Affordable Freezer Aboard (Because Ice Cream Matters).
We loved our freestanding freezer aboard. It was not “marine”. It did not cost a fortune. It made ice cream possible.
What more can you wish for!
We did not have a freezer on our first boat (our monohull). With three kids aboard, going out for ice-cream, meant the ice cream had to be consumed ASAP.
Noone complained.
When we switched to a catamaran, we all decided it was time for a free-standing freezer.
Our Freezer Aboard
Whynter FM-85G 85 Quart Portable Fridge/ Freezer
I spent hours researching marine freezers.
Especially because many of our boat-friends had fancy ones.
But we ended up with this Whynter FM-85G, and used it all the time.
On 12v, no inverter needed.
We decided to buy the larger one, and it doubled as a seat and dry storage as well. I think the kids sat on it more than they sat on the couch.
The freezer never moved during passages. Some were quite rocky and bumpy. It was heavy enough, and there was not much space aboard anyway.
I ordered ours on Amazon, so I am including a link to check the current price there.
Where to put it.
Definitely inside.
This freezer is not meant to be in the cockpit (although we did have friends who kept theirs outside in a covered cockpit).
Still, it is not a marine-rated fridge/freezer, so we decided to keep it inside and not worry about rust and occasional saltwater washes.
When kept inside, pick a spot, where even if the boat tilts, it will not slide around.
Ours never moved from its position right by the window, in the salon.
How to run it cheaply.
A bit ugly, I know. But so what?
We ran the 12v cable on the floor, and up into the 12v outlet, by securing it with blue masking tape.
Blue tape was my number 1 tool for any quick job aboard, by the way. I might just do a separate post on the incredible variety of uses for blue tape.
Since we did not have much solar power (800 watts), we only ran it on 12v. It worked beautifully and kept the food inside plenty frozen, even with some occasional cloudy days.
Tip: Avoid the fast-freeze option. It takes a lot of power and the 12v seem not
More uses for a freezer aboard.
We actually never stored store-bought ice-cream in the freezer.
Our trips to the grocery store were half-day adventures, so ice-cream would melt before it arrived aboard.
We made our own frozen treats on the boat, and those lived in the freezer.
We also used the freezer for:
- Extra seat – it was positioned right next to the table.
- Dry grains storage – when we left the boat alone for a few months.
- Extra fridge – it could easily be the designated drinks fridge.
- Designated fish and meat freezer – contains the smell of fish from spreading around everything else in the fridge.
Marine Freezers
Here are a few other fridge/freezers I researched, while looking for ours.
Unlike ours, these are marine-grade, made with salt-water environment in mind and can be kept in the cockpit. Although our friends still preferred them inside.
Here is a brand, which was a favorite for many fellow boaters.
Note – the links are for two different sizes, keep that in mind, when searching. Both are smaller than the one we had aboard. And we filled ours to the top!
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12 Safety Gear Essentials for the High Seas.
10 Most Reliable Sailing Life Jackets (Adults and Kids)
27 Important Tools for Boaters
