Ideas on a Grill??

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject: Ideas on a Grill??

We are looking at getting a grill for the boat and are not sold on the idea of a Magma type hanging on the railing. Does anyone use or has anyone given thought to one of those Weber or Coleman type portable grills? They use a small propane bottle and fold down fairly flat. We are trying to decide it if would be better to have one that we could take off the boat up to picnic areas, etc.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Jeff and Julie

rogerbum · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject:

I have a folding grill of the type you describe and love(d) it with the the exception that it wasn't made to last. Ours was purchased from REI and I beleive was a Coleman. The attachment between the gas regulator/valve and the rest of the grill was poorly designed and fell apart. I have seen some stainless ones at Home Depot or Lowes that seem to be more solidly constructed.

One concern though is using it on the boat. While these can in principal be used on a table top, the legs are not that tall and significant heat hits what it's sitting on. I think you could use a piece of stainless screwed to starboard (or similar) to make an effective heat sheild but definitely try the grill out someplace safe to see how hot it gets below. I also think you would want some mechanism for retaining the legs of the grill during operation on the boat. The Magma handles waves just fine due to the mounting arrangements a grill on a table top probably won't unless you design and fabricate a fixed mounting device.

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your input Roger! The ones we are looking at actually come with there own stands that bring them up off the ground to about counter height. I don't think heat under them would be a problem since they are free standing?
The think I really don't like about the idea of the Magma is where would I stow it while not in use? I don't like just leaving it on the rail, or is that what everyone does?

Thanks!
Julie

Swee Pea · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject:

Look into the Cobb Grill/BBQ. It uses 6 briquettes and is designed to be cool to the touch. Go to www.cobbgrills.com and check out their site. I was able to use a Magma mount and rail mount the Cobb (with a few easy mods) You can see some details in the Swee Pea photo album. You can add a wok attachment as well as a frying pan attachment. You can bake with it also. Their site has recipies. And it is not very expensive.

John
Swee Pea

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject:

Regarding the Magma: we have one that has made it through 4 boats with us. I bought it years ago because it seemed to be the grill of choice for boaters. It is well-made, but seems to run hot compared to other grills we've owned (not on boats). Magma does have a set of legs that we've used on the dock or a picnic table; kind of a tripod arrangement. On our sailboats, we've taken the grill off and stored it in a lazerette... I haven't figured out a good place for that on the C-Dory yet. With our camperback, I don't see any way to leave it on the railing, either. Force 10 makes a nice grill (also a rail mount, though). Good luck with your decision... sure is nice to have cooking options onboard.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Zydecomo · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:14 am Post subject: grilling thoughts

You might want to check on State and Coast Gaurd regs on the placement and securing of additions "cooking devices" on board. Obviously no problem with Magma bolted on rail but I bet loose table top grills are a no no in most states. I have the Cobb too and it makes great smoked chicken.

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:24 am Post subject:

Like James, we have owned Magna's for over 20 years. (the company is in Long Beach CA, so we got in early). We gave our charcoal one away with a boat, and kept the propane unit. A couple of years ago, we upgraded it with a new burner, and radiation plate, instead of the ceramic brickettes. We do prefer the propane, but store the gas cannasters outside in a box. The grill went under the foreward seat in the C Dory22 and in the stb hull foreward in the Tom Cat 255. We rarely left it on the railing. But, I do want any cooking appliances bolted down on a boat. We have fiddles and pot holders for our stove--the barbeque is secured over the water when using it--away from the gas tank vent!

The Magna is not perfect--it cooks a little slower than some others, The lid is hard to manage at times, but I can still get parts for an "origional"--we have gone thru at least half a dozen of the fold out grills with the RV's, and like James, we also have the legs for on land use, should we so desire.

I would look at the barrel shaped Magna or the Force 10 before buying. I know that "marine" is more expensive--but there are some good safety features in a securely fastened unit. I have never tried the Cobb Cooker, but it does look interesting--but again, you have brickettes--which I do not like on boats, plus fire aboard.

Dreamer · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject:

Jeff & Julie, We have always used the Magma BBQs with much success. The TomCat has the "Party Size" permanently mounted to the cockpit rail. It's lid is hinged which is a big improvement.

The TC cockpit is pretty roomy so it does not get in the way. I know we would BBQ less if I had to get it out of storage every night.

Photo is the last one added to our album.

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the comments!! I think we may need to give the Magma another look. I hadn't really thought about the other type not lasting as long.

Julie

Ron on Meander · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

Julie,
We use the Cobb Bar B Que with much success. But then I'm a charcoal snob at home as well. I won't use gas barbeques.
I don't know if you subscribe to Power Boat Reports or not, but they had a review a few months ago of a number of portable marine gas grills. It might be worth getting a copy and reading the review.
Ron

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ron! I will try and get a copy of that article.

Julie

Best Day · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Jeff and Julie,

Take a look at the Force 10 stow and go BBQ. It is a small size stainless BBQ that can be rail mounted or detach it, flip down four legs and it's portable! The best of both worlds. I have one on my boat and love it. The only draw back is it doesn't have and ignitor, so you have to use matches or a lighter.

Good Luck,
Bill

Patrout · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject:

Hi Jeff and Julie,

I bought one of those Weber small portable propane grills about 25 years ago. It finally died last year. I bought a new one last fall for under $50.00 at Home Depot. I cut a slot in the top flaps of the carton and edged them with duct tape for reinforcement. The unit, two small canisters of propane and a propane igniter (for when the original, built-in igniter checks out,) all fit inside the carton. The BBQ can go camping with us, be set up in the back yard as an extra when the big charcoal BBQ is full, and, of course, go on the boat. I like the Weber because it won't flare up and the food tastes like it has really been over a charcoal fire. Since it's so portable, it doesn't require its own dedicated space in the small cockpit of my angler.

On the boat, I set it up on my big white Sam's Club cooler that sits just in front of the splash well in the cockpit. It does radiate some heat, but I use one of those disposable aluminum flat broiler pans (also very cheap) to dissipate it. If you are underway while cooking, a piece of non-skid rubber mesh under the broiler pan will keep everything in one place. (I don't BBQ while underway.)

It is so easy to get too much stuff screwed into or clamped onto a boat. A multi-tasker like the Weber is the way to go for our boat.

Pat

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

'Probably gonna get clobbered here for this thought, but this IS (usually) an open forum....

The one single cooking thing I take everywhere I can find a generator, or plug-in is a little, black, ugly Toastmaster Ultravection (Convection/Radiation) oven. You can put frozen steaks in the drawer and have them looking and smelling and tasting like grilled in 12-15 minutes. you can put 1/2 of a pizza in it, frozen okra, sliced potatos and have them crisp and crunchy in minutes. You pick the time for "Roast", "Brown", or "Crisp". It is very tiny, costed about 50-60 bucks and you can make chicken, fries, whatever crispy and tasting just like deep fried foods in minutes. Last nite, I threw in some buttered fresh asparagus and had "crunchy" aspargus tips in 8 minutes. The biggest thing is cooking things from a frozen state, whether veggies, potatoes, (frozen fries, crisp hash browns from frozen), or steaks, pork chops, pork tenderloin, chicken...etc..

I have one in my motorhome, one in my kitchen and one I had in my houseboat before it was sold. John

Wefings · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:33 am Post subject:

Convection ovens rule ! I have one in my house [Cadco commercial countertop] and it sees more cooking action than any other appliance . I will take note of that Dr John, brilliant !
However , the Cobb got my attention , and I sniped one [ the new stainless one ] on E Bay last night . I am looking forward to the portability and efficiency , and that genuine charcoal effect . Looking for extruded coconut charcoal now in a quantity less than a pallet full . Like the Kamado grill folks use . If anybody knows where to get a single box , let me know .........