Ice

An item you just take for granted in a house but becomes such a big deal in the Caribbean on a boat. We have a fridge /freezer onboard Orion but the freezer never gets cold enough to produce ice as we never have enough battery power to keep the unit on 24/7. However, when you pour that glass of rum and coke, gin and tonic, malibu and diet coke (don't judge me!) - there is nothing better than a dozen ice cubes to accompany that sundowner, especially after a 30+ degree day toiling on the boat.

Enterprising businesses on the waterfront have big ice machines outside, selling bags of ice for $2. When we feel like treating ourselves we shall pick up a bag and quickly dinghy back to the boat, attack it with an ice pick to shape it so it will fit in our freezer section. It will last almost 2 evenings before it is completely melted.

Now if we go to a catamaran say and they have an ice machine onboard, woooow that is just absolute luxury and we do a little dance, excited at the prospect of having ice in our drinks the whole night. Dylan has taken to eating the ice when he doesn't want a drink, just to make sure he gets his money's worth prior to it being reduced to a puddle and finding its way out of our fridge and into the bilge.