George,
Out of all the people on this board from all over the world my first reply is from someone who lives a 150 miles away from me in Colorado. Too cool!!!
This will be our first extended cruise. We have done 2 weeks in the BVI many times. Not really cruising more like bar hopping in a sailboat. We have also cruised the Sea of Cortez a few times on my parents boat. That is more like real cruising. They have been cruising in Mexico for about a dozen years. There boat is a custom 33'. The original Latest Caper. Which is currently for sale in La Paz Mexico. Anyone interested can see it at
www.latestcaper.com
They plan on cruising around the world with us. We are partners in the 510. So between us we have some Knowledge. The first items we want are the dodger, auto pilot and solor panels. All the wind generators I have been around are noisy. Then after the first season we'll figure out what other goodies we want. Oh yeah we just had the boat surveyed just a couple minor issues and we allready have the cruising guides you reccomended.
So the question still stands. Where should we buy these items. BVI, USVI, PR, or buy them in the states and ship them down? Where is the best place to have the dodger built and auto pilot installed?
George what type of boat is Freight Train V and when are you going to be in the VI's? Our plan, in pencil of course, are 10/20 BVI, Thanksgiving in the Spanish VI's, Christmas in St. Martin then New years in St. Barts then back to work for a couple of months. Then meet the boat in Antig. The last week of March and Trinidad befor hurricane season. Anyway thats plan "A"