sailboats and eggs, any mounting experience?

DawnC

Has anyone tried mounting a small or mini to a sailboat? Maybe some sort of gimbal mount? We've had great success with our large at home, about to buy the Brother in Law a large for his house... and trying to figure out how to get one on a deep blue sail boat.

Anyone figure out how to make one of these guys work on a long haul sailboat?

Little Steven

DawnC,

That would not be a goood idea. You could do it on a stinkpotter but too dangerous on sail.

Steve

Panhandle Smoker

I have seen a few most have a custom built cradle or rack on the stern. Most of what I have seen are on larger power driven vessels 40ft plus and have heavy duty rails, so it not much of a problem. You most likely have a cable railing right?

DawnC

The sailboat in question is a decent size. 50' ketch . Mostly just a "in theory" question. Ie. would a gimbal off the back even work?

We frequently see them equiped with ole school looking hibachi grills... (including the boat in question) but the egg produces a much more, mmmmmmmm, delicious result.

Fresh fish out of the ocean and straight on to the egg??? Can that be beat?

Panhandle Smoker

50' not a bad size. diesel or gas? A gimbal off the stern would probably be the only way I would go. I would also seriously consider sea state and wind direction before cooking and even then watch it like a hawk. I would not recommend cooking U/W and would not recommend cooking far from shore remember Murphys Law. One close call with fire at sea was enough for me.

RRP

A custom gimbal would work, but why ask this board since your insurance carrier will probably tell you you're on your own when your boat burns and sinks and have a happy time swimming back to shore !

Sundown

burn?

It's fast, hot and nasty.

I don't know of an insurance agent that wouldn't lose your policy in a heartbeat!

Think long and hard before making any moves bringing open flame or coals aboard.

My 2¢ worth/

Car Wash Mike

It is illegal in Missouri to have a charcoal device on board.

Mike

Gator Bait

HI DawnC,

I grew up sailing, have owned my own boats and have worked on cruising sized sail boats as 1st mate and I like your idea. I would think the bottom heavy BGE would lend itself to a gimbal type mount very well. If handled with the care everything else on a boat requires it shouldn't be any problem. Safe boating is no accident. It needs not be any more dangerous then firing up the BGE on the deck on your house.
Having said that the only downside to the BGE at sea that I can see would be the cooking area to weight ratio. The BGE's do not give you much cooking area in relation to the amount of weight you are wanting to mount and carry. Compared to something like this one at 12 pounds with a 17" diameter, 204 Sq. In. cooking area the BGE may not be very practical. Also if I were going to take charcoal to sea I would consider taking briquettes then lump. They take less space and can be purchased any where.
I could really get into grilling at sea. Maybe a surf and turf of steak and a baked stuffed lobster in some little secluded cove on the coast of Maine after a long days sail, or maybe some fresh grouper or snook down in the Keys as the sun sets in the west. How about BBQ shrimp wrapped in bacon in the Dry Tortuga's. LOL, I'm ready!

Good luck

Gator

Spring Chicken

We had a sailboat (much, much smaller) when we lived in Miami and saw a few boats with RV style grill mounts but no Eggs.

If your intent is to cook on it daily, yes a gimbal mount would probably be best, but if you will only cook on it occasionally I would create a handy but secure storage area below for the Egg, lump and accessories for use only when reaching shore. Personally, I think you would enjoy it better and not be faced with worrying about all the possible unpleasantries that could occur, including violating a port rule or visually altering your beautiful boat.

My 6 cents (adjusted for inflation) worth.

Spring "Cast My Fate To The Wind" Chicken
Spring Texas USA

Gandolf

We owned two sailbaats for ten years (31 footers) and used the rail-mounted gas version of the Magma that Gator Bait linked. Aside from the safety issues that I'm sure you have considered, I would be concerned about the internal parts of the Egg being damaged under way. Egg could be mounted solidly, but internals could take a beating? It is a great idea, though

Rollocks

A gimbal will hold it level until you open it.

Many gimbaled stoves have counter weights that one adjusts when placing a pan with a handle on the burner. The counter weights are just a few ounces. In the case of an egg you would need heavy counter weights wen the lid was opened

Panhandle Smoker

Dawn, you have received a lot of response on this topic. Many pro's and cons to think about. Bottom line as I agree with many of the post. grills on boats can be very dangerous however growing up on the water and working in the marine industry, I have seen more than a few grills on boats. The ones I have seen on sail boats are the ones mentioned by gator bait. http://www.boatmartusa.com/marinemall/magma-marine-kettle-charcoal-grill-party-size-p-202.html?zenid=58f021e21071a385b0fa03ffcd1e44de . If you must have a grill on the boat get on that is designed for it all stainless and off set on a gimbal to get it over the side. Not to mention the rust, your bands would not last a year at best. I just picked up a grill from a house near the beach that was only 2 years old everything but the stainless lower vent had terminal cancer (rust). Whatever you do be careful, use good common sense and good luck.