Buyer’s Guide & Information

Best Pontoon Boat Grills Reviewed

Looking to grill on your boat? We have reviewed the best pontoon boat grills for cooking on the water. Learn more about these top brands.

by Andrew

Buyer’s Guide & Information

Best Pontoon Boat Grills Reviewed

Looking to grill on your boat? We have reviewed the best pontoon boat grills for cooking on the water. Learn more about these top brands.

by Andrew

by Andrew

Summer is right around the corner, and there’s no better way to spend your day off than setting out to sail with your loved ones on a pontoon boat. A few laughs while fishing and enjoy some barbecue with friends and family — the recipe for spending a happy and blissful Sunday! For people who have enjoyed this pleasure and the ones yet to do so – you will require a pontoon boat grill to enjoy the barbecue.

When searching for the best bbq grill for a pontoon boat, you will come across many options on the market. Narrowing down to what's right for you can be a challenge. That is where we come in! We have reviewed some of the best grills out there to help you choose a model that’s best for you. But before hitting the waters, make sure you are equipped with the right fishing accessories for the fishing session ahead!

Preview

Model

Fuel Type

Cooking Surface Dimensions

Check Price

Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill, Titanium

Weber 50060001 Q1000

Propane gas

189 square inches

Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas...

Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit

Propane gas

160 square inches

Arnall's Pontoon Grill Bracket Set - Marine...

Arnall's

N/A

N/A

No products found.

Camco 57305 Olympian 5500

Propane gas

180 square inches

Magma Products, Original Size Marine Kettle...

Magma Marine Kettle

Propane gas

154 Square inches

No products found.

Smoke Hollow

Propane gas

305 Square inches

Kuuma 'Kuuma Premium Stainless Steel...

Kuuma Premium

Charcoal

160 square inches


Choosing A BBQ Grill For Pontoon Boats

Durability

When looking for a bbq grill for pontoon boats, you will come across many models that are only meant to be used occasionally and are not fit for long-term use. Also, they don't heat up quickly and fall apart only after a few trips. Your best pick will be a grill that can last for years. So you should choose a pontoon boat grill made of a durable material like stainless steel and from a recognized manufacturer.

The material and housing should be rust-resistant to protect against saltwater. The grill should require little to no upkeep — so no matter what the environment you are in, your pontoon boat grill remains functional all year long.

Grill Size & Shape

There is no better feeling than reeling in a good number of fish while having a barbecue in the middle of the sea — and that is exactly what you can do with a gas grill for your pontoon boat. Apart from the fresh catch, you can also grill burger patties, hot dogs, and steaks on your day out.

If your pontoon boat barbecue gas grill is rectangular, it will be around 22 inches. And if you choose a kettle grill, it may be somewhere between 15 – 17 inches. Kettle-shaped grills are often preferred for boats, as the shape allows for an even distribution of heat, while rectangular grills offer a bigger space to serve more people.

Fuel Type

You have two choices to light up your grill: A pontoon boat gas grill or a charcoal grill. If you like a smokey flavor in your meat, a charcoal grill should be your choice. Also, it is cheaper than most gas grills for pontoon boats. Natural gas or propane grills are a little pricey as opposed to charcoal grills — but a gas grill for pontoon boats is easier to set up and use.

Mounting Style

You have the choice to pick a grill with shore stands, which allows them to stand alone with little to no support. Or you can choose a grill that has to be mounted on a pontoon rail. Many pontoon boat grill units do not come with a pontoon boat grill bracket for mounting. You may have to buy a pontoon boat grill mount if your chosen model doesn’t come with a bracket.

Versatility & Portability

When on the water, there is no telling how pleasant or challenging your outing may become. This is why you need a portable grill so you can make the barbecuing station sturdy no matter how fierce the sea gets — you wouldn’t want your freshly barbecued meat to roll over in the water, would you?

A good bbq grill for pontoon boat should be adequate in size and easy to carry around. Also, you need to check if your chosen grill can be stowed away in the limited storage space on your boat or home.

Price & Warranty

When choosing the best pontoon boat grill for yourself, the ideal choice will be a grill that offers many options but does not cost as much. I suggest you don't choose a cheap grill that doesn’t perform well. It might be reasonably priced, but can take all the fun out of your experience. So go for a grill that offers the best value for money!

Warranty periods vary among brands, but ideally, the more coverage you receive, the better. Because your pontoon boat grills are valuable items, you need the assurance that if something goes wrong, you would not have to pay to get it fixed.


7 Best Pontoon Boat Grills Reviewed

1. Weber 50060001 Q1000

Our Top Pick!

Fuel Type

Propane gas

Cooking Surface Dimensions

189 square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

High-grade porcelain-enameled cast iron

Weight

27.5 lbs

Warranty

Two-year

A good cooking surface with enough power to cook quickly is what you expect from an excellent pontoon boat grill. And that is precisely what the Weber 50060001 Q1000 offers. It is our top pick in our pontoon boat grill reviews and is most certainly the best pontoon boat grill you can buy.

The Q1000 model is a successor to the popular Q100, so you get all the features of the Q100 and a few more with the new grill. The grill comes with an electronic ignition, which is easy to operate — the burner lights up quickly. This is an excellent feature as people do not like to use matches for safety reasons, plus lighting a match on a boat is often not easy.

The Weber 50060001 Q1000 also does exceptionally well in distributing the heat evenly across the grill, whether you have the heat cranked up to the max or set on slow cooking — the whole surface heats up well.  The cooking area on the Q1000 is 189 square feet, which gives you ample room to throw in several portions. If you have a small group of people over – between six and ten – they can be served in one go.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to set up
  • Exceptional cooking power at 8,500 BTUs
  • A well-placed drip tray
  • 189 square feet cooking area
Cons
  • Some users feel it would have been better if the grill had more than one burner

2. Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit

Most Portable Boat Grill

Fuel Type

Propane gas

Cooking Surface Dimensions

160 square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

Porcelain-enameled coated steel cooking grate

Weight

15 lbs

Warranty

Three-year

Coming in second in our pontoon boat grill reviews is the Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit, which is a compact yet powerful unit, and by far the best portable boat grill. The grill features a VersaStand telescopic base, which makes it easy to carry the grill around. Despite a compact size, the Cuisineart CGG-180 offers a good surface area.

Whether you want to cook eight steaks for the whole family or impress everyone with your catch for the day — the Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit can seamlessly handle it. The grill also heats up in much less time than many other pontoon boat grill units. It also doesn’t require much gas to keeping going. 

All thanks to the premounted telescopic legs, you can switch between a tabletop position and a seated position, as the legs can be folded easily based on your preference. The drip tray, lid latch, and carrying handle ensure that you can carry the grill easily without any spills.

Some of its many features are:

  • 5,500 BTU oval burner
  • 160 square inches of cooking space
  • A locking lid
Pros
  • Rubber feet for better grip
  • Briefcase style handle which makes the unit easy to carry around
  • Quickly heats up and cooks evenly
  • Ample cooking space
Cons
  • Mounting it to a rail may take some time and effort
  • Some users complained about the handle melting off

3. Arnall’s

Best Bracket Set For Pontoon Grill

Fuel Type

N/A

Cooking Surface Dimensions

N/A

Stainless Steel Grade

304 marine stainless steel 7 GA

Weight

4 lbs

Warranty

N/A

Next, we include a budget pontoon boat grill bracket in our reviews — the Arnall's Pontoon Grill Bracket Set. If you have a grill, you need this bracket to mount it securely on the rail. The brackets are meant to fit a 1.5 square inch boat railing, which is the set standard for most boats.

Once installed, your grill stays put!  You won't hear any clickety-clack sounds from your grill when fastened with these brackets. The best part is the build quality; the bracket is made to last a significant amount of time. The material used in production is 304 marine stainless steel 7 GA. It does not weigh much, which makes it easy to carry around and doesn’t leave marks on the railing.

A few things to know before purchasing the pontoon boat grill bracket are:

  • It does not come with a grill, but a drip tray, nuts and bolts, and other pontoon boat grill accessories are included
  • It fits perfectly on railings
  • Made from highly durable material
  • You may have to drill a few holes to the bottom of your grill for a quick installation
Pros
  • Durable due to the use of quality materials
  • Lightweight
  • Does not damage the boat railing
Cons
  • Some people are not thrilled about the fact that they have to drill holes to set it up

4. Camco 57305 Olympian 5500

No products found.

Value For Money

Fuel Type

Propane gas

Cooking Surface Dimensions

180 square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

corrosion-resistant stainless steel

Weight

26.1 lbs

Warranty

One-year

Cooking on the water is a thrilling experience, but you have to buy the best grill out there to avoid any hiccups — turning back to shore to fix a malfunctioning grill can be the most annoying thing! This is why we would like to introduce the Camco 57305 Olympian 5500, which is the best pontoon boat grill for the price. It has a valve and hose to connect with a gas source. You do not have to purchase any additional equipment to set it up.

The pontoon boat grill unit allows you to connect a 1, 5, 10, or 20 – pound propane tank. You just need to buy an adapter separately. For better stability, the grill can be mounted on rails with the help of brackets. If you want to attach it to a countertop, you can do so by folding the legs.

Even though the Camco 57305 Olympian 5500 is made from high-grade steel, it is still lightweight and easy to carry around. The unit offers 180 square inches of grilling space, and the burners provide 12,000 BTUs of heat at maximum capacity.

Pros
  • Even distribution of heat
  • Has an effective temperature regulator
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • It comes setup from the factory
  • Sturdy construction
Cons
  • Some users complain about the customer service from the manufacturer

5. Magma Marine Kettle

Best Gas Grill For Pontoon Boat

Fuel Type

Propane gas

Cooking Surface Dimensions

154 Square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

100% 18 – 9 mirror polished stainless steel

Weight

7.35 lbs

Warranty

One-year

Next, we bring to you another popular gas grill for pontoon boats, the Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill. Its build quality and cooking power are like none other, which is why we’ve added the unit to our pontoon boat grill reviews and consider it the best gas grill for pontoon boats available in the market.

The grill is made to last due to the use of sturdy materials in construction — it is made from polished stainless steel and comes with an easy-to-clean grease pan. The swivel grill and the control valve make sure you have a safe cooking experience. 

The lid protects against strong winds. Heating the grill is easy, and the heat is evenly distributed across the crate — as the unit uses both a radiant and convection cooking mechanism. The cooking surface on the grill is enough to entertain a good number of guests.

Pros
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Very sturdy
  • Good placement of the fuel valve — safe and accessible
  • A fuel-efficient grill
Cons
  • Some users feel in windy weather the lid doesn’t offer much help

6. Smoke Hollow

No products found.

Largest Gas Grill For Pontoon Boat

Fuel Type

Propane gas

Cooking Surface Dimensions

305 Square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

NA

Weight

24 lbs

Warranty

One-year

If you have ample space on your boat, we recommend the Smoke Hollow Grill — the largest gas grill for a pontoon boat. The grill can be modified to fit the standard 1.25" rail on your boat. You also receive Arnall’s stainless steel grill brackets with the purchase.

The cooking grid measures 205 inches and can be taken apart for cleaning. The Smoke Hollow Grill has good cooking power. Heat is produced at 12,000 BTUs. The temperature gauge on the outside provides an accurate reading. 

Use the push-button to light up and get grilling! It comes with Arnall's Grill Bracket Set to easily mount on 1.25-inch boat rails. If you want to use the grill legs, you can simply remove the brackets to take the pontoon boat grill wherever you want.

Pros
  • A decent-sized cooking area
  • Retractable legs
  • High-grade stainless steel mounting panel
  • Precise temperature control
Cons
  • Some buyers feel the propane tank runs out pretty fast

7. Kuuma Premium

Best Charcoal Pontoon Boat Grill

Fuel Type

Charcoal

Cooking Surface Dimensions

160 square inches

Stainless Steel Grade

300 series marine grade stainless steel

Weight

16 lbs

Warranty

NA

Last but not least, we would like to introduce you to Kuuma Premium Stow N Go — the best charcoal pontoon boat grill in our review. Owing to its exceptional design, a big cooking area, and durability, we rank the Kuuma Premium among the best bbq grills for pontoon boats. And the reason why we have featured the charcoal grill in our pontoon boat grill reviews.

The grill is also an ideal choice for RVs, backyards, and camping trips for four to five people. The grill has a surface area of 160 square inches so you can cook for your friends and family. The durable construction ensures that the grill lasts for years if you take care of it.

It is made from 300 marine grade stainless steel. The handle on the lid makes sure that the outer surface remains cool regardless of the temperature on the grill. For longevity, the inside of the Kuuma Premium Stow N Go's lid is lined, which ensures that no discoloration occurs after repeated use at high temperatures.

You have the option to keep it standing on any flat surface with the foldable legs, or you can mount the grill on your boat's railing by using a pontoon boat grill mount. You get everything preassembled right out of the box — just throw in some charcoal, and you are good to go.

Pros
  • A decent-sized cooking area
  • Easy to carry around
  • Requires little to no maintenance
  • The manufacturer provides excellent customer service
Cons
  • There is no cover or protection against the wind

Grilling Tips & Recipe Ideas

Hosting a barbecue on your boat is quite different from firing up a grill in your backyard. I would like to share some tried-and-tested recipes to up the fun on your next boating trip.

Here are some tasty ideas for your pontoon boat grill:

  • Meat kabobs
    meat cubes and veggies on steak sticks. Use marinara or a sauce of your choice with seasoning
  • Hot dogs with grilled cheese
    grill some hot dogs and buns; slide the meat into the bread and put in some grilled cheese
  • Cook your catch
    nothing makes more sense than having a fresh catch on your plate. Marinate the fish for about 60 minutes, or use a combination of herbs and garlic for your fish
  • Throw in some steaks
    a well done rib-eye steak in always hard to resist, let alone in the middle of the sea. Use olive oil, salt, and pepper for the steak
  • Corn on the cob
    boil some water, put it in a cooler, and throw in some cobs. After a few hours, you will have ready corn to munch away. Or you can throw some corn directly onto the grill if you like a smokey flavor

Check out our detailed fishing cooler reviews to choose a cooler for your drinks! Your bbq grill for pontoon boat is not all about meaty meals.

If you are a vegan, check out these cool recipes to try. Or if you are still unsure, check out the fish cookbooks we reviewed earlier — and delight your guests with some cool creations!

Some tips to make sure you have a great grilling experience:

  1. 1
    Do not grill at high heat
  2. 2
    To prevent food from sticking on the grill, coat the grates with oil
  3. 3
    Use a thermometer to check the temperature
  4. 4
    Use tongs to handle cooked or raw meat
  5. 5
    Make sure each side is cooked before flipping over

How to Securely Attach a Boat Grill

First, make sure you have the right pontoon boat grill bracket and the required pontoon boat grill accessories. Follow these steps to attach a boat grill:

  • Remove the drip pan
  • Screw-in the pontoon boat grill mount bracket to the space on your pontoon boat grill.
  • You should purchase lug nuts if your grill doesn't come with nuts and bolts. You would want the grill to remain sturdy on the rails. 
  • Once the bracket is secure, move it toward the boat rail. Make sure there is ample space around the grill.
  • Put the bracket on the rail and rotate the lever. Tighten it halfway, and once you are satisfied with the positioning, firmly tighten to secure the bracket.
  • Slide the drip pan back in
  • Attach the gasoline or propane tank and begin grilling

Watch this video to properly attach a boat grill for a safe barbecue on your boat.


Safety Tips When Grilling on the Boat

It is entirely safe to grill on a boat as long as you take the needed precautionary measures. Here are some safety tips to ensure an enjoyable grilling session on your boat:

  1. 1
    Thoroughly read the user manual for the grill
  2. 2
    Ensure that there are no laws in place that restrict grilling in the chosen area (yes, even on your boat)
  3. 3
    Avoid grilling when on the move, you should only barbecue when the boat is still.
  4. 4
    If you use a charcoal grill, do not use gasoline to ignite a fire
  5. 5
    At no time leave the pontoon boat grill unattended when fired up
  6. 6
    Before and after the barbecue — thoroughly inspect your grill and make sure there are no leakages in the gas connection.
  7. 7
    If something smells fishy apart from the fish. Inspect the grill properly
  8. 8
    Let your grill cool down before putting it away.
  9. 9
    Make sure no ash or cooking residue falls on the boat when cooking
  10. 10
    Always have a fire extinguisher or two on your boat.
  11. 11
    Use the recommended pontoon boat grill mount only.
  12. 12
    To safeguard against sudden flares, always keep the lid down on the grill

Grill Cleaning & Maintenance

It goes without saying, no matter how durable your grill is or even if you picked the best pontoon boat grill out there, you have to maintain it so that it lasts you a good number of years.

  • Cleaning The Exterior
    Whether you use the grill or not, make sure to clean the surface of your grill after every trip. This is important because you may sail in saltwater, which is corrosive and can lead to erosion.
  • Clean The Interior After Every Trip
    Use soapy water to clean the crates and to soften and remove any hardened grease. Chances are a lot of food droppings, oil, grease, and other debris that may accumulate in the grill if not cleaned regularly. Clean the inside of your grill properly; you wouldn’t want to invite bugs or insects to your grill.
  • Clean The Rail
    There is a good chance that the oil you use when grilling also gets on the boat’s railing, so clean the rail also after every trip.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Can I customize boat grill mounts?

It all depends on the type of mount you have. However, most mounts allow you to change the position of the grill — you can either keep it straight or a little bent.

How much should I spend on a pontoon boat grill?

Your goal should be to spend not too much. Seek a bargain that does not compromise on the features or durability of the grill.

Which type of fuel is recommended to use on a boat grill?

Propane is the number one choice among most boaters. It is cheap and easy to store. Plus, it is a good option to light up the grill in cold weather.

Where is the best place to buy these boat grills and pontoon boat grill accessories?

You can find some of the best gas grills for pontoon boats at the local market. I suggest you check out online stores like Amazon. You can find some good bargains and discounts on the online store. Additionally, the abundance of customer reviews can help you make a wise decision on your purchase.


Conclusion

With a decent grill and a reliable boat, you can plan a fun boating trip with your friends and family. We reviewed some of the best pontoon grills available in the market to help you choose one that best serves your needs.

With a good pontoon boat grill, you can hold your next barbecue on a boat instead of your backyard. We tested and reviewed some of the best bbq grills for pontoon boats – on durability, size, portability, and price – to include in our picks.

Go over the reviews and choose one that you like best! If you ask us, we think the best pontoon boat grill is the Weber 50060001 Q1000, which is why it is the top pick in our review.

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