Small Magma Charcoal BBQ

Boracay · 11-03-2008, 02:09

My wife wants to buy a small Magma charcoal BBQ to go on the back of the boat.

I think she has visions of family on board for a BBQ lunch.

Do they work as one might expect?

Harriet · 11-03-2008, 05:51

The idea of having to keep charcoal on board, and keep it dry, is not very appealing. Unless you are just doing day/weekend trips, I would recommend propane over charcoal any day.

Dunkers · 11-03-2008, 05:54

We have a barrel type charcoal BBQ which we use very successfully on the stern of our boat so I guess the Magma will work equally well

Cheers
David

Abaco · 11-03-2008, 05:54

I 2nd that. Go propane.

**Pblais** · 11-03-2008, 05:58

I've had the propane versions on two boats. We have friends that carry the charcoal version. Charcoal has it's problems in anything other than very nice weather. The propane version in good weather is very efficient for cooking. A must have as far as I'm concerned.

mickmul · 11-03-2008, 06:25

i vote propane too. Charcoal can be very difficult to light in anything over a puff of wind.. . messing with lighter fuel etc. Propane may not be the purist's bbq fuel of choice, but it's instant (almost) heat, is instant shut off (imagine dragging anchor with commotion on the boat and a hot charcoal spills onto you glass or teak topsides . . charcoal is great to bring for a beach bbq, but then it's just another thing to store . . .

imagine2frolic · 11-03-2008, 07:08

Charcoal can be lit with hurricane matches, or one of those little pistol lighters. I use charcoal all the time. The only downside is when some one is anchored aft they will get my ashes. I tend not to BBQ at that time if the wind is up. I was given a propane grill, and will give it a chance sometime in the future. Also I would get the larger of the 2 grills from Magma if you decide to go with coals

Morgan Paul · 11-03-2008, 07:24

Hey Imagine, I see the flames are giving off clean smoke, so I can assume you didn't use gasoline to fire her up

. I cook on charcoal myself.

imagine2frolic · 11-03-2008, 07:56

That's my symphony self combusting....................

waikikin · 13-03-2008, 04:06

Our Magma was nicknamed the Olympic Flame for the same look as 2frolic is displaying, I second his comments on ash & go the bigger. All the best from Jeff. PS: get a BBQ of some sort, while live-a-boards for a couple of years it got used 4-5 days a week- gets heat etc out & great "social" aspects!

Vasco · 13-03-2008, 06:03

My Magma (charcoal) is in my basement. It worked well and I had no trouble with charcoal and lighter fluid. We found that we just didn't use it that much when cruising long periods (six months). If we do a steak now it goes on a hot cast iron pan. I see here in the Bahamas most boats don't have a barbecue hanging on the stern. It might have something to do with the quality and price of meat. Looking around the anchorage it seems the big power boats and trawlers seem to have barbecues and not so many on the sailboats.

SVDistantStar · 13-03-2008, 16:07

Ive got a small propane Magma grill on Lola and love it. It works great in most conditions. On the Pearson ive got an older Force 10 grill that is propain, its a pain to keep it lit in any wind. Im going to convert it over to charcoal since i do like a steak cooked over hot coals better then propane.

spencer53 · 13-03-2008, 18:34

I've used both propane and charcoal and have found + and - with both. Propane blows out too if there is a little wind blowing. If you get the lid hooked onto the side as a wind block it can be done to a point. Matchlight charcoal works really well. You can get that stuff lit in the wind too with the same use of the lid as a wind break. Charcoal grilling tastes better too. Only problem is the cleanup. Ashes! A real PITA.. Now that I'm on a boat with teak decks, no way man! Propane here.

paulgauche · 16-06-2008, 16:03

My Catalina 27 ('79) came with the original size Magma propane but 1 look at it and I can see it is past its time for attaching propane to it. I'm going to try using it as a charcoal grill and I do prefer charcoal. Does look a little small.

My question is: What are the laws about discarding charcoal ashes overboard? I'm on the Columbia river. I can't see the harm, but happy to be corrected - particularly if it keeps me out of trouble.

**Pblais** · 16-06-2008, 18:36

Quote:

What are the laws about discarding charcoal ashes overboard?

None. Most marinas won't allow the use of any grill in the slip.

11-03-2008, 02:09	#1
Boracay Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nr Blackwattle Bay,Sydney, NSW, Australia Boat: Steel Roberts Offshore 44 Posts: 1,248 Images: 12	Small Magma Charcoal BBQ My wife wants to buy a small Magma charcoal BBQ to go on the back of the boat. I think she has visions of family on board for a BBQ lunch. Do they work as one might expect? __________________ Rust never sleeps Boracay Blog.

11-03-2008, 05:58	#5
Pblais Moderator Site Helper Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hayes, VA Boat: Gozzard 36 - Bright Eyes Posts: 4,536 Images: 7	I've had the propane versions on two boats. We have friends that carry the charcoal version. Charcoal has it's problems in anything other than very nice weather. The propane version in good weather is very efficient for cooking. A must have as far as I'm concerned. __________________ Paul Blais s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36 37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W

11-03-2008, 06:25	#6
mickmul Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ireland Boat: Van de Stadt 34' Posts: 268 Images: 1	i vote propane too. Charcoal can be very difficult to light in anything over a puff of wind.. . messing with lighter fuel etc. Propane may not be the purist's bbq fuel of choice, but it's instant (almost) heat, is instant shut off (imagine dragging anchor with commotion on the boat and a hot charcoal spills onto you glass or teak topsides . . charcoal is great to bring for a beach bbq, but then it's just another thing to store . . . __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

11-03-2008, 07:08	#7
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 1,940 Images: 112	Charcoal can be lit with hurricane matches, or one of those little pistol lighters. I use charcoal all the time. The only downside is when some one is anchored aft they will get my ashes. I tend not to BBQ at that time if the wind is up. I was given a propane grill, and will give it a chance sometime in the future. Also I would get the larger of the 2 grills from Magma if you decide to go with coals Attached Thumbnails

13-03-2008, 04:06	#10
waikikin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney Boat: Egan 12.40 Posts: 54	Olympic glory Our Magma was nicknamed the Olympic Flame for the same look as 2frolic is displaying, I second his comments on ash & go the bigger. All the best from Jeff. PS: get a BBQ of some sort, while live-a-boards for a couple of years it got used 4-5 days a week- gets heat etc out & great "social" aspects! Last edited by waikikin; 13-03-2008 at 04:11. Reason: PS

11-03-2008, 05:51	#2
Harriet Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Caribbean Boat: 2004 Manta 42 - Perseverance Posts: 281	The idea of having to keep charcoal on board, and keep it dry, is not very appealing. Unless you are just doing day/weekend trips, I would recommend propane over charcoal any day.

11-03-2008, 05:54	#3
Dunkers Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tintern, Wales Boat: Westerly 33, Dunkers of Tintern Posts: 83	We have a barrel type charcoal BBQ which we use very successfully on the stern of our boat so I guess the Magma will work equally well Cheers David

11-03-2008, 05:54	#4
Abaco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 81	I 2nd that. Go propane.

11-03-2008, 07:24	#8
Morgan Paul Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Boat: 1973 Morgan 36T Posts: 640 Images: 12	Hey Imagine, I see the flames are giving off clean smoke, so I can assume you didn't use gasoline to fire her up . I cook on charcoal myself.

11-03-2008, 07:56	#9
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 1,940 Images: 112	That's my symphony self combusting....................

13-03-2008, 06:03	#11
Vasco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto in summer, further south in winter. Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore" Ben393 "Breathless" Posts: 1,832 Images: 34	My Magma (charcoal) is in my basement. It worked well and I had no trouble with charcoal and lighter fluid. We found that we just didn't use it that much when cruising long periods (six months). If we do a steak now it goes on a hot cast iron pan. I see here in the Bahamas most boats don't have a barbecue hanging on the stern. It might have something to do with the quality and price of meat. Looking around the anchorage it seems the big power boats and trawlers seem to have barbecues and not so many on the sailboats. __________________ Rick I Toronto

13-03-2008, 16:07	#12
SVDistantStar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Boat: Pearson 36, S.V. Distant Star Posts: 48	Ive got a small propane Magma grill on Lola and love it. It works great in most conditions. On the Pearson ive got an older Force 10 grill that is propain, its a pain to keep it lit in any wind. Im going to convert it over to charcoal since i do like a steak cooked over hot coals better then propane. __________________ 1972 Pearson 36 S.V. Distant Star (Under going an in-water refit)

13-03-2008, 18:34	#13
spencer53 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ventura Harbor, Ca. Boat: Spencer 53 (Amazing Grace) Posts: 77	I've used both propane and charcoal and have found + and - with both. Propane blows out too if there is a little wind blowing. If you get the lid hooked onto the side as a wind block it can be done to a point. Matchlight charcoal works really well. You can get that stuff lit in the wind too with the same use of the lid as a wind break. Charcoal grilling tastes better too. Only problem is the cleanup. Ashes! A real PITA.. Now that I'm on a boat with teak decks, no way man! Propane here.

16-06-2008, 16:03	#14
paulgauche Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Portland, OR Boat: 1979 Catalina 27 - Enzian Posts: 3	My Catalina 27 ('79) came with the original size Magma propane but 1 look at it and I can see it is past its time for attaching propane to it. I'm going to try using it as a charcoal grill and I do prefer charcoal. Does look a little small. My question is: What are the laws about discarding charcoal ashes overboard? I'm on the Columbia river. I can't see the harm, but happy to be corrected - particularly if it keeps me out of trouble.

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