our igloos have traveled the globe since 1979 without issues right next to our dive gear.


Quote
Please note millions of pounds of seafood and beef are flying on our passenger planes each and everyday.

I've always wondered just how those fishes got here from the ocean!

We're not talking about suspicious behavior here just inspecting a taped/sealed box. You are incredibly lucky sir in NEVER having anything open searched as every time we fly somewhere we find a TSA "note" in our checked luggage showing that TSA opened them. Maybe I should get rid of the fake beard, sunglasses, and neatly pressed dinner jacket from now on? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: StormJib

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 08:21 PM

Note: Every box from every commercial vendor will be fully taped and sealed. Any package not fully taped and sealed is subject to tampering. Ever heard that question did you pack this yourself? Taped, fully sealed, clearly labeled is always the way to go. Expect the package to be X-Rayed and computer scanned. The folks that have the right and need to open inspect have all the materials and tools to repackage and reseal perishables properly packed. There is no need for fear, worry, or innovation here.
Posted By: GlennA

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 08:36 PM

Well, they must find sumething fishy about my "fish" because I do not believe I have ever opened my cooler after a trip to or from the BVI without finding a TSA inspection notification slip inside. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 08:55 PM

Quote
StormJib said:
Note: Every box from every commercial vendor will be fully taped and sealed. Any package not fully taped and sealed is subject to tampering. Ever heard that question did you pack this yourself? Taped, fully sealed, clearly labeled is always the way to go. Expect the package to be X-Rayed and computer scanned. The folks that have the right and need to open inspect have all the materials and tools to repackage and reseal perishables properly packed. There is no need for fear, worry, or innovation here.


Thanks as my mind is now at ease and I can finally sleep tonight.
Posted By: HillsideView

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 09:00 PM

Don't stay up all night innovating Rick.
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/07/2016 09:24 PM

Quote
HillsideView said:
Don't stay up all night innovating Rick.

Used to but then I got married. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Mardi_Gras

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 02:02 AM

Hi Rick, just to clarify; we don't open the cooler until we get to the boat. I'm often tempted to open in at the hotel on the way down just to check on it but doing so would let cold air out and warm up the stuff in the cooler a bit. TSA does open it. Similar to Glenn's experience, I often find the TSA paperwork in the cooler letting me know they inspected it. They do a nice job taping it back up.

The BVI C&I folks do not open it, they just ask what is in it.

I have a Polar Bear 48 can and a couple of their back pack coolers, I agree they are great coolers.

Tony
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 02:18 PM

TSA is sneaky... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: capndar

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 02:47 PM

Agree with many comments - carry on, polar bear cooler, no ice needed - fill all air space. I have cooked spaghetti and frozen it to fill the spaces - It holds a lot of 'legal' water (ice) and is (cheap) disposable if it melts too much or gets crushed. I use the spaghetti (in baggies) across the top and around the sides as I have space. Linguini is another alternative... ;-)
Posted By: CottageGirl

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 04:03 PM

We fly out of a small airport where they don't have x-ray scanners for checked luggage (only carry-on; which is kinda funny as all bags get "pink tagged" on the flight to Detroit anyway). If you check a bag, they open it and hand inspect it. Last time we gave them our cooler to check and a young Delta agent unzipped it and was taking his time going through it. I wanted to say "hey buddy, hurry up! That stuff's gotta stay frozen for another 24 hrs!"
The customs agents in the BVI apparently have no interest in seeing what's inside - they just ask the value and wave you on to pay your tax.
Posted By: StormJib

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 05:24 PM

Here is a little more real world dribble for ya. No doubt soft luggage and carry on can have benefits. Using Polar Bear's own words their great products are the best soft sided cooler made. Using Polar Bears's own research some of their soft sided products will keep ice three days. Now to some science. Air only insulates when it is trapped and immobilized. In all our coolers and most of our homes trapped air is the actual insulator. All that fancy stuff is holding air captive creating a barrier from heat entering. Cold does not leave, heat or energy or energy invades the space. When you move, squish, and shift those soft sided coolers you are exchanging air. Each puff of air shortens that time on three(3) day Polar Bear. Stop the air from moving and your meat or drinks will stay cold much longer. The rigid sealed igloo with give you 5 days in a 90 degree oven 24/7... some of the larger ones 7 days in a 90 degree oven. Research shows ice will last in a standard igloo three days with the lid opened once every 8 hours or three times a day for three days. For all those reasons we travel with a duct taped sealed igloo. On big trips we check as much as we can and carry as little as we can making use of the entire industry built to tote bags and luggage door to door. We also travel with nothing we are not willing to lose. Over 4 decades two coolers have been delayed and the stuff was still frozen when the igloo caught up with us. Once in Canada and once in the Exumas. Life is not perfect... We gave up with carrying fishing gear. That stuff seems to always miss its planes and never find its way home.
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 06:22 PM

Quote
StormJib said:
Here is a little more real world dribble for ya. No doubt soft luggage and carry on can have benefits. Using Polar Bear's own words their great products are the best soft sided cooler made. Using Polar Bears's own research some of their soft sided products will keep ice three days. Now to some science. Air only insulates when it is trapped and immobilized. In all our coolers and most of our homes trapped air is the actual insulator. All that fancy stuff is holding air captive creating a barrier from heat entering. Cold does not leave, heat or energy or energy invades the space. When you move, squish, and shift those soft sided coolers you are exchanging air. Each puff of air shortens that time on three(3) day Polar Bear. Stop the air from moving and your meat or drinks will stay cold much longer. The rigid sealed igloo with give you 5 days in a 90 degree oven 24/7... some of the larger ones 7 days in a 90 degree oven. Research shows ice will last in a standard igloo three days with the lid opened once every 8 hours or three times a day for three days. For all those reasons we travel with a duct taped sealed igloo. On big trips we check as much as we can and carry as little as we can making use of the entire industry built to tote bags and luggage door to door. We also travel with nothing we are not willing to lose. Over 4 decades two coolers have been delayed and the stuff was still frozen when the igloo caught up with us. Once in Canada and once in the Exumas. Life is not perfect... We gave up with carrying fishing gear. That stuff seems to always miss its planes and never find its way home.


YOU said it right on!

"Here is a little more real world dribble for ya."
Posted By: FeelinNauti

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/08/2016 08:18 PM

Schwendy

We take 24 Polar Bear freeze our meats and carry on and put clothes on top and go. Still frozen even if we layover one night in STT before VIG.
Posted By: RickinAtlanta

Re: Cooler provisioning question - 03/10/2016 04:20 PM

I just received an e-mail from Polar Bear Coolers with a great 20% off sale!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER
Coupon Code: SPRINGBREAK
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