BBQ's on boats. Good thing or bad?

Becky

Becky

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BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

How many of you have a BBQ on board? And where do you
a) fix it when in use, and
b)store it.

And is it best to have a gas one, or nice spitty charcoal burner that might scorch your decks? (at least that is what HWMBO tells me, anyway!)
I quite fancy one, but have been advised against it.

Any really delicious recipes you have found?
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Becky,

Call me a girly if you will - but I'm scared stiff of naked flames on a boat - it just seems like a risk that one doesn't need to take - so I paddle ashore with a disposable barbie. But then I see others happily bbq'ing on the pushpit happy as Larry - and their boats don't seem to catch fire!

Rob
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Perhaps search for the Cobb BBQ threads from a few weeks/months back? It seems quite a few folks have got one and are pleased with them. I know we're pleased with ours, but haven't used it on the boat yet.

Rick
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Worth having a look at THIS

No coals to mess around with. Gas cylinder screws on the side. Works like a "mean, lean, grilling machine" and is easy to clean cause the fat drips into a tray and the grill plate is removable.

I've seen one in action and was impressed.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

I've just ordered a Force 10 log-style bbq in stainless which seems pretty robust. It attaches quite solidly to a rail on the pushpit on the water side. I haven't tried it yet (bbq season in the UK only being a week long) although some common sense and a wet cloth handy should keep the boat from catching fire. I would be happy to light it on board.

Pops
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

I always have a couple of disposables on board along with a couple of bricks and a bit of wood to put them on. Find a bit of flat deck at the stern and away you go.

I've never had a problem but if I do then I'll just boot it over the side. Keep the companionway closed though otherwise sometimes the smoke can get sucked in.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

They can be a nightmare if you are downwind of one, even at some distance. It's probably more looks more spectacular than it really is at night but I've had boats anchor in front of me (maybe falling back to 50 yards in front which is plenty for clearance), then light up a barbecue at dusk and send nice big sparks downwind past me, often still bright as they drift on downwind.

Never actually seen any damage caused apart from a few dark bits which didn't leave a mark after being brushed off, but even so it can spoil your evening a bit, and make you rather wary of leaving the boat in case a spark bizzarely ignites something. The food smells wonderful though, and you can't do a lot about other people's BBQs so if I were you I'd buy one.

The pushpits the best place if you are anchoring into the wind. I don't think anyone should use them in a marina if there's much of a breeze unless they're happy with giving their neighbours a nice patina of grease.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Becky

Whatever you do, please do a little research first. I only say this for your own good. Check the customer service dept, complaints and above all check to see if anyone has had any 'bad' experiences with the company.

Please do this, you can't suffer any more disasters!
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

I have an alloy portable version similar to the George Foreman style, only instead of using it from a seperate screw on cartridge, I madified mine so that I can run it from a normal calor or camping gas cylinder via the standard regulator.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

We have a Force 10 BBQ bolted to the pushpit and use disposable BBQs in it, finding that we get the best of both worlds easy to light and contents can be disposed of without bloody ash going everywhere as can be the case with charcoal. Also no grill to clean at the end of the proceedings and drips of fat contained in disposable tray rather than dropping onto the topsides.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

hardly a boat in florida that does not have a MAGMA 'Marine Kettle' gas grill on board. check them out at westmarine.com, perhaps not outboards, but they are almose standard equipment on sailboats....
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

We've used a charcoal Magma BBQ with excellent results - would probably go with the gas version in future.

Some people are prejudiced against BBQs but if you take appropriate precautions they are no worse than the gas cooker down below.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

we tend to attach ours to its mount and leave it there, unless its rough when it gets put in the spare cabin, biggest advantage with a barby is less heat in the boat!!!!!!!!...keith
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Get a COBB from nauticalia. Its got a plastic outer casing, you can pick it up and walk around with it. Fantastic for boats, put it in the cockpit and sit around it for warmth after cooking. A really great product.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Okay, this weekend was my first with a BBQ mounted starboard quarter on pushpit, but here are my thoughts.

First things first, great food, great night and would say go for it.

Second thing, common sense! We picked up a bouy and after warning the boat astern was advised they were leaving anyway. But I guess rule of thumb says let people around you know. Judge from there.

Terms of fire risk, clear items such as MOB rig, ensigns, etc and any cockpit cushions. Keep lids (BBQ) etc tied on but with enough to drop into water.

Last but one treat as normal fire risk. Make sure everyone knows fire drill, location of extinguishers, Gas status, etc

Last of all (Contrabuted by female aboard) Keep men away if you don't like it VERY WELL DONE!

The one we used was round but the grill span on the center mount (Avoided well done). Before retiring secure BBQ.

We were one of about 3 BBQ'ing that night, and I don't think we can all be wrong!
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

We bought a charcoal one from Compass on their LBS offer. (Cost £60 ish) Permamently attached to Pushpit now. Used it several times during our summer cruise - even cooked for 12 on it one memorable evening. No regrets, but I did splash water on the GPS antenna next to it once when I put too much lighter fluid on the thing. Are gas BBQ's really BBQs anyway?
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

Yes BBQ fixed to pushpit great, but I take it off when sailing.

Other boat is only 25ft and no pushpit. so we just pile the kedge chain on the lid of the aft deck locker and put a disposable BBQ on top.

Safety tips:

1) put a loop of shain over the top to stop it sliding off when a Jetski goes past.

2) move rubber duck forard in case you have to tip flaming BBQ into sea.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

we have used both the gas and the heat beads versions. Gas is much better. The head beads take so long to get properly hot that there's a temptation to start cooking before they are ready and then dripping jiuces puts them out. Pushpit is the best spot for them. Even then you get a bit of junk on the stern. Never had a problem with them setting fire to anything. Biggest problem is once the wind gets over 10 knots most of the heat is blown away and they don't cook well. Also they tend to catch sheets and dinghy painters. Biggest plus is that they keep heat and cooking fumes from the cabin and they allow the cook to enjoy a sundowner with everyone else in the cockpit.
 
Re: BBQ\'s on boats. Good thing or bad?

I'll second that, or ninth it, as it has been mentioned 8 times already!

Top Tip was around on here recently. Pack requisite number of briquettes and lighting cubes into a sealed plastic bag, one per meal, rather than lug the whole sackful to the boat.
 
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