Buying a boat BBQ

Catherine Lawson

With tongs in one hand and a cold drink in the other, barbecuing on a boat is by far the most fun you can have cooking a meal. And, happily, there’s a portable grill for every boat and budget.

The first thing you’ll want to look for in a boat barbecue is a rust-resistant construction - marine-grade stainless steel or porcelain-enamelled cast iron are both good choices.

Compact is great, but the grilling area needs to be large enough to feed everyone gathering on your deck. Consider where your barbecue will live on your boat, too, and whether you want to mount it or keep it mobile, in which case you’ll need a barbecue with legs or one that can sit on a table.

Gas or electric BBQ?

The advantage of gas over electricity is its superior temperature control and the speed with which it heats up the hotplate. LPG is clean and cheap, and the cylinders are easily refilled, however not every boater wants LPG aboard when there’s a good lithium battery power supply.

Any gas appliance fitted to a boat’s fixed gas supply, or from appliance to the gas bottle via a quick-connect bayonet, must have a flame failure device that will automatically switch off the gas supply if the flame goes out. Older-model barbecues are not bound by the new rules, nor is any barbecue that is connected directly to a gas cylinder via a regulator (without a quick-release bayonet). However, if you’re buying new, consider flame failure shut-off a must-have feature.

Cast-iron cookers

Webber Q

A bevy of happy boat owners swear by their cast-iron cooking grills and the high-domed lids that cook all kinds of meals to perfection. Thanks to the Q’s surprisingly large capacity, they double as an outdoor oven too.

The Weber Q Premium (Q2200N) just scrapes in as portable at 14.5kg and comes with legs for tabletop cooking. It fires up at 14,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) on a single-burner 2064cm2 grilling area.

What it doesn’t provide is flame failure protection. To get that, shift down to the Baby Q Premium (Q1200N) and retrofit it with Weber’s FlameIQ. If side tables aren’t a drawcard for you, the original Baby Q (Q1000N) offers the same grilling area and BTU in a more lightweight version (9.11kg) at a slightly lower price.

Ziggy Nomad

This model might be the ‘baby’ version of the Ziggy barbecue range, but it’s the only one that meets the Australian standards for flame failure control. It’s made with vitreous-enamelled cast iron and weighs 16.4kg. Features include flamethrower ignition, a high-domed roll-back hood, and a single burner under the oval-shaped 1329cm2 grilling area.

Cast iron / Stainless steel combo

Galleymate 1100

The smallest of three units in the Galleymate range, the 1100 cooks for four to six people, with two independent burners and a fiery 20,000 BTU. As a comparison, Magma’s renowned Kettle 3 heats at just 7100 BTU.

For another comparison, its 44 x 25cm grilling area rivals Magma’s Newport II but the Galleymate cooks with more than twice the heat and offers five times the warranty.

Magma Marine Barbecues

Magma’s Kettle 3 comes with a heavy-duty safety shell that’s said to retain the grill’s heat better, while keeping the outside of the barbecue cooler. The Kettle 3 works as both a stove or a gas grill, but the round grilling area is just 33cm in diameter. Constructed of marine-grade stainless steel, it has electronic ignition and a hinged dome hood.

Magma Catalina II

Nestled between Magma’s compact Newport model and the top-of-the-range Monterey, the Catalina II will appeal to stylish barbecuers whose cooking gathers a crowd. Install it with flush deck mounts or keep it portable. While it still heats over one burner, it offers a proper-sized primary grilling area of 30.5 x 45.7cm, and a smaller secondary rack that sits above.

Electric Barbecues

Cookout Classic Electric Portable

Here’s one for lovers of all things electric: an electropolished, 316 stainless steel grill that’s Australian-made, too. Its grill size rivals many of the gas models included here, and features include an electronic simmerstat control, laser-cut air vents for efficient airflow, a portable bench stand and a 10-year structural warranty (12 months on working parts).

NomadiQ Portable BBQ Electric

This lightweight (5.4kg) portable 240V electric barbecue by NomadiQ has a unique folding design that makes it easy to carry and open up/unfold. It has two separate temperature zones with a combined 1460cm2 grilling surface, and its non-stick grates have a ceramic coating.

Napoleon TravelQ PRO285E

This all-electric portable grill is another rival to the Weber for those happy to plug into their boat’s power supply. Like models in Weber’s Q range, the Napoleon has a cast aluminium high dome lid and a porcelain-coated cast-iron grill, making it suitably resistant to rust.

CLUB MARINE MAGAZINE

Australia’s leading marine lifestyle magazine, filled with features on boating, jet skiing, fishing, destinations, how-to guides, safety tips and so much more. Members can enjoy Club Marine Magazine for as little as $3.30 a month.

Subscribe Now

Lobster and prawn boats recipe

These delicious and easy lobster and prawn boats are the perfect addition to any lunch or dinner.

Grilled squid with roast potatoes and summer salad recipe

Enjoy delicious grilled squid seasoned with lemon and olive oil, alongside crispy roast potatoes and a fresh balsamic summer salad for an easy and tasty meal.

Grilled butterflied prawns recipe

Featuring juicy prawns cooked in chilli butter, paired with a refreshing orange salad and finished with a sweet and spicy chilli honey drizzle.

Pancakes with apple & banana topping recipe

Who can resist fresh pancakes for brekky? Especially these, with their juicy fruit topping and a creamy dollop of coconut yoghurt.

Pan-fried whiting with lemon cream sauce recipe

Ruth Harris of Zonte’s Footstep winery adapted her lemon cream sauce recipe from Nagi Maehashi’s Recipe Tin Eats version.

Sydney Fish Market recipe

A budget-friendly seafood dish packed full of flavour.

Roasted Ocean Trout, Warm Beetroot Salad Recipe

Cptn Jack’s roasted Tasmanian ocean trout is served on a bed of almond skordalia.

Cheesecake with prosecco strawberries recipe

Mud Crab Risotto recipe

Ormeggio at The Spit, Sydney, is a hatted Italian restaurant with a refined seafood menu that includes this exquisite mud crab risotto.

Crisp and Soft Tacos With Apple Slaw Recipe

From the pages of The Hunter and The Gatherer, by long-term cruising sailors Catherine Lawson and David Bristow.

Hiramasa kingfish crudo recipe

This elegant kingfish recipe is courtesy of San Martin, at d'Albora Marina Akuna Bay.

Destination Apollo Bay Victoria

Cruise the iconic Great Ocean Road and stop at Apollo Bay for its beautiful beach and sensational food.

Singapore hotpot recipe

Guests at Crusoe’s on the Lake enjoy views across Lake Macquarie while dining on local specialties, including this delicious Singapore hotpot.

Crispy Chicken Burger Recipe

The Bridgewater Hotel Loddon River serves quintessential pub favourites and elevated dishes showcasing the region’s finest produce.

Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder recipe

This recipe is courtesy of the Bridgewater Hotel Loddon River, just a two-hour drive from Melbourne in the central Victorian Bendigo region.

FOLLOW US ON

Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about Club Marine boat insurance, consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Document and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Document, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for Club Marine boat insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.

Club Marine Limited (ABN 12 007 588 347), AFSL 236916 issues Club Marine boat insurance and handles and settles claims as agent for the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (ABN 15 000 122 850) AFSL 234708 (Allianz). Club Marine Limited is a related body corporate of Allianz. Copyright © 2026 Allianz Australia Limited.