[Pamlicotraveler]

Well it looks like our batteries aren't gonna make it to the summer when I will be in the US and had planned to replace them. Now they are losing there ability to hold a charge. (AGM, 31T)

Does anybody have an idea where the cheapest spot to buy batteries would be for an American? In Guadeloupe now which is French, but I am wondering if making it to the US Virgin Islands will mean a better price.

 

[Zanshin]

I just bought 4x 220Ah 8D sealed Vetus batteries at Budget Marine in St. Martin; as a tax-free port it is cheaper than elsewhere in the Caribbean. Guadeloupe/Martinique are essentially EU prices minus the 19% V.A.T. but plus a 19% transport charge . Use The Caribbean's Leading Chandlery - Budget Marine and Island Water World | Caribbean Chandlery | Marine Parts for comparative pricing.

I think that you will best be served buying the batteries in the USA.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

I just bought 3 x 165 amp hour batts in St Martin at Budget Marine.

Freezer now works! Yay!

 

[Pamlicotraveler]

2 St. Martins.....we are going to check Antigua too, since we're closer, but St. Martin may be it. Thanks guys

 

[Zanshin]

All of the boat parts that I've bought in Antigua have been significantly more expensive than anywhere else that I've looked in the Caribbean, as they do have import duties to pay. Purchasing in the USA and then using a freight consolidator like Tropical Shipping or Four Star Cargo (both take the cargo on in Florida) to ship to St. Martin is a viable option.

 

[FarCry]

St Martin will probably be the least expensive but you did specifically ask about the USVI option. There is a Budget Marine here but the prices are always higher than the one in St Martin. The other local option I would suggest is Caribbean Battery Caribbean Battery on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 18B Lindberg Bay

 

[chuck5499]

We got a whale of a deal on Trojans in the DR at Boca Chica at a Walmart type store. They were new and below what we could have gotten anywhere else. I do not remember the name of the store but was surprised that they had them.

 

[Donna_F]

...

Does anybody have an idea where the cheapest spot to buy batteries would be for an American? In Guadeloupe now which is French, but I am wondering if making it to the US Virgin Islands will mean a better price.

I'm not being snarky, but how does being American (or not) change the price?

 

[TQA]

Buy them in Florida at discount [ tax free ] and get them shipped down with Tropical as ' spares for yacht in transit '.

They worked out slightly cheaper but a key factor for me was that I was able to ensure I was getting 'new stock' and not batteries that had been sitting around fully discharged for months.

I bought my current set of Trojans T 105s this way in Grenada.

 

[chuck5499]

When we bought our Trojans in Boca Chica I was worried about how long they had been sitting so I took the numbers and went on the internet and found they were only a couple of months old.
You do need to check on their age.

 

[capta]

I believe the cheapest place in the Eastern Caribbean to buy batteries on the spot, is Puerto Rico. It is possible they even manufacture them there, but I don't know for sure. Freight charges are the cheapest in the Caribbean to there so US batteries would be cheapest. St Thomas is a duty free port, so there's no tax or duty there either. Freight to St. T. is still less than St. Martin, so you should save there as well.
If you really want them cheap and don't mind waiting a few weeks, then as mentioned, purchase them in Florida or the tri-state area and put on a Tropical ship to St. Thomas. You will need to have someone crate (a freight forwarder) them and arrange shipping as LCL cargo which is incredibly cheap, just time consuming.
We had to buy a battery in Grenada at an outrageous price, but it was a better at any price than lose the boat, situation.

 

[Pamlicotraveler]

Thanks for he suggestions. We are going to St. Maarten where we will get Duracell Marine AGMs. The quoted price of $295 per, all taxes included, is still way higher than my favorite marine source SAMs Club, where they were $175 or so. Quotes from Antigua were much higher.

DRferron...the question was regarding total price after any tariffs/taxes. A US vessel may have different treatment in PR or USVI.

 

[Donna_F]

...

DRferron...the question was regarding total price after any tariffs/taxes. A US vessel may have different treatment in PR or USVI.

Thanks very much.

 

[Zanshin]

Pamlicotraveller - I suggest that you buy the batteries at a Sam's club in Miami and have them trucked to the 4-Star Cargo or Tropical Shipping building there; that shouldn't cost much and perhaps Sam's Club delivers. Then have them shipped to St. Martin via sea freight, which will take at most 7 days. I just got a quote for 4 "4D" batteries at 129Lbs per battery shipped from FLA to SXM for a grand total of US$58.88 (that's for all of them, not per battery!). You would have to pick them up at the warehouse in Philipsburg yourself.

 

[Pamlicotraveler]

Zanshin - that sounds like a good plan, but certainly involves more logistics and maybe phone calls and emails to make it all fall in line. I think I'm lazy, and may just pay up a little in St. Maarten . Thanks.

 

[FarCry]

Why not just get the batteries at one of the Sam's Clubs on Puerto Rico and skip and the shipping and logistics?

 

[tomburland]

Pamlicotraveller - I suggest that you buy the batteries at a Sam's club in Miami and have them trucked to the 4-Star Cargo or Tropical Shipping building there; that shouldn't cost much and perhaps Sam's Club delivers. Then have them shipped to St. Martin via sea freight, which will take at most 7 days. I just got a quote for 4 "4D" batteries at 129Lbs per battery shipped from FLA to SXM for a grand total of US$58.88 (that's for all of them, not per battery!). You would have to pick them up at the warehouse in Philipsburg yourself.

How many Ah was the batteries and do you have the contact for Tropical Shipping pls ?

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

Tropical Shipping is a great company!

https://www.tropical.com/

Remember this thread is 7 years old so prices will be different.