www.iFourWinns.com

The Magma Newport grill cleans up pretty easily. Once it's cooled, I unmount it and hose it down with the transom shower sprayer. This gets a good bit of the gunk off. It only takes about 40 minutes, tops, for the grill to cool down. I then stuff it in a white 'tall size' kitchen garbage bag (the rip-proof Glad ones work well here) and then stow it in a duffel bag which goes in the cabin below. I give it a more thorough cleaning when we're on shore. Most of the time I'm lazy and just use Easy Off and a hose at the marina. Three years now and it's still in fine condition. I couldn't use that sort of cleaner if it was on a fixed mount in the boat. I don't really know what I'd use that wouldn't put the underlying gelcoat and flexiteek (spit!) surfaces at risk.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Well what can I say, I guess we take the hillbilly approach... For the kind of boating we do (on the trailer during the week, and in a slip on the weekend) it works for us. There isnt a lot of storage on a 268, as Im sure all who has knows. In the evening after dinner, I take it off and put on the floor under the helm seat on a mat where its out of the way, the next day when we get ready to leave the marina the to go out for the day, I put it back on and it stays there until the evening again. When we get back home the admiral cleans it up and we do it again the next weekend.

We are to the point on storage, if we want to put something else on, I always ask what we are going to take off. If I had a 318 or something larger with more storage, I would rethink the whole thing, but again the limited storage, and the smell and mess this is the best system I have come up with.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Jeff,
The "hillbilly" approach, was meant concerning a permanently mounted grill, which would look hideous while underway. Store the grill when not in use and underway . I have done the same thing with our grill for the past 16 years of boating. But we will NEVER be seen with a permanently attached grill on our boat, as well as a gas/propane type.

What ever works , is up to ya'll.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

We have the 348, the lack of storage does not go away. I think there's some rule, stuff will always expand to exceed any available storage areas for it. I always astounded at the end of the season how much comes back off the boat. I've tried, really, to pare back but it still seems like a bottomless pit, like a clown car, for how many storage tubs get filled.

I stuff the grill into the plastic bag to both deal with any drips along with any smell. Since it's stainless steel it's not like there's going to be any issues with rust from the moisture. Yes, there does tend to be a bit of a greasy smear on the grill from the bag. This comes off and has left no marks. Three seasons in and it still looks fine having been handled this way since we got it new.

Having been through very rough seas I can tell you, first hand, you do NOT want the weight of the grill to be bouncing on that railing. It's just not strong enough. Especially not if it's leveraged out at a distance on extension brackets. And having pulled down the bimini canvas just as things got crappy I can also state you do NOT want to add fiddling with the clamps on a grill to your list of 'oh shit I have to stow this NOW' items. For fair weather travel on a lake, eh, it probably might never matter. But then you're still faced with the lateral forces of someone's fat ass slipping on the platform and slamming up against the grill. Again, maybe not a big risk, but the cost to fix the yanked out fiberglass isn't going to be a trivial amount...

But maybe I just take the side of caution.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I do understand why people may not want to hae a BBQ mounted all the time.

It's all about convenience. I know that if I mount my bbq on that rail system - it'll be mounted as much as it is unmounted. For quick days on the lake and when the boat is stored for the week - I'm more likely to keep it unmounted.

For long weekends on the boat and trips - I'm more likely to keep it mounted.

It's all personal preference.

If it's out of the way for JSimon - I see no issues with keeping it on there. Some people may think it's 'hillbilly' - but trust me - I've seen way worse than a well appointed stainless bbq mounted on a cruiser to look hillbilly.

Might I remind everyone of what could have been my slip neighbor? yes, he's live abord.

This is downtown Seattle. Far from hillbilly country.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

How about a Magma Trailmate.

Plenty of grill surface, plus portability if needed.
• Fold-Away legs.
Perfect for that quick picnic on shore.
• Inner Safety Shell.
Funnels grease into front access grease tray
reducing flare-up and heat discoloration.
• 100% 18-9 mirror polished stainless steel.
For lasting beauty and superior corrosion resistance.
• Convenient Snap-out radiant plate.
Allows quick, easy clean-up and perfect even
heat distribution.
• Oversized perfectly balanced lockable lid.
Won't slam shut and secures all inner components
for transport.
• Full-length handle.
Gives access from either side and makes mounting
and transport easy.
• Front access, lock-in-place grease tray..
• Swiveling valve/ regulator.
Allows quick and safe gas bottle exchange.
• Magma offers the largest selection of
mounting options and accessories.
To customize your grill to your boat.
You can evn get a Sunbrella cover for it.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Heck - we could just throw that trailmate on the table and call it good!

Back to basics...

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Until someone's passing wake tosses the lit grill onto the deck, or worse, into someone's lap.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Your right Bill I believed there is a rule "stuff expands to fill all space"




No worries Cap'n, no harm, no foul....

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

You're just jealous of that bitchin' bathtub he's got on the fantail....

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

All you gotta do is fill that tub with water, fart in it, and call it a hot tub!

Apparently, a guy liveaboards on that and is a little eccentric - but a nice guy nonetheless.

I just happened to score a covered spot a row over...

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Ok... research is closing.

Last Question -- does anybody know off the top of their head what the diameter of the platform rail system from Four Winns is?

It's bigger than 1 inch, but I don't know if it is 1.25 or 1.5?

Anyone know?


The grill winner is a Magma Catalina. Wife wants the warming rack and the larger surface for when we have guests. Plus, it's less than $300 online.

Now, I just need to know the diameter of the rail for the mounting system.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Cougar,

I threw the rail in the back of the car so I'd have this figured out when the boat shows up. The horizontal rail is 1.62" dia and the verticals are 1.25". I might try the 1.5" dia rail mount and maybe just have it machined out a tad. On a side note that new magma "magic" cleaner works very well although its a bit pricey.

Is my math off if I think 1.62 inches is 1 5/8?

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

^correct

_________________
V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210