Any last minute tidbits?

Well, I have been learning from you guys for months and it is about that time - wheels up Tuesday. Even though we are first time bareboaters, I feel reasonably prepared and in the right mindset to relax and enjoy. Does anyone have any more specific tricks or tips they are willing to share. For example, when we are in St. John, I don't like the inconvenience of buying ice daily for the cooler. Therefore, to supplement the villa ice maker, I keep all of our happy hour cups, rinse them out quickly, fill them and put them in the freezer over night. That might not work on this trip, but it works beautifully on land for cooler ice blocks.

Anything that has an impact on your enjoyment would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Steve

Pack some patience, let the weather dictate whether the schedule is cast in stone or written in sand. We've seen folks beat up themselves and their boats because they felt they "HAVE" to be at X today, because that's what we planned on!! A lot of folks try and pack 8 or 9 days into a 7 day vacation and are nackered by the end of their trip.
Relax, enjoy, breathe!

Can someone teach me patience? My parents failed.

Take your gallons of water and put them in the freezer until solid, then transfer them to your cooler as needed. They keep the beers cold and you have ice cold water if you want it.

We'll be on a Voyage 500 Cat "Spellbound" a couple days after you. If you see us out and about, stop on by. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

That is a beautiful thing if you are blessed with a boat freezer that will reasonably freeze warm water? Not all boats are create equal. One issue with this practice is the risk that the basic rule that "only the Admiral who has taken the leadership tasks in the galley ever opens or goes in the boat freezer" could be breached.

Ice Management is a learned talent on a boat. First and foremost never add hot beer or drinks to any cooler except when the cooler is being packed with new hard ice. Place the coolest cans of drinks in the cooler and pack that cooler with clean, hard ice and no water. Drain that cooler as the ice melts. Add no new drinks until the next ice run is complete. When possible appoint a skilled ice man as the dinghy captain and cooler manager. Dinghy Captain should enjoy exploring to get ice and have the sole task during any engine operation to keep the dinghy painter clear and the dinghy clear of any exhaust of water discharge. When the dinghy moves the dinghy captain runs the clean and dry dinghy once his guests have boarded. Some young people can make great Dinghy Captains. Some adults should never be trusted with the duty and freedom that comes with "owning" the dinghy and ice for the group. The Dinghy Captains duties start at checkout to make sure they know everything about the dinghy and your boats dinghy starts reliably.

Last always stay out of Mom's boat refrigerator and freezer. Unless you are fully prepared to run the galley stay out of the galley. That rule triple applies to rhum drinkers playing with blenders.

what the hell are you talking about, it's ice

Some years ago, the Fat Virgin , just out of Gun Greek towards Biras, had the best icehouse in all of North Sound.

Biggest bags of cube ice and also block ice, which is a rare bird when cruising the BVI.

If you truly do stay in North Sound for 3 nights, check it all out.

We make sure we charter boats with good freezers, hence my post and we are way less regimented than your crap. I don't sail with my Mom, but it sounds like you may have Mommy issues with your spouse, and somehow you went on a tangent about dinghies. You truly are senile, so c'mon casailor come defend his b.s. once again.

So bizarre <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

There is an old saying, "Opinions are like @$$holes; everybody has one."

And then there are people who think you are an @$$hole because the two of you disagree on a topic.

And then there are people who are just @$$holes.

The moderators on this board seem to be a little less involved in maintaining a level of civility on TTOL of late.

Well, that went south fast.
What was Steve74 thinking.
Bringing up a topic as controversial as Ice!
Bet he won't make that mistake again.

Mike
Sometimes sarcasm doesn't translate well

This one is over.