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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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BBQ GRILLS

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sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/19/2003 : 16:59:30

Been some time since I've read anything about BBQ grills. Anyone have opinions/experience as to the best brand for our boats? Where did you hang it, (worried about mess..drips) does it operate on propane from a tee off your on-board tank (can it even?) or do you use the small disposable canisters. Do they blow out....bottom line would you buy one again? Are they worth the $100. plus dollars? Thanks

Suzie, Tropical Sleigh

WB #619 Sarasota FL.

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 18:33:18

We used the cheaper portable ones for years. Then we splurged and bought the Margma, rail mount, and stand. We love it. It gets heavy use both on board and ashore. Easy cleaning and operation. Is it worth the $$$. Hard to say. I can say that we'd buy another one ASAP if this one ever sunk. If you do a lot of cruising it has the same unspoken advantage as a furling main or towing a hard dingy, namely that it can stay out and free up storage space.

We use portable propane.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 18:41:37

I love my Magma and use it all the time. I mounted it on the starboard stern pulpit. It hangs out over the water. It can get in the way of the mainsheet if you're sailing downwind with the main all the way out. Taking it off and tossing it in the lazerette is no big deal. I also bought the stand that lets you use this ashore. Or in a strong wind you can use it on the cockpit floor. This is also worth the money to me. The barbeque is very well designed and doesn't drip. You can't drop the cover overboard. It doesn't rust (quality stainless). I use the little propane bottles and have never had a problem. At an RV store you can buy fitting for teeing this off a big propane bottle but I wouldn't bother. A little bottle lasts a long time (I also use them for my galley stove and for a Coleman lantern I hang in the cockpit).

Anything that keeps me from trying to cook in the galley is a good thing!

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 21:31:31

The Magma is great. Very high quality stainless. We are old charcoal holdouts and don't like the propane models. My brother-in-law taught me to stuff tin foil in the vents to control draft and we can even put out a fire and use the coals the next day. I mount ours on the starboard side as far as possible from the motor and gas (our old '80 Cat 25 mounts the motor on the port side) The stanchion mounts Magma sells are fantastic.

We have had ours for 8 years and can't even imagine wearing it out.

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 09:34:25

Try looking at the force 10 beer can style cooker and you can use a small coleman propane canisters. They mout well over the rail and are easier to detach and store. I cook 4 NY Strips with out any trouble and I have never had flash back like you get sometimes with Magma.

Bill Meinert

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 12:49:13

I have one of the large Force Ten "beer can" style BBQ's. It is a great unit, but while it is nice to be able to roast some corn while cooking a bunch of steaks, it's pretty big and heavy so I never leave it hooked to the rail while sailing. Thus it needs to be stored somewhere and it eats up one of those little propane bottles quicker than smaller BBQ's.

I got it because it was free (passed down from a friend's friend's girlfriend's ex-husband who sold his boat -- you know how it goes). I had to install a new drip pan/base because the old one was broken and wouldn't fit the newer style rail mount, but the Force Ten folks in Vancouver, BC were very helpfull.

If I needed to replace it, I would probably go with the Magma because of weight and storage issues. It also is pretty corrosion resistant. About five years ago I was anchored at White's Cove, Catalina Island, and saw something shiny beneath my boat. I dove down with mask and fins and found a Magma grill on the bottom, partially submerged in the sand. I was able to yank it free, but couldn't bring it to the surface as it was pretty deep and full of sand. So I went to the surface and returned to the bottom with a hook and line (and another breath!). Anyway, I retrieved it and gave it to a friend (since I already had a BBQ). He had to replace many of the non-stainless propane tubes/valves/etc. which clearly were toast, but it has worked well for him ever since.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 13:10:27

I bought my magma propane grill used off ebay & have been very happy w/ it. If you're buying a used propane be sure to know whether you're getting the one that needs ceramic briquetes or the newer model. We have a charcoal grill at home, but the propane is very conveinant on the boat. The previous owner had used it with his onboard propane tank, but my C250 has the butane stove so we just use the little propane bottles (they last a long time). Its stored in in the port side locker when we're away & we leave it attached to the port side back stern seat rail when we're cruising for the weekend/week.

Our model can also be used as a second burner so it adds more cooking capacity to the boat & keeps the heat out of the cabin in the summer. We've even used it to bake biscuits & cookies although we're still working on that (the bottoms of the baked goods can get a little overdone if you're not careful). If you spend some time in your local second hand marine store or ebay or watch sales you may find a good off season deal (do you have an off season in FL?).

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 14:22:06

We have enjoyed the Magma. At first we carried the small bottles. Then two years ago I installed a real propane stove/oven in the galley and installed a fixed propane tank. I have since adapted the Magma to the tank also. We leave the Magma mounted full time and haven't found it getting in the way of sailing. There is a bit of a conflict with the boarding ladder, especially when the Magma is hot.

Here are some photos.

If you cook fairly simply, the Magma can pretty much eliminate the need for the curtain burner.

Since these photos were taken I have cleaned up the hose routing.

Edited by - on

sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 19:39:34

Off season in Florida..ha no but I guess that is a blessing and a reason I moved here from NY. Well sounds like the Magma grill will be the way to go. Thanks all for your tips and experience.

Boy Ed what a fancy set up! Looks great.

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jmorrical
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2003 : 21:18:19

Here is the Magma mounted on my C250 WK. It is a very good BBQ. It is easy to clean. I'm not sure I would BBQ with my bimini cloth overhead as it gets hot very quickly! I considered adding an attachment to connent it to the onboard propane, but find the small tanks do just fine.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.