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Author Topic:   Cleaning Magma Grills

PeteB88 posted 07-23-2011 12:20 PM ET (US)
Okay - they are great, I got the party size for the Outrage 17, works great, got all the mounting accessories, rod holder, rail clamp, table top, I let it burn off the gunk after use and still gooey and nasty. Any suggestions on what to use to clean these things? There has to be a slick way to keep these things de-gunked that is known by long distance cruisers.
contender posted 07-23-2011 12:25 PM ET (US)
I do not think you are going to get everything off, My grill at home while my grill is still hot/flame going, I use a water spray bottle and a brass wire brush with the long handle, I scrub it while it is still on.
jimh posted 07-23-2011 01:20 PM ET (US)
We used to have a MAGMA grill on the rail of a sailboat. After a week of cooking on it every night--with charcoal brickets--the worst job on the sailboat was cleaning the grill. It took longer to clean the grill than it did to clean the entire sailboat deck, cockpit, and cabin. We cleaned the grill on land, not over water. There was a lot of soot, ash, grease, and mess when finished.
lizard posted 07-23-2011 01:24 PM ET (US)
I was offered a free, rail-mounted Magma grill from a friend but have not taken the offer up. I was concerned about lighting/burning a grill on a fuel loaded vessel. Is this generally considered safe on a small boat like an 18 Outrage?
PeteB88 posted 07-23-2011 02:51 PM ET (US)
Take the free grill - the are terrific but like anything use for cooking or preparing food they need to be cleaned. The cook extremely well.
I saw a guy at Homassosas last April with one of those new Sport 15s, blue sides with one on his boat so I figured no problem on my Outrage 17.
Just make sure you put the grill opposite side from fuel fill up and gas tank vent if you have inboard tank.
We've used it when we go to the beach and back the boat close as possible anchored up and set up the picnic between the boat, tube (on the beach) and beach towels. No problem. After use I let it burn off as much as possible.
You MUST make sure that you put the bag over the grill when moving or going fast - securely . Keeps all the parts from going overboard.
MarthaB posted 07-23-2011 06:45 PM ET (US)
we have a Magma grill, bought it back in the late 80's. Used it on our Pearson Triton and now use it for camping because we bought the legs. All grills are a pain to clean.
ryland posted 07-23-2011 06:55 PM ET (US)
To clean a grill I turn it on high, place a sheet of tin foil to cover the grill and close the lid. This will burn off all the junk on the grill and will be evidenced by large amounts of smoke. Works good for me.
home Aside posted 07-24-2011 12:30 AM ET (US)
After using John Raby's magma gas grill on the Isle Royale trip I was hooked.
I got the Magma 17" party size round gas grill for Xmas. Haven't used it yet. I bought the rod holder mount for it. I plan to use it on the port/stern corner of the boat, while that location is on the fuel fill/vent side of the boat, it is approximately 8' away from the vent/ fuel fill. if I were to mount it on the starboard side/stern it would be directly over the fuel line fittings from the tank, to the fuel line, to the water seperator/fuel filter, & then engine which I would rather not do.
Pete, I take it yours is a gas grill, Mine comes apart quite easy as far as removing the grill, the burner, gas connection etc, etc, I plan on not doing major cleaning while on trips, but dismantling it when I get home & power washing it. While on trips I plan on storing it and the accessories in a rubbermaid container between uses.
As always, safety first, while using the grill on board, the fire extinguisher will be at the ready, along with a substantial amount of 409 cleaner & paper towels for any greasy drips. I'll try & post some photos of my setup tomorrow...
Last thought, I would never use a charcoal grill on board my Revenge or any other boat, even if it was mounted outside thge railing...
On our Isle Royale trips we carried charcoal & lighter to be used in the on shore grills, never on boats
Pat
pcrussell50 posted 07-24-2011 01:39 AM ET (US)
Spray-on oven cleaner does pretty well. Not perfect, but pretty good for the effort. If it gets on aluminum, don't let it sit too long.
-Peter
Dave Sutton posted 07-24-2011 11:31 PM ET (US)
Heck, I tie mine to a line, toss it into the water behind the boat, soak it overnight, and retrieve it. Slosh it well, Brush it off, and let it dry. Salt water and all. (the crabs enjoy picking off the chunks)

Dave
.
PeteB88 posted 07-25-2011 12:28 AM ET (US)
Great idea and tough enough to do that - we have no salt water or crabs to help pick it clean
RevengeFamily posted 07-25-2011 06:39 AM ET (US)
I use the grill on my 280 Conquest. The easiest way I've found to clean it
is with Dawn dish detergent... Take off the grates, remove the burner and have at it with a sponge and the Dawn. I've tried cooking it clean but have found that the drippings down bottom never seem to fully burn off. If I don't clean it this way I end up with old grease running every where. I save the propane for cooking and use the detergent and the sponge. I've gotten relatively efficient at cleaning the grill... 10 minutes and it's back in the bildge in the cradle I made for it. The propane bottle is stored in a canvas bag hanging over the stern of the boat
Norm
boatdryver posted 07-25-2011 10:31 AM ET (US)
What I did with my grill is to not spend too much time trying to get it super clean each time.
There's a saying in surgery: " the enemy of good is perfection".
Then when you can't stand the looks of it anymore, just buy a new stainless grate.
JimL
pcrussell50 posted 07-25-2011 12:15 PM ET (US)
Boatdryver, great metaphor.
That's why I use spray-on oven cleaner. Spray it on. Let it sit. Rinse it off. Easy. And amazingly clean, for the effort.
-Peter

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Author	Topic: Cleaning Magma Grills
PeteB88	posted 07-23-2011 12:20 PM ET (US) Okay - they are great, I got the party size for the Outrage 17, works great, got all the mounting accessories, rod holder, rail clamp, table top, I let it burn off the gunk after use and still gooey and nasty. Any suggestions on what to use to clean these things? There has to be a slick way to keep these things de-gunked that is known by long distance cruisers.
contender	posted 07-23-2011 12:25 PM ET (US) I do not think you are going to get everything off, My grill at home while my grill is still hot/flame going, I use a water spray bottle and a brass wire brush with the long handle, I scrub it while it is still on.
jimh	posted 07-23-2011 01:20 PM ET (US) We used to have a MAGMA grill on the rail of a sailboat. After a week of cooking on it every night--with charcoal brickets--the worst job on the sailboat was cleaning the grill. It took longer to clean the grill than it did to clean the entire sailboat deck, cockpit, and cabin. We cleaned the grill on land, not over water. There was a lot of soot, ash, grease, and mess when finished.
lizard	posted 07-23-2011 01:24 PM ET (US) I was offered a free, rail-mounted Magma grill from a friend but have not taken the offer up. I was concerned about lighting/burning a grill on a fuel loaded vessel. Is this generally considered safe on a small boat like an 18 Outrage?
PeteB88	posted 07-23-2011 02:51 PM ET (US) Take the free grill - the are terrific but like anything use for cooking or preparing food they need to be cleaned. The cook extremely well. I saw a guy at Homassosas last April with one of those new Sport 15s, blue sides with one on his boat so I figured no problem on my Outrage 17. Just make sure you put the grill opposite side from fuel fill up and gas tank vent if you have inboard tank. We've used it when we go to the beach and back the boat close as possible anchored up and set up the picnic between the boat, tube (on the beach) and beach towels. No problem. After use I let it burn off as much as possible. You MUST make sure that you put the bag over the grill when moving or going fast - securely . Keeps all the parts from going overboard.
MarthaB	posted 07-23-2011 06:45 PM ET (US) we have a Magma grill, bought it back in the late 80's. Used it on our Pearson Triton and now use it for camping because we bought the legs. All grills are a pain to clean.
ryland	posted 07-23-2011 06:55 PM ET (US) To clean a grill I turn it on high, place a sheet of tin foil to cover the grill and close the lid. This will burn off all the junk on the grill and will be evidenced by large amounts of smoke. Works good for me.
home Aside	posted 07-24-2011 12:30 AM ET (US) After using John Raby's magma gas grill on the Isle Royale trip I was hooked. I got the Magma 17" party size round gas grill for Xmas. Haven't used it yet. I bought the rod holder mount for it. I plan to use it on the port/stern corner of the boat, while that location is on the fuel fill/vent side of the boat, it is approximately 8' away from the vent/ fuel fill. if I were to mount it on the starboard side/stern it would be directly over the fuel line fittings from the tank, to the fuel line, to the water seperator/fuel filter, & then engine which I would rather not do. Pete, I take it yours is a gas grill, Mine comes apart quite easy as far as removing the grill, the burner, gas connection etc, etc, I plan on not doing major cleaning while on trips, but dismantling it when I get home & power washing it. While on trips I plan on storing it and the accessories in a rubbermaid container between uses. As always, safety first, while using the grill on board, the fire extinguisher will be at the ready, along with a substantial amount of 409 cleaner & paper towels for any greasy drips. I'll try & post some photos of my setup tomorrow... Last thought, I would never use a charcoal grill on board my Revenge or any other boat, even if it was mounted outside thge railing... On our Isle Royale trips we carried charcoal & lighter to be used in the on shore grills, never on boats Pat
pcrussell50	posted 07-24-2011 01:39 AM ET (US) Spray-on oven cleaner does pretty well. Not perfect, but pretty good for the effort. If it gets on aluminum, don't let it sit too long. -Peter
Dave Sutton	posted 07-24-2011 11:31 PM ET (US) Heck, I tie mine to a line, toss it into the water behind the boat, soak it overnight, and retrieve it. Slosh it well, Brush it off, and let it dry. Salt water and all. (the crabs enjoy picking off the chunks) Dave .
PeteB88	posted 07-25-2011 12:28 AM ET (US) Great idea and tough enough to do that - we have no salt water or crabs to help pick it clean
RevengeFamily	posted 07-25-2011 06:39 AM ET (US) I use the grill on my 280 Conquest. The easiest way I've found to clean it is with Dawn dish detergent... Take off the grates, remove the burner and have at it with a sponge and the Dawn. I've tried cooking it clean but have found that the drippings down bottom never seem to fully burn off. If I don't clean it this way I end up with old grease running every where. I save the propane for cooking and use the detergent and the sponge. I've gotten relatively efficient at cleaning the grill... 10 minutes and it's back in the bildge in the cradle I made for it. The propane bottle is stored in a canvas bag hanging over the stern of the boat Norm
boatdryver	posted 07-25-2011 10:31 AM ET (US) What I did with my grill is to not spend too much time trying to get it super clean each time. There's a saying in surgery: " the enemy of good is perfection". Then when you can't stand the looks of it anymore, just buy a new stainless grate. JimL
pcrussell50	posted 07-25-2011 12:15 PM ET (US) Boatdryver, great metaphor. That's why I use spray-on oven cleaner. Spray it on. Let it sit. Rinse it off. Easy. And amazingly clean, for the effort. -Peter