Nothing beats eating a fresh grilled steak out on the water. Whether you’re spending a whole afternoon in your boat or just a couple of hours, a boat grill is one of the best upgrades around. The ability to cook fresh meat onboard makes a day on the boat all that much better.
When it comes to choosing your boat grill, deciding between Cabela’s and Cuisinart may be challenging. Both sell amazing gas grills with a variety of features. If you’re having trouble deciding, keep reading to learn more about each brand and determine which one is the best for you.
Cabela’s Boat Grills vs Cuisinart Boat Grills
Cuisinart Pontoon Boat Grills
Cuisinart is one of the top brands on the market. They sell top-notch kitchen supplies and have several portable grills available as well. In addition, their products are high quality and won’t fall apart as quickly as cheaper brands, so you know you’re getting your money’s worth.
One of the best Cuisinart boat grills is their CGG-180T Gourmet Tabletop Grill. It’s portable, and you can even buy a mounting set so you can install it on your boat. The mounting set attaches easily to the rail of your pontoon boat, but you should double-check the measurements before buying it. While it fits most pontoons, there are some pontoon rails that aren’t compatible with it.
This portable grill by Cuisinart is super compact, so it’s easy to store and won’t take up too much space on your boat. What’s more, you can take this Cuisinart grill with you on other outings if you don’t mount it to your pontoon’s railing.
The CGG-180T Tabletop Grill is built with rust-resistant materials. Made to be extremely durable, it can withstand wind and water, making it great for taking on a boat. It has a push-button igniter, too, so you don’t necessarily need to keep a lighter on your boat.
When it comes to power, this portable grill has quite a bit. It heats up quickly and has 5,500 BTUs of heat. With a cooking surface of 145 inches, you can cook quite a lot of meat in just a short amount of time with this Cuisinart grill.
Cabela’s Pontoon Boat Grills
Another trustworthy brand is Cabela’s. With a focus on outdoor supplies, Cabela’s knows what elements your boat grill will have to face. Their products are strong and durable, but still aesthetically pleasing.
Cabela’s offers two pontoon boat grills that are regularly used by boaters: the Kuuma Stow N’ Go 125 and the Kuuma Stow N’ Go 160. We’ll take a look at both of them here.
The Kuuma Stow N’ Go 125 is a compact gas grill. Its stainless steel construction has a smooth, clean finish. The grill is incredibly durable yet still lightweight and easy to carry around. It’s regularly recognized as one of the best pontoon boat grills on the market, and there’s no question about why.
With 9,000 BTUs of heat and a cooking surface of 125 inches, this grill is compact but powerful. It’s powered with high pressure propane and comes with a regulator. With the purchase of a mounting set, this grill can easily be installed on the rail of your pontoon without making it difficult to connect to a propane source.
The next grill is the Kuuma Stow N’ Go 160. Built out of the same stainless steel materials, this grill is just as smooth and shiny as the Kuuma 125. It has a much bigger cooking surface, though, and comes with a thermometer and igniter.
The Kuuma 160 weighs only two pounds more than the Kuuma 125, but it has 13,000 BTUs of heat and 160 inches of cooking space. It’s powered by both refillable and disposal high-pressure propane tanks and is just as easy to mount to the rail of your pontoon.
Considerations and Questions
If this is your first time buying a boat grill, you may have some questions. Below, you’ll find the most commonly asked questions as well as the answers.
Q. Is it Legal to Grill on My Boat?
As long as you follow the necessary safety precautions, it’s legal to use a grill on your boat. Make sure the grill is set on a stable surface and out of the way if it isn’t mounted on your pontoon’s rails. If you plan on fishing and cooking what you catch, you should also double-check any state regulations about cooking what you catch from a boat.
Q. Can I Buy a Boat with A Stainless Steel Grill?
You generally won’t be able to buy a boat with a grill already installed. Fancier boats such as large sailboats or yachts may have a built-in kitchen, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a regular pontoon boat with a grill already built-in. Even though pontoon boat grills are a great addition, not everyone wants to cook their food out on the water.
Q. Can I Leave My Portable Grill on My Boat Permanently?
While you certainly can, it isn’t recommended. Over time, your grill will start to deteriorate as it’s exposed to various elements. If you plan to leave your grill on board your boat permanently, you should make sure it’s well covered and protected.
During the off-season or winter months, you should make an effort to bring your grill inside if your boat won’t be stored indoors.
Q. Can I Mount My Grill Myself?
Absolutely! Many mounting sets include easy-to-follow directions so that you can install your grill on your own. You’ll probably even be able to find tutorial videos online.
Additionally, you can make your own grill mount. Stop by a marine shop to pick up rod holders, rod holder mounts, clamps, brackets, and other typically mounting supplies. You can get as creative as you want with your mount, but make sure it’s sturdy enough that a passing Coast Guard boat won’t consider it a risk.
Q. How Much Meat Can I Cook on My Grill?
This depends entirely on how big your grill is. Most boat grills have enough space to cook a few steaks or several hamburger patties, but you’ll have to pay attention to the grill cooking surface area to know for sure.
Q. How Do I Prevent My Grill From Blowing Out in the Wind?
One of the first things you should do is make sure your propane tank is high pressure. Low pressure tanks will struggle in the wind, but most high pressure tanks will do fine.
If your grill has any vents, slide them closed to prevent the wind from getting through. You may also find airflow controls that you can adjust. If all else fails, you might have to move your grill to an area that’s better protected from the wind.
Final Verdict
Boat grills are a surefire way to upgrade your boat and enjoy your time on the water. They are available in multiple sizes, with different features, and in different price ranges so that you can find a grill that works for you. Once you know what you want and how affordable you need your grill to be, you’ll find the perfect boat grill in no time.
