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Cooler question #155950
03/03/2018 03:51 PM
03/03/2018 03:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
J
jpfitzy7 Offline OP
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jpfitzy7  Offline OP
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J
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
Heading down the end of April and bringing a cooler of frozen meat and other frozen items. The meat will be vaccum sealed. We will need it to remain frozen, cold for about 12 hours. What is the best method? Anything other than dry ice?


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
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Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #155957
03/03/2018 04:52 PM
03/03/2018 04:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 165
Ocala Florida
connie Offline
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connie  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 165
Ocala Florida
We use "Horizon" freezer bags. They work very well!!!! Have had to Overnight in SJU and they were fine.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #155958
03/03/2018 05:06 PM
03/03/2018 05:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 362
S/V Event Horizon
FRANKIE2 Offline
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FRANKIE2  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 362
S/V Event Horizon
Polar bear soft coolers are very good. No dry ice, no ice. Freeze filled cooler in chest freezer about a week prior to trip.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #155976
03/03/2018 11:29 PM
03/03/2018 11:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
D
Deepcut Offline
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Deepcut  Offline
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D
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
1) PolarBear cooler (24 can size).
2) Vac pack(after seasoning meat).
3)Fully fill cooler (Freezing bag 24hours or more is beneficial too). Have "extra" small amounts of sausage or other "extra" frozen stuff to pack every bit of bag.
4) Do Not open "to check" enroute
5) After 12 hours door to boat, still frozen even without prefreezing cooler.
6) If more than 12 hours , insert small amount of dry ice (5 pounds allowed per bag...maybe per passenger). I have travelled with 2 bags, but only 1 per passenger and no problems. Using Dry Ice of 3 pounds, we went 24 hours door to boat and arrived frozen solid.


Wes
s/v Sea Tiger (2022 Lagoon 46)
www.BareBoatBVI.com

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #155985
03/04/2018 09:35 AM
03/04/2018 09:35 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
S
steve74 Offline
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steve74  Offline
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S
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
Last year, we combined frozen vacuum sealed meat with some cold (non-frozen) items like bagged green beans and cheese. We have a Polar Bear 24 and flew through SJU, so it was about 14 hours from home to boat. We did not use dry ice and our meats were still frozen solid when we arrived and the veggies and cheese were fine. With this said, we didn't have a lot of non-frozen items.

Re: Cooler question [Re: steve74] #156007
03/04/2018 12:58 PM
03/04/2018 12:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Offline
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RickinAtlanta  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
Polar Bear without a doubt!

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156015
03/04/2018 02:03 PM
03/04/2018 02:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
J
jpfitzy7 Offline OP
Traveler
jpfitzy7  Offline OP
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J
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
Thanks for the info. I'm sensing a trend with the responses. Guess it's time to purchase a polar bear.


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156299
03/07/2018 09:33 PM
03/07/2018 09:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 22
W
WineFusion Offline
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WineFusion  Offline
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W
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 22
No, just a regular cooler and dry ice is fine. Tape the top of the cooler shut. It will hold for days. I always bring an old cooler that I can just leave. Last year I actually just used an old rolling bag I didnt want anymore. Dry ice and everything was still frozen solid 14 hours later. Don't buy anything expensive to take. You dont need it.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156302
03/07/2018 09:57 PM
03/07/2018 09:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
S
steve74 Offline
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steve74  Offline
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S
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
Like many things, you will hear varying opinions on this. We use our Polar Bear 24 on the trip every day. We enjoy buying drinks in the beach bars, but we also pack our cooler and leave it in the dinghy to save some money on food and drinks. Having a nice "mobile" cooler can benefit you on the trip as well as for transporting meat on the way down.

Re: Cooler question [Re: steve74] #156333
03/08/2018 11:09 AM
03/08/2018 11:09 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Offline
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RickinAtlanta  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
Definitely go with a Polar Bear and NO need for dry ice as frozen vacuum sealed food will not even begin to thaw for well over 12 hours based on our experience. You can also take the Polar Bear on as a carryon so no concerns over it becoming "lost". You can then use it to carry other non perishable items on your return trip home.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156340
03/08/2018 12:14 PM
03/08/2018 12:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
J
jpfitzy7 Offline OP
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jpfitzy7  Offline OP
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J
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
Thanks everyone! The polar bear has been ordered


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156349
03/08/2018 12:54 PM
03/08/2018 12:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Offline
Traveler
RickinAtlanta  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
You'll be very pleased.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156353
03/08/2018 01:14 PM
03/08/2018 01:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 108
JlarsBVI Offline
Traveler
JlarsBVI  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 108
We bring a polar bear cooler down every trip and never have any problems. We then use it to store ice while on the boat and it keep for a long time.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156357
03/08/2018 01:48 PM
03/08/2018 01:48 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
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CottageGirl  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
Another vote for the Polar Bear 24. Use ours on every trip. After you've emptied things into your fridge/freezer onboard, it makes a great place to store liquor bottles while you're underway. :-)

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156358
03/08/2018 01:50 PM
03/08/2018 01:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
J
jpfitzy7 Offline OP
Traveler
jpfitzy7  Offline OP
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J
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
We went with the H2O model, 24 can.


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156365
03/08/2018 03:39 PM
03/08/2018 03:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
cwoody Offline
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cwoody  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
I used the eclipse backpack (by Polar Bear) as carry-on last year to bring down 4 meals worth of frozen meats for 8 people. No room for extra ice!
Pulled everything out of the freezer at 4 am and packed on the morning we left.
Pulled everything out of the cooler at 6 am the request of TSA ... repacked....
Pulled everything out of cooler on board at CYOA at 2 pm. Everything still frozen solid. grin

Last edited by cwoody; 03/08/2018 03:41 PM.

Chuck W.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156379
03/08/2018 05:21 PM
03/08/2018 05:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 251
Okla
ScurvyD Offline
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ScurvyD  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 251
Okla
Another vote for the Polar Bear 24. We didn't need any dry ice, and used it all week long for beer on the beach. There is a thread here somewhere that you will find a code to get half off the cooler. Money you save on expensive beers will pay for it easily.


I'd like to be a jelly fish, cause jelly fish don't pay rent.
Re: Cooler question [Re: ScurvyD] #156388
03/08/2018 08:03 PM
03/08/2018 08:03 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
jphart Offline
Traveler
jphart  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
I bought the 24 for Christmas last year and the 12 pack for Christmas this year. Both on a two for one deal so I got one free and gave one for a present. Sign up to get your own account and you will get emails like this one I recently received. Good thru 31March2018

10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER
Coupon Code: SPRINGBREAK2018


JPH
I spent my money on booze, broads, and boats...the rest I wasted.
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156407
03/09/2018 01:22 AM
03/09/2018 01:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
North Oregon Coast
SoggyDollarScott Offline
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SoggyDollarScott  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
North Oregon Coast
Polar Bear with dry ice. I travel from Portland Oregon with 5 lb. cans of frozen Dungeness Crab, and when I finally get there, it’s still frozen solid.

Re: Cooler question [Re: SoggyDollarScott] #156419
03/09/2018 09:56 AM
03/09/2018 09:56 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Offline
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RickinAtlanta  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
If your less than a 12 - 14 hour travel time from the BVI's there's no need for dry ice. I've never used dry ice but I believe there are some airline restrictions on it??

Re: Cooler question [Re: RickinAtlanta] #156543
03/11/2018 10:14 AM
03/11/2018 10:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Bullhead City, Az
localbouy1949 Offline
Traveler
localbouy1949  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Bullhead City, Az
For 5 trips now we've used the cooler Omaha Steaks send stuff in . packed it just before leaving no dry ice and no problem .

Re: Cooler question [Re: SoggyDollarScott] #156572
03/11/2018 03:04 PM
03/11/2018 03:04 PM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Offline
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jazzgal  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
I didn't realize there was another Oregonian on these forums! Taking Dungeness to the Caribbean is absolutely decadent - bravo!


[Linked Image]
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156678
03/13/2018 10:39 AM
03/13/2018 10:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
capndar Offline
Traveler
capndar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
Polar Bear - btw TSA agent recently told me that have been instructed to inspect ALL food.


Capndar
Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing
3rd generation sailor
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156694
03/13/2018 12:33 PM
03/13/2018 12:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
J
jpfitzy7 Offline OP
Traveler
jpfitzy7  Offline OP
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J
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 113
What is the process for tsa to inspect the food?


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - beer in hand - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156704
03/13/2018 01:49 PM
03/13/2018 01:49 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
tradewinds Offline
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tradewinds  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
Knowing them, they'll probably empty the cooler.

Re: Cooler question [Re: jpfitzy7] #156776
03/14/2018 12:43 PM
03/14/2018 12:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
capndar Offline
Traveler
capndar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
They were 'kind' enough to make me un zip the cooler and they rummaged around briefly, They then swiped the handles for residue.


Capndar
Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing
3rd generation sailor

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