Pontoon Boat Grill Comparison Table

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.

1. Weber 50060001 Q1000

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.

2. Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit

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:

3. Arnall’s

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:

4. Camco 57305 Olympian 5500

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.

5. Magma Marine Kettle

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.

6. Smoke Hollow

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.

7. Kuuma Premium

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.

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:

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:

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:

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.

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