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Ever Seen One of These?

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/02/2007 : 09:15:52

When I was in my teens (a long time ago) we had a cabin cruiser and spent a lot of time on the inland waterways in Kentucky, Tennesee, and Georgia. On the transom was a bracket in which a gimballed charcoal grill would fit. It looked just like a minature webber kettle (was turquoise) and used regular charcoal. Now I know that is a little dangerous, but hanging off the back of the boat seemed pretty much ok by us.

Anyway, does anyone know if they make this type any more?...or remember what I am talking about? We loved cooking chicken, hamburgers and other food while anchored in a cove somewhere. The gimbals always kept it level when the boat would rock and we would just let the coals burn out and the unit cool down before putting it away on board.

Mike
Grand Lake, OK
N.O. Catalina 25 #4849
In my opinion 75% of the earth is water for a reason. That's why I sail.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 09:48:37

I haven't seen a gimballed charcoal grill, but IMHO, these days charcoal is a bad idea on a boat. Propane is safer--gas grills heat up immediately and turn off immediately. And there's no high-sulfur junk to dump in the lake (to add to the acidity). You can get a nice stainless steel grill that securely attaches to a rail or in any number of other ways to the boat. Just store the propane cannisters in an exterior locker--you don't want propane gas leaking down into your bilge.

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 10:04:15

Oh yeah...I am well aware of that. We had a 1957 Owens Cruiser that my Dad restored. It had a wooden hull and solid mahogony decking and transom. The one thing it didn't have was bilge vents. We spent the better part of the day in a marina on Kentucky Lake having them installed one summer. I certainly can see the issue surrounding the ashes and the flames, but it hung out over the back on the gimballed brackets. Of course we were quite careful with it. My Dad is an old navy man from way way back and served on subs. He was extremely careful on board.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 10:14:04

I don't question your or your dad's carefulness... It's just that faced with a choice between something that's convenient and safe, and something that's less convenient and less safe......

And BTW, I can imagine that while the gimbals would counter boat motion, they might allow the grill to swing and sway when I tried to scrape something off with the tongs. Also, if you put a pot of water on (to steam clams, for example), it could change the whole dymamic of the gimbals.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/02/2007 10:20:15

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 10:40:03

Dave, funny you should mention that. I remember my Dad losing one of the grills overboard during cleaning it one time. Luckily the water was only about 6-8ft deep and he found it. As far as a pot of water or similar, we only used it for hamburgers, dogs, and chicken etc. But mostly, you are correct, I am not real keen on putting a real charcoal burner on the boat. Mostly I was wondering if something like it was still made. If I ever decide to add a grill, it will be the new stainless type with propane fuel...and the bottle in the fuel locker unless it is the smaller one.

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millermg
Navigator

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159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 11:27:30

We have (now in the garage) and old magnum stainless charcoal grill we used for several years on the back of our old boat that I picked up at a garage sale for $5. Now that we've got a propane grill, I'd never consider going back. Aside from being messy and the visually obvious dangers of having 12" high flames shooting out the top and sides of the grill when fanned by a good gust of wind, I always liked to get the thing going while under way so we could be ready to cook when anchored. It's not easy to light a charcoal grill w/ a match in 12 knots of breeze, darn near impossible!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2007 : 16:25:47

To get the same wood fired flavor, we keep a bag of mesquite chips on board. Soak em and toss them in. Zephyr has a Force 10 log shaped grill and I plug a few of the vents up top with foil to keep the smoke in. Works like a charm. I am a real wood charcoal -no briquetts - guy at home and this comes close. Can make a mess, so we only do it when we are going to be staying for a couple of days. After use, I attach a line to the grill and drop it overboard if appropriate to clean, or drop it back into the 5 gallon BLACK bucket we keep in the sail locker until I get around to cleaning the burnt wood chips out. Propane is the only way to go.

We also keep 10 lbs. of kindling on board just in case we can go ashore to roast marshmellows!

Sten
'82 SR, FK #3220
Swansea MA

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.