www.iFourWinns.com

OK... spring is coming. There's a couple threads on grills and what people are using on their boat.

We need a grill setup on our 318. What's going to be the best route? pros/cons/ideas - I'm prepared to go "custom" or "out of the box".

Key requirements:
1) Can't be an eyesore. Should complement the boat.
2) Does NOT have to be quick release or removable if it works out that way
3) Must be able to cook for 4-6 without people having to wait for 2nd or 3rd rounds on the bbq.
4) I will NOT be running a big propane tank. I will be using cannisters or a small tank. I don't need to plumb the boat for LPG.

Initial ideas:

We do have the platform rail system on the boat. Yes, Four Winns does make a BBQ attachment for a small, Magma kettle grill. Unfortunately - it's not big enough for our needs. I have a kettle grill - and I know we want larger.

The ideal situation for us right now is the Magma Newport Gas grill. Good size for what we need. Thought about the larger with the warming rack - and that's a maybe, but we don't really "need" it.


The Newport is a little heavy (25 pounds vs 7 for the kettle) - to use the Four Winns mount on the platform. Magma does make an offset dual mount which looks interesting and could mount to the rail system... plus, the offset gets the unit off the rail and over the water.



I have had a conversation with Ryan @ Winnisquam about getting the Four Winns mount and beefing it up to use with the platform rail mount. I'm having a tough time visualizing how that would be better than the dual mount from Magma direct.

I'm also open to mounting the BBQ on another area of the boat. What I like about this setup is the fact that I can leave the canvas up and still BBQ.

Here's a pic of my transom with the rail on it...


What would you guys do?

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

I will be putting a pedestal-mounted unit on the transom platform of my Vista 298. Dare I say, Chaparral has a picture on their website http://www.chaparralboats.com/2009/index.html. The benefits:

- Pick a grill as large as you like - no space constraints
- Use it when under cover
- Magma (and others) have pedestal mounts that lock in place for both the transom platform mount and grill mount.
- It is easily removable if desired
- You can keep it mounted while running (would suggest a cover to protect from spray.
- Unit is away from guest in the lounging area of the boat (no burns)
- As for plumbing, you need to be concern with proper venting - I would suggest the small bottles and keep them stored outside of the boat. You can purchase a canvas bag that is of a rail mount variety - I have seen others make a container using PVC pipe with a strap to fit over the bow rail.

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2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

Hey cougar

I posted this on another grill thread, if you didnt see it, here it is again. I leave the grill on most of hte time, just cause there is no good place to store it. Everybody tells us what an awsome grill it is. Personally I dont think it detracts from the looks of the boat...... you be the judge

Oh yeah, I am using the same mounts shown in your post.

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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)

I have a napoleon BBQ that is an excellent size for cooking just about anything you want on the boat.
http://www.napoleongrills.com/Gourmet-grills/Freestyle/FreestyleIR.html

We have been cooking either on shore or on top of our "entertainment center", It has not been ideal and the plan is to do something about it this year.... therefore I like your thread and we can try and work this out together! I had thought of making my own swimplatform rail or mounting a pedestal such as the one mentioned. Obviously two very viable options. I like the space you have on your swimplatform and would be tempted to get a table for the rail to hold you beer and food prep stuff and put a pedestal mount with an offset pole. This will put the BBQ over the water when cooking and a simple rotation will put it back inside your "perimeter". You could store the BBQ, pole and the table in the rear hatch for easy access. BTW, I use a 5 lb cylinder with a ten foot hose to run ours

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

I just retired a Magma Catalina which is the larger grill with warming rack. I usually cooked for 4 to 6 people and I could not imagine having to cook for that many on a smaller grill. I liked the warming rack because when the fire got out of control, I was able to move the food out of harms way until the fire settled and the rack was also a good place to warm your breads. On the other hand, the warming rack (which is removable) did cover a lot of your main grilling area and so it made it difficult to cook. However, the biggest issue I had with the Magma was that it didn't get hot enough to put a good sear on my steaks and burgers (I like them burnt on the outside and rare on the inside). Overall, the Magma Newport and Catalina is a well made, good looking grill and as long as you don't need a lot of heat to sear your food, it will be a very good choice for your boat. I sure like the infrared feature of that Napoleon though.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Can't recall if I posted pix here about it, but I put a pedestal mount inside one of the lockers on our 348. It's worked well. Others have also put a table leg socket into the platform. Both solutions work.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I'd think dual magma kettle 2's on the rail would look pretty sweet. All business for sure.

JSimon -- you don't actually use the BBQ in that position in your pic, do you? It looks lke you use the standoff brackets but have them turned around in the picture?

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

Yeah, thats how I use it. I guess the bracket isnt exactly the same, the black clamps are the same, and they balted to the bottom of the grill without the offset brackets. I can get a pic of it if you want, I dont keep the grill on the boat while its stored, its out in the back garage.

As I said in the other thread, the only concern is if somebody is setting in the seat right in front of it, that they dont turn around burn themself, but I am always very cautious about that.

_________________
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)

JSimon -- doesn't the BBQ burn the back cushions at all? Or does the BBQ not give off that much heat? from the lower back? (I know, heat rises).

Also -- how does that impact your camper canvas? Is that an issue at all?

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

Hey cougar

I know it looks close on the pic, but there is several inches between the grill and the cushions. I was too concerned about it, but I can tell you that grill can get pretty hot quick when you have it full of burgers or a couple steaks on it (when things flare up), and I always feel the cushion to make sure, and it has never gotten even close to hot.

Yes it does impact the canvas to the point I cant have the aft curtian (sp) on when I use the grill. Other than that, just alittle smoke in the cockpit.

All in all it works out well for us. If you have the platform railing, you would have the perfect setup, you should also get the Magma table too. Have them both mounted on the rail, and you will have someplace to set things as well.

Like the cockpit table here, that would be the ultimate... http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/M ... ables.html

_________________
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)

I don't like the idea of using the transom rail for permanently mounting the grill. I've seen the back side of how that rail is mounted and do not think it's strong enough to handle the weight. ESPECIALLY during any heavy seas, or someone suddenly falling against it. For the first two seasons I used a rod holder mounted on the rail. I had the holder canted at a sideways angle (down to port, upwards to starboard). I then used the rod holder gymbal mount under the grill. This let me remove the grill when it wasn't in use. This avoided the risk of too much weight on the rail.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

+1 To the above. Also, having a grill permanently mounted to an express cruiser IMO gives the boat a "hillbilly" appearance. Most boats I see with permanently attached grills, are sailboats. Unless you plan on grilling 95% of the time you are on your boat, it makes no sense to have it permanently mounted, just stow it away when not in use, and bring it out when needed.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

But where do you stow the grill when not using it?

I've been thinking of just getting a small rod-holder mounted grill. But after I'm done cooking I have a hot, greasy, bulky metal thing to store. Do you grillers clean them every time, or just live with the mess.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

I would store my grill under the cockpit port lounge in the canvas bag that Magma designs for them. IMO the grill is just too greasy and smelly to store in the cabin. The grill doesn't take that long to cool down after cooking and I don't clean it until I use it again. I found out that if I scraped the grill clean right after using it, the droppings would fall out of the canvas bag so I would just burn them off when I cranked her up next time.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY