One of the difficulties of cruising is lugging cases of soda (i.e. Coke, Pepsi, etc.) down to the boat and finding storage for all the cans/bottles.
A great alternative is Sodastream (www.sodastreamusa.com). Sodastream is a shoebox-sized dispenser with a CO2 cartridge that injects the fizz into various flavors of soda or pop. The flavor is provided via a 16.9 fl. oz (500 ml) bottle of concentrate that makes 50 servings. You typically store several special SodaStream (carbonating) plastic bottles in your fridge until you are ready to mix up 32 ounces of drink. Many major brands, such as Coke, Dr. Pepper, Crystal Light are available as concentrates, along with fruit juice concentrates you can buy in many Caribbean grocery stores.
To make a drink you (great instructions at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Soda-in-a-SodaStream-Machine):
If you are in the US or other major metropolitan areas, you can easily exchange your CO2 bottles at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Costco or other stores. The problem for cruisers, and it is a huge problem, is that you cannot legally bring the CO2 cartridges on an airplane or ship them. And with the exception of Puerto Rico, the C02 cartriges are impossible to find in the Caribbean.
Recently an email on a cruisers net said you could get them refilled in St. Martin, which is true. The only issue is getting the exact directions to the vendor and the issue of what types of bottles they will refill. So here is the skinny.
The vendor is Caribbean Industrial Gases, which is located between Grand Case and Cul de Sac (closer to Grand Case) on the French side of St. Martin. When driving east on the main road (which runs just south of Grand Case Airport) you will see a round-about ahead. You turn left unto an unmarked dirt road just before the round-about (or circle the roundabout so you are heading back from where to came). Drive a short distance to the end, where on the right you will see a somewhat rustic business with large gas tanks outside.
They speak excellent English are actually great to deal with (once you find it). They charge US$ 5.00 to refill the standard 14.5 oz bottles and $10 for the 33 oz bottles.
The second trick is knowing whether your bottle can be refilled or not. The key is the little brass button on the very top of the bottle. Bottles with the very small brass button (slighlty larger than a pin head) can be refilled. Those with the larger brass button can not be refilled.
If anyone knows were to purchase just the valve/head piece, I'd love to know since I have one tank with the larger valve that can not be refilled.
And if anyone knows of other industrial gas companies on other islands, please let me know and I'll add them to this page.
A great alternative is Sodastream (www.sodastreamusa.com). Sodastream is a shoebox-sized dispenser with a CO2 cartridge that injects the fizz into various flavors of soda or pop. The flavor is provided via a 16.9 fl. oz (500 ml) bottle of concentrate that makes 50 servings. You typically store several special SodaStream (carbonating) plastic bottles in your fridge until you are ready to mix up 32 ounces of drink. Many major brands, such as Coke, Dr. Pepper, Crystal Light are available as concentrates, along with fruit juice concentrates you can buy in many Caribbean grocery stores.
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| Various styles of SodaStream dispensers. |
To make a drink you (great instructions at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Soda-in-a-SodaStream-Machine):
- Remove cap from carbonating (storage) bottle (that is full of water) and screw into underside of top of dispenser unit (you need to screw it in at a slight angle).
- Push the top of the unit 2 to 3 times to carbonate. You will hear a "whoosh" noise each time.
- Unscrew the bottle.
- Pour your favorite concentrate in, replace the cap, and then gently mix the concentrate.
If you are in the US or other major metropolitan areas, you can easily exchange your CO2 bottles at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Costco or other stores. The problem for cruisers, and it is a huge problem, is that you cannot legally bring the CO2 cartridges on an airplane or ship them. And with the exception of Puerto Rico, the C02 cartriges are impossible to find in the Caribbean.
Recently an email on a cruisers net said you could get them refilled in St. Martin, which is true. The only issue is getting the exact directions to the vendor and the issue of what types of bottles they will refill. So here is the skinny.
The vendor is Caribbean Industrial Gases, which is located between Grand Case and Cul de Sac (closer to Grand Case) on the French side of St. Martin. When driving east on the main road (which runs just south of Grand Case Airport) you will see a round-about ahead. You turn left unto an unmarked dirt road just before the round-about (or circle the roundabout so you are heading back from where to came). Drive a short distance to the end, where on the right you will see a somewhat rustic business with large gas tanks outside.
 |
| Please note dialing instructions for various phones. If you have a US phone, you need to dial 011 first. |
They speak excellent English are actually great to deal with (once you find it). They charge US$ 5.00 to refill the standard 14.5 oz bottles and $10 for the 33 oz bottles.
 |
| Valve on the left is refillable. Larger valve on right can not be refilled. |
If anyone knows were to purchase just the valve/head piece, I'd love to know since I have one tank with the larger valve that can not be refilled.
And if anyone knows of other industrial gas companies on other islands, please let me know and I'll add them to this page.
Be aware eve aware Caribbean Industrial Gases is no longer at this address and may have closed
ReplyDeleteA great alternative is Sodastream (www.sodastreamusa.com). Sodastream is a shoebox-sized dispenser with a CO2 cartridge that injects the ... ssodastreamer.blogspot.de
ReplyDeleteA great alternative is Sodastream (www.sodastreamusa.com). Sodastream is a shoebox-sized dispenser with a CO2 cartridge that injects the ... esodastreamer.blogspot.de
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