Portable Gas BBQ?

[alt]

I'm getting sick of charcoal BBQ's (messy etc) so going to buy a small gas BBQ for next season... the question is, which one? Space is my main concern really, it needs to be able to be stored on the bathing platform of my S23 (Securing it isin't a problem, just want to use as little space as possible)

The main concern for me is space, I want a compact one (If I could get one small enough to just cook 2 steaks on i'd be laughing). Ideally, it makes sense to have a rectangular one, but one that catches my eye is this one: Buy Campingaz Mini Party Grill. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

It's circular and the legs fold up. You can remove the cartridge and store it elsewhere, so I reckon it won't take up much space.

It uses CV270/470 cylinders - Does anyone know how long these last? And i'm guessing that they're not re-fillable either? (Hence more expensive to buy)

Ideally i'd like to get a bbq grill that I can use with the existing (refillable) cylinder that I have in the boat which is an R907 cylinder.

So, can anyone recommend what I should do? Should I try and get a grill that I use the refillable R907 cylinder for which will save overall, or go for a circular grill like above that uses seperate disposable cylinders? Or even if I could find a portable grill that runs on any sort of external cylinder, I can just replace the regulator to fit my R907 cylinder

Any advise much appreciated!

 

[gjgm]

Weber so one, but I would say its not cheap, and its not light, and its not all that small, so it probably doesnt meet your needs! That said, it would probably enable you to cook for all neighbouring boats !
I d think that if you dont have something substantial enough, the heat isnt going to radiate properly, and you ll just end up with aweful food !

 

[vyv_cox]

Our experience has been the same. Although I enjoy cooking on charcoal and the taste may be improved by the fuel, the disadvantages of using it on a boat, especially almost every day as we do in the Med, are considerable.

Two years ago we bought one of these. It's the type that has lava lumps as a charcoal substitute.

It was cheap but works very well. It stands on a couple of lengths of laminate flooring that I rescued from a skip. These keep the heat radiated downwards from damaging the cockpit seats. It maybe a little bigger than you require but if you make up a bag for it to contain any grease and lava dust you can stow it almost anywhere on board.

 

[Gordonmc]

Get a Cobb. OK, its not gas, but it works with heat beads or charcoal briquettes so its a lot cleaner than lumpwood.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Drop into your local caravan and camping store and see what they have that will the gas bottle you have, stainless would be good.

 

[Anonymous]

I second the Cobb. However, there are safety issues that have been raised here.....don't leave unattended. Having said that, you can use it on deck (we use newspaper covered by an ironing board cover to protect the teak). Food is really good. It is messy but Mrs L. cleans it up no problem (for me). If mess is your issue you could consider a new SWMBO instead of a new BBQ?

 

[alt]

Thank you all for your suggestions and pictures /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

vyv_cox - That's pretty much exactly what i'm looking for. Where did you get it? What happens with grease? As in, where does it collect? Or does it drip onto the lava rocks and then burn off?

 

[vyv_cox]

Many camping shops sell them. Here's one supplier but many others.

Grease mostly burns off as you are cooking. The instructions suggest you heat the lava before cooking for 10 minutes or so to burn off the old fat. The lid (not shown in my photo) gets a bit greasy but just wipe off with paper towel after each cooking. Major clean about once per season.

 

[alt]

Perfect, that's exactly what i'm looking for! And at that price, can't go wrong really.

 

[DownWest]

Thanks! just ordered one too.
A
BTW- West Marine have some nice small rectangular SS ones. But way more expensive.

 

[alt]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks! just ordered one too.
A
BTW- West Marine have some nice small rectangular SS ones. But way more expensive.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/sto...mp;classNum=465

That one? Huge price difference alright, but it does look snazzy!

 

[DownWest]

No, they used to have a cylindrical one like the 'Stow-n-go' but it is not in my paper catalog (08). Friend bought one a few years ago, well pleased.
A

 

[DownWest]

Just read the product reviews on the Stow-n-go. You would think they were talking about two different machines, or their quality control was useless.
A

 

[Chris_Robb]

Thanks for that Vyv - I was just about to order a charcoal one, so just in time. I have ordered one of those.

I suppose I now need to change my Gas bottles from Calor to Gaz as I gather you cannot refill them in the Med. Anybody want some Calor bottles?????

 

[Refueler]

I still like the charcoal taint.

Tesco and other budget s/markets often have the small drum stainless ones for about 20 quid. That's going to be my next one board - previously I bought small Hibachi types that lasted couple of years in salt air.
Pal of mine has similar to the black gas one but in charcoal form, it all packs up nicely into itself.

 

[alt]

Yeah the one I have at the moment is like a min-keg cut in half on hinges. It folds out and there's 2 seperate cooking areas. Uses charcoal/lumpwood

It's a great device, compact and has lasted my years -but it's time to move on, i'm sick of the mess from the lumpwood

 

[swanny]

What do people do with spent charcoal in the morning? Stow onboard until ashore or chuck it over the side?? Is it acceptable to chuck it or would it tip the eco balance? Dunno!

 

[alt]

[ QUOTE ]
What do people do with spent charcoal in the morning? Stow onboard until ashore or chuck it over the side?? Is it acceptable to chuck it or would it tip the eco balance? Dunno!

[/ QUOTE ]

I throw it into the bonfire /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[alt]

This is more confusing than I thought, prob cause the majority of shops i'm looking at are US sites....

What I want is something like the Stow N' Go (Or the Stow N' Go itself, but Force 10 have stopped making it I think)

Basicly I want something of that size, that I can attach legs (can be bought seperatly for most BBQ's) and also a rail mount (again can be bought seperately no problem)

It gets confusing when it comes to the regulator bit....
On all the US sites there's a regulator built in to the BBQ, meaning you have a direct feed from the cylinder. However on my setup (as is the norm) you have a regulator on the cylinder and the BBQ works on a low pressure system. Conversion kits are available for teh Stow N' Go (but more money and can't actually find them anywhere) but it's just more bits that will be left over.

So, does anyone know where I could get the following from a UK online site (yes i'm searching with not much success!)

Gas BBQ similar to the Stow N' Go
Rail Mount
Legs for table mount
No regulator on the BBQ itself, so just buy a connector and shove the hose from my Campingaz R907 bottle onto

I thought this would be easy to find, maybe i'm just useless at searching??

 

[vyv_cox]

If you really must spend loads of money, search for Magma. Their gas barbecue is about £150 including rail mounting and legs. Their charcoal one is what I have replaced with the gas one shown above. I've had it for years and it has done very well. Just can't be bothered with the charcoal any more.