There’s nothing better than enjoying a boat grilled meal whilst on the water. Imagine enjoying a day out on the water with your favourite people, whether it be friends, family, or both!
The market is full of some amazing boat grills, designed for pontoon boats. You have the power to choose from any of these fantastic grills. Though, with great power, comes great responsibility. Not all the grills are as great as each other. In fact, some grills are complete trash and a waste of time and money.
Grill manufacturers have been criticised for re-marketing cheap grills for boating use, despite them not being designed for marine use whatsoever. They fail to understand that when on a boat, the grill will be subject to a harsher environment. For example, a grill which isn’t designed for marine use will rust quickly due to water, and the flame may not last due to high winds.
You’ll have to make the ultimate decision as to which grill you want to purchase.
To make this decision a bit easier for you, I’ve compiled 10 reviews of the best Pontoon Boat Grills on the market. I’ve done extensive research and found worthy candidates for such a list. Any of the five grills that I’ve reviewed will provide you with an amazing on the water BBQ experience, though I have a top choice which I’d highly recommend you at least look at.
Magma Products Connoisseur Series Gas Grills
This is by far one of the most advanced options on the market when in need of a gas grill. It is based on stainless steel – it looks good and will last for a lifetime. It feels sturdy and well put together, despite weighing just under 17 pounds only.
The unit is compact and portable. It measures 22x14x13 inches. Despite looking bulky, the legs are foldable. When out, the unit is perfectly balanced. The lid has a full-length handle and is lockable.
Other than that, you have a grease tray that can lock in place, as well as a convenient snap out radiant plate. It ensures easy maintenance, but it also guarantees for even heat distribution.
Pros
- Mirror polished appearance
- Compact and portable
- Easy to install and use
- Simple maintenance
Cons
- Feels a bit flimsy
Bottom line, this grill is less likely to disappoint. It works well on a camping trip or a picnic, but it is just as handy for a large backyard.
Coleman Camp Propane Grill
This is one of the most versatile choices out there. It is excellent for camping, but it is just as handy to impress your guests during a barbecue – easy to move around, compact, and lightweight, so you cannot go wrong.
The grilling surface covers 180 square inches. As for the grill, it brings in 11,000BTU of heat. Since it is built for outdoor uses, it also features wind-blocking panels. They fold down as side tables.
The cooking technology ensures great results without using too much oil. Plus, the performance is consistent, regardless of the weather.
Pros
- Wind blockers
- Very lightweight
- Good cooking surface
- Durable alloy steel construction
Cons
- The lid does not close when food cooks
In the end, Coleman’s best grill will not disappoint. It offers good value for money, and it makes a good addition to your outdoor adventure gear.
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200
Char-Broil might have designed the perfect grill for outdoor uses. It weighs around 20 pounds and measures 23x15x13 inches. It is heavier than other grills in this range, but still compact and highly portable.
The unit is mostly based on aluminum, hence the low weight profile. It looks good and has stable legs – which also count as handles when carrying it around.
The cooking area covers 200 square inches – more than enough for a family or a group of friends. It is worth noting that the lid can also close while the food cooks, so you can trap flavors inside.
Pros
- Solid and well put together
- Good sized cooking surface
- Can close when the food cooks
- Infrared technology
Cons
- Flareups every now and then
Char-Broil’s top-rated grill is suitable for families and friends. It brings in a few technologies to save gas and cook faster too.
Char-Broil Propane Gas Grill
Char-Broil is one of the most popular names for on-the-go cooking. This grill allows you to cook anywhere, anytime – great for barbecues, picnics in the middle of nowhere, or perhaps a camping trip. With 187 square inches of cooking area, you can cook up to eight burgers at the same time.
The unit has solid legs that can fold on top of the lid to lock it in place. Handles are heat resistant, so you can move the grill while still hot – just be careful with it. The cooking grate is chrome plated and dishwasher safe.
The burner brings in 11,000BTU and works with 14.1 or 16.4 ounce cylinders. It is based on steel and feels sturdy and durable.
Pros
- Convenient design
- Compact and lightweight
- Works with more types of cylinders
- Great value for money
Cons
- Putting it together will take around half an hour
Generally speaking, you will need to test your technical skills putting the grill together, but you will not regret it – it is efficient, and it delivers.
Kuuma Gas Grill
Based on stainless steel and featuring white accents, Kuuma’s gas grill is great for on-the-go grilling. It weighs about eight pounds, so moving it around is fairly simple – plus, it only measures 20x11x11 inches. The unit is suitable for light outdoor cooking or camping trips.
The cooking surface measures 125 square inches. The heat output goes up to 9,000BTU – not the most powerful unit on the market, but good enough for small families and groups of friends.
It is worth noting that the grill can be mounted to all Kuuma pedestal mounts, rods, or rails. Also, it works with a few different types of cylinders.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Quality design
- Compatible with Kuuma rods or rails
- Comes fully assembled
Cons
- Heat is not perfectly distributed, but variations are slight
The compact grill is excellent for occasional outdoor or camping grilling and provides good value for money.
Cuisinart Grill and Arnall’s Grill Bracket Set
I’d highly recommend the Cuisinart Grill. This grill is specifically modified for pontoon boats and comes with Arnall’s grill bracket set. This is probably the best grill and bracket set on the market for pontoon use. This would be my first choice for a grill on my boat. This is also a very inexpensive option. This is amazing bang for your buck, with this grill – you’ll be getting your moneys worth.
The main attraction to this grill is the fact that it’s rust-resistant. This means that if any water gets into the grill, it’s extremely unlikely to damage the grill. The Arnall’s bracket set is also very strong and durable. It will survive the harshest weather and keep your grill safe. You won’t need any tools to securely install this set. This grill also comes in three different colors, black, red, and blue.
Magma Marine Kettle
agma Marine Kettle
This is another good grill for pontoon boats. It has amazing functionality, being a combination of a stove and a grass grill. You can cook your food however you like it on this grill. This is a good-looking grill, with a polished stainless-steel build, designed for long lasting beauty and enhanced corrosion resistance.
This grill features a heavy-duty inner safety shell which fortresses the outside of the grill and keeps it cool. This guards defends against discoloration and prolongs the life-span of the grill. This grill is perfect for boat-use due to it’s waterproof electronic ignition system. It lights first time, every time.
The main down-side of this grill is its size, it’s not the biggest and you may have to cram your food in, if you intend on cooking a large meal for multiple people – however it works just fine if you’re only cooking for a small group.
Springfield Deluxe Propane Grill
The Springfield Deluxe Propane Grill is an amazing grill, perfect for most types of boats. This would make for a great addition to your boat. This is a slightly different type of grill, instead of being mounted using a bracket, this grill uses a pedestal seat mount. The down-side to this is that it takes up room on the boat and can get in the way. This grill could also be used on land, which is perfect if you want to use this grill on your boat and on land. All you must do is remove the post which it comes with. This prevents you from having to purchase two different BBQ grills.
Kuuma Stow and Go 160
The Kuuma Stow and Go 160 is a decent grill, I wouldn’t say it’s the best however it’s much better than a lot of other options on the market. This grill can be mounted to any pedestal mount, rod, or Kuuma Rail. This grill features a removable grease tray which makes cleaning easier and more convenient. This grill requires no assembly, making it easy to use straight out of it’s packaging. Due to it’s compact size, it’s very portable and can be stored without taking up much room.
Magma A10-918-2GS Newport 2
The Newport 2 is a great addition for any boat. This grill uses infrared technology which evenly distributes heat and reduces flare-ups. This grill features a tempered glass viewing window which allows you to view your food whilst it’s being grilled without exposing the food to the elements. This allows you to cook in harsh conditions. With fold-away table top legs, this grill is very portable and can be used anywhere.
Pontoon Boat Grill Buyers Guide
There are a few factors which you should take into consideration when deciding what is the best boat grill. You’ll have to weigh these factors against each other and decide which are more important to you. For example, if you have a small boat then the size of your grill will matter more than it would for someone with a big boat.
Portability
The portability of your grill is an important factor as you’ll have to transport your grill more than you would for a normal backyard grill. Also, you’ll need to ensure that your grill doesn’t unbalance your boat. This means you should try your best to get a lightweight grill and avoid bulky ones.
The main attribute which contributes to the portability of a grill is its weight. Obviously, a heavier grill will have lower portability as it’s harder to manipulate. Often grills may come will handles or grips which can increase the portability of a grill.
Size
You should know how big your boat is and how many people to intend to cook for. Using this information, you’ll need to decide which grill you’re going to purchase. For example, if you boat is small then you should get a small grill so that it doesn’t take up the needed space. If you have a large family or many friends which you need to cook for, you should purchase a grill large enough to accommodate for the food that you’ll need.
Warranty
Warranty is something which you keep an eye out for when purchasing a pontoon boat grill. This is because these grills are not cheap pieces of equipment, if yours ends up malfunctioning, they’ll be expensive to replace. Therefore, I recommend you purchase a grill from a brand which offers warranty. If a grill doesn’t come with warranty, then it’s likely that the brand does not have confidence in their product. The longer the warranty lasts, the better.
My name Is Larry Noel, the voice behind BoatCrunch.
I’m a boating enthusiast that loves nothing more than being out on the water. So much so that I’ve acquired a Degree in Marine Biology (MB) as well as a degree in Ocean Engineering (OE).
I’m very familiar with a wide range of different boats and I’ve owned a variety of different boats myself however I have a particular obsession with Pontoon boats. I’ve lived all across the United States and always kept company in the form of boats and now my loving family.
Comments 2
Not going to lie, at first i questioned the use of a BBQ grill on a boat but after sleeping on the idea I’ve decided to purchase one haha 😀
Author
Haha, that’s great to hear. Glad you decided to get one, and hope you enjoy it!