Not to be confused with the Reever, a custom motorcycle in Grand Theft Auto Online.
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The Reefer is a recurring boat featured in all Grand Theft Auto games in the series, between Grand Theft Auto III and The Ballad of Gay Tony (except for Grand Theft Auto Advance).
Design
3D Universe
Through the 3D Universe, the Reefer retains its general design as a large downeast New England style sport fishing vessel, taking inspiration from boats such as the Duffy 38’ and Wesmac 42’.
The Reefer is usually depicted with a long hull, tall hand rails on the bow and what looks like a small compartment on the front area of the deck, while the cabin quarters have numerous square-shaped windows, an open rear and a tall structure partially enclosing the radar mast and antenna, while the interior depicts the controls offset to the right. The stern features large bench seats and small nozzles for the inboard engine.
- In Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the Reefer assumes a relatively simple design with no special features. In GTA III, it spawns in a variety of primary colors for the hull with secondary-colored stripes, while in GTA Liberty City Stories, it spawns in two-tone colors, with the lower portion being painted with the secondary color.
- In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Reefer gains a rusty/worn texture, a front compartment hatch and lifebuoys on either side of the top structure, along with small hooks with fishing rods on the rear/stern area. It spawns in two-tone colors for the hull, with the lower portion being painted with the secondary color.
- In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the Reefer is further improved with the addition of cleats on the bow and gunwales, small details around the cabin and a fishing crane on the back, as well as a large net reel on the transom. The vehicle can spawn with either the same bench seats on the rear as previous renditions, small crates containing fish or none of them. The Reefer only spawns in an all-white color, with the primary one applied on most of the body and the secondary one on the lower portions of the hull.
Grand Theft Auto IV
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Reefer assumes a completely new design, strongly resembling the Orca from the 1975 movie Jaws.
The vessel remains largely similar to its previous renditions, but has several differences in terms of details and features. On the bow, there is a long wooden pulpit in the center that is supported by two metal frames below and tall hand rails around, while the deck has a wooden finish and has a protruding section with circular portholes.
The cabin is seemingly linear in shape compared to previous renditions, featuring dual rectangular windshields and three side windows, which are slightly larger at the bottom than the former. Beside the same cab, there are bulky sections below the side windows and small hooks on the side pillars, carrying a set of harpoons. The back section is more enclosed and features an access door on the right and a square window on the left, in conjunction with propane tanks, an access door, a small bell and what looks like the exhaust for the inboard engine. The top of the cabin carries a similar structure with lifebuoys on either side, another harpoon on the left side and small cleats on the rear section. The radar mast is no longer there, as it is instead moved to the top of the fishing crane. The interior is detailed with the typical features of most boats, but the character stands in the center of the cab (instead of on the right like on previous iterations).
On the stern, the vessel carries the large fishing crane similar to the GTA San Andreas iteration, but is decorated with steps, various cables/ropes and the radar equipment on top. Again, most of the deck has a wooden finish and bears small hand rails near the transom. There are also additional cleats on the gunwales with cables/ropes attached to the end of the fishing crane's arm, and fenders are hung along the sides of the stern. A single propeller with a single rudder can be seen below the hull.
The vehicle is only available in an all-white color.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the Reefer assumes a similar design to the GTA IV iteration, but features a set of yellow tanks on the deck (giving it further resemblance to the aforementioned Orca). The vessel seems to lack various details due to the simplistic design like most vehicles in the game, and it appears to have a larger stern/rear section.
Performance
3D Universe
Based on a common shipping and fishing vessel, the Reefer is a slow yet durable fishing boat. In addition to being slow, it can hold only one passenger despite its large size. It is also a very poor choice of vehicle in a police chase because it will be quickly destroyed by police boats and it lacks the speed or maneuverability to evade them.
All renditions of the Reefer use an inboard engine and use small nozzles for propulsion.
The GTA Vice City Stories rendition of the Reefer is much slower than other 3D Universe renditions of the vessel.
3D Universe Overview
| Acceleration (0-60mph / 0-100km/h) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) |
Engine (Inboard / Outboard) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 118 / 190 / 103 (GTA III - GTA Liberty City Stories)
38 / 61 / 33 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
Petrol | 5000 / 11023 |
| N/A | N/A | Inboard engine | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto IV
The Reefer pretty much performs the same as in the 3D Universe, having slow speed, low acceleration and stiff controls. The Reefer is not recommended for Wanted Levels due to its slow speed, which makes it an easy _target for enemy gunfire. It is, however, able to ram and flip other boats without causing too much trouble for the Reefer.
The Reefer uses an inboard engine that produces a low-revving sound, powering a single propeller.
GTA IV Overview
| Acceleration (0-60mph / 0-100km/h) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) |
Engine (Inboard / Outboard) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 25 / 40 / 22 | N/A | 8200 / 18078 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | Single inboard engine | Cannot be observed |
Gallery
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto IV
Design
Version History
(Rear quarter view)
(Rear quarter view)
(Rear quarter view)
(Rear quarter view)
(Rear quarter view)
Special Variants
Episodes from Liberty City
- In the mission Clocking Off, a unique black Reefer can be seen in the pier that Luis and his friends have to get there. It cannot be obtained, since boats cannot be saved in parking spaces in the game.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Salvage
- In the mission So Near, Yet Sonar, a unique salvage Reefer fitted with a magnet crane is used. It is different in that it replaces the usual fishing crane by the aforementioned magnet crane, as well as the ability to use its radar. It cannot be obtained.
Notable Owners
3D Universe
- Jethro & Dwaine - Boatyard; static model.
- Tommy Vercetti - Boatyard; static model.
- Michael Grant
- Asuka Kasen
- Mayor's Assistant
- Secret Service
- The Sharks
HD Universe
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay
Grand Theft Auto III
- Last Requests - Claude, Maria and Asuka use a Reefer to escape from Portland to Staunton Island.
- Paparazzi Purge - The Reefer is forced to spawn by the mission script at the dock next to Asuka's condo after the initial cutscene finishes. Even though it spawns in the same coordinates and heading as the Reefer that spawns in free roam, it is technically a separate entity created specifically by the mission.
- S.A.M. - Used to reach the jetty.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- Caught in the Act - The Mayor's Assistant uses a Reefer at the beginning of the mission before he is kidnapped by Toni and Salvatore. There is another Reefer used by the Mayor's secret service positioned under the Callahan Bridge with two gunners on board. It can be destroyed.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Say Cheese - Several Reefers are used by the cameramen to film the cheese commercial directed by Reni.
- Smuggling - After collecting the packages, sometimes, the ocean may be swarmed by Speeders and Reefers driven by Sharks members attempting to intercept Vic's packages. The Reefer has two gunners on board.
- Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound - The Reefer is one of the 32 vehicles wanted by the Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound in the side-mission of the same name. Placed on the fourth and final list.
- Skywolf - Two Reefers are used as drone _targets that must be destroyed by the Hunter.
Grand Theft Auto IV
- Babysitting - A Reefer filled with counterfeit 100 dollar bills must be escorted into Liberty City safely.
The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Clocking Off - A black Reefer is seen at the pier, where the shipment of heroin is transported to the Cavalcade.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
- So Near, Yet Sonar - Unique salvage variant used.
Locations
Grand Theft Auto III
- Two are docked at the jetty near Asuka Kasen's condo in Newport, Staunton Island, Liberty City, with the one closer to Asuka's condo being available only after completing Last Requests.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- One is docked at the Ocean Bay Marina, near Cortez's Yacht in Ocean Beach, Vice City.
- It occasionally appears on the waterways of Vice City.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- One is docked at a pier in Ocean Docks, Los Santos, almost under the bridge linking Ocean Docks to Willowfield.
- Six can be found moored between the Los Santos Inlet and the south coast of Back o' Beyond: two at the inlet, two to the south-east coast of Flint County and two to the south coast of Back o' Beyond.
- Two can be found docked at the southern piers of the Easter Basin Naval Station, San Fierro.
- One is docked at a pier in Esplanade East, San Fierro, to the north of a large building with a clock tower.
- One is docked at a pier in Esplanade North, San Fierro, to the north of Pier 69, behind a large building.
- One is moored on the water to the west of Palisades, San Fierro.
- One is moored on the water near the northernmost pillar of the Gant Bridge, towards Bayside, close to a Squalo.
- Two can be found moored on the water to the north of Bone County: one north of Las Payasadas and one north of the highway passing close to Verdant Meadows, Bone County.
- One can be found moored on the water to the north of Valle Ocultado, Tierra Robada.
- Eight can be found moored on the water to the north, north-east and east of Las Venturas: three to the east, one to the north-east and four to the north.
- One is docked at a pier to the south of Rockshore West, Las Venturas. To the west of this pier, there is another pier where a Jetmax is docked.
- It can occasionally be found on the waterways of: the Los Santos Inlet, Ocean Docks, south Las Venturas, Bayside and also on the water below the Gant Bridge.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- One is docked at the jetty by Asuka's condo in Newport, Staunton Island, Liberty City.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- One is docked at a small pier near the Vice City Junkyard in Little Haiti, Vice City. It only appears here after the mission From Zero to Hero.
Grand Theft Auto IV
- Docked by a ramp slightly north of the Hickey Bridge.
- Docked in the waters of Tudor, Alderney.
Trivia
General
- The name Reefer is a play on the slang term meaning Marijuana, but it is also a reference to coral reefs, which can be found on the seafloor of oceans.
- As with other 3D Universe vehicles, the Reefer makes an appearance as an unplayable vehicle in Manhunt 2, another Rockstar game.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- On the PS2 version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the Reefer has a randomly painted underside. On the PC version, the various colors are still coded, however the hull is always white due to the fixed texture.
Grand Theft Auto V & Online
- While not appearing in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, a wrecked Reefer can be found on the Vespucci Beach. It has only the bare hull/deck (no cabin or additional equipment, other than the pulpit) and is heavily vandalized with graffiti.
- A screenshot of the Reefer from Grand Theft Auto IV can be seen in a calendar on board the Ocean Motion cargo ship in the port of Terminal in GTA V and GTA Online, with the words "I'm on a Boat" above the picture.
- The HD universe rendition of the Reefer also appears in the cinema movie Capolavoro, as the movie is shot in GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption.