Finding Your Next Boat Grill: A Buyer’s Guide
As you must understand by now, the range of boat grills is quite vast. Here is a convenient buying guide to help you find a suitable one.
Choosing a Great Boat Grill
A boat grill helps create an ambient atmosphere while on the water. These are some factors that you should check to make sure the grill you purchase meets your needs:
Cooking area
While the overall dimensions of the boat grill do matter, the primary cooking area it offers should be your number one concern. This means the grilling surface of the appliance with direct heat under it.
The cooking area on most boat grills ranges from 125-square-inches to 266-square-inches. While there is no limit to the amount of food you can cook on a grill, having a big cooking surface produces bigger batches that are more suitable for feeding a party.
Number of burners
Where many full-sized BBQ grills boast six to seven burners, the number of burners on a boat grill is restricted to one or two at max. This is mainly because of their compact size.
If faced with a choice between a single and double burner boat grill, we advise you to choose the double burner. It gives you control over both ends of the grill, allowing you to cook steaks and veggies at the same time.
Weight
The weight of the boat grill is an important consideration for a few reasons. For one, you will be the one lifting and carrying it to the boat. For another, if your grill is not meant to stay there for the entire season, you’ll need to dismount it every time you disembark. So make sure that the boat grill you purchase is easy enough for you to lift.
It is also important to ensure that your boat is capable of supporting the extra weight. Remember that a boat can sink under too much load. A heavy grill can easily set off the balance of a small boat, causing it to turn over.
Safety Considerations for Using a Boat Grill
Take a look at these precautions to safely use your boat grill every time:
- Put it out once the cooking is done to eliminate fire hazards.
- Never engage the grill while the boat is moving.
- Refrain from using gasoline, grain alcohol, or any other non-approved accelerant to get your charcoal grill started.
- Don’t use the grill for any other purpose than cooking.
- Make sure that the marina rules allow open flame on the premises before starting your grill.
Care and Maintenance
So you have installed a shiny new grill on your boat, but did you know that even the best boat grill requires regular care and maintenance to preserve its shiny new look?Here’s what you can do to prevent your grill from becoming victim to the elements:
Keep the exterior clean
Since your boat will be spending most or all of its time in the water, your boat grill is also at risk of water damage. It is important to protect your grill from moisture and one way of doing so is to wipe its exterior clean.
Being on a boat means your grill is also prone to water splashes and, if you forget to wipe it, the tiniest drop can cause corrosion.Be sure to clean its exterior after every use. If you have a protective cover, be sure to use it to keep the grill covered and protected from harsh sea environments.
Clean the interior to remove buildup
Cleaning the inside of the grill is also important for maintaining a sanitary cooking environment. When you cook food inside it, grease and small food particles accumulate. If not removed, they are likely to attract bugs and other insects, creating an unsanitary environment.
If the grill is removable, you can easily uninstall it for cleaning purposes. But if it is fixed, you’ll need to clean the drip tray as well as the grates separately. Use a wire brush to remove the tough buildup. Follow this up with soapy water to eliminate the remaining greasy film.
Make sure it is installed securely
While there are some free-standing boat grills available on the market, most boat grills are installed on the rail of your boat.You can attach them when needed for cooking and detach them once the job is done.
If yours is detachable, make sure to mount it securely to the rails.A boat ride is a bumpy trip — you don’t want your grill to topple over on either side of the railing.
Keep your rail clean
If you have installed the boat grill rail along the outside edge of your boat, there is a solid chance that grease and food splatters will land on the rail and the surrounding area.
These stains are not just unsightly; the greasy ones on the ground can pose a slipping hazard. You should clean the rail and the surrounding areas regularly to eliminate the risk as well as to increase your boat’s aesthetic appeal.
Conclusion
Having the best boat grill means you can serve your guests their favorite foods as they enjoy some time on the water. Just remember that BBQing on a boat is not the same as operating a grill on the patio. You must give proper weight to the safety and logistical considerations. All of the products we chose are the best in their category, so you can pick a suitable one for your boat. But if you are unsure about your needs, the buying guide above will help you identify your priorities.
