Trawler Liveaboard Tips - Add Freezer Space

One of the issues that used to always comes up aboard the Patricia Ann was cold storage; specifically freezer storage space. Typical 40 - 43' class used trawlers are only provided with a built in Norcold refrigerator/freezer. Larger trawlers, like a 44 DeFever, are often built with built-in freezers.

And the freezer space in a Norcold is much smaller than those found in your household variety. So storing away frozen meats and vegetables in quantities needed for long cruises was an issue.


I contemplated installing a freezer under the dinette but decided that it would be to much of a project. Instead, we solved the problem by finding a stand alone freezer available at leading marine dealers. It's a little larger than a 48 qt. cooler, actually it is 112 qts. It also has a small refrigeration compartment where we store 24 canned cokes etc.

You can operate it by either AC or DC power. I have it connected to an inverter on the back deck.

It holds a lot of frozen foods for us so a trip one a month to Sams Club is worthwhile. And when we get out for a cruise, we have what we need to eat in style.

So if you are looking for that used trawler and have thought about freezer space, you can easily get it after you find her.