Help: Getting set up for cooking and coffee, at marina and underway (270 SDA)

[rtp]

Hi all,

Searched here and elsewhere with mixed results but some older search hits.
Should have the new-to-me boat at our slip within the next couple of weekends (was supposed to be this one, now next, so let's just go with 'soon-ish'..)

No genset, have shore power.
The regular plan is to head out Fri or Sat nights, dinner/drinks/relaxation time on the boat, in the slip, get up and have coffee/basic breakfast, head out for the day, lunch to early dinner at anchor on the lake.

The ('98 270 SDA) has an alcohol stovetop, microwave, 12v/115v frig, hot/cold water.
Once out on the lake, am less concerned, as have been grilling including on boats for a fair amount of time, but this whole 'no flame at marina' has me thinking further on it - I guess we could buy an electric grill and stow it in the dock deck box when we head out, but looking for options.

Underway, waffling a bit between a Magma 3 kettle/round or numerous propane grills I'd mount on a rail or swim platform tube mount setup. Not a huge fan of Magma but guess in theory I could add a stainless wok and use that to both cook and boil water underway when not doing the usual grilling..

Looking for better ideas from those that have been there, done that...understanding nuking food in the microwave isn't the first preference for the in-slip dinners.. I expect we'll do a number of foil pack + meat meals underway, but getting stumped on how to cook most effectively when at the slip and just boiling water for coffee.

 

[Brite Idea]

I have a 2000 270 it's a great boat. I have the alcohol/electric stove a Keurig coffee maker and a Magma grill. When I'm in my slip the Keurig and stove are used but out on the hook the grill on the stern works great. I also installed an inverter so we can use the microwave if needed. I'll add I've never even put alcohol in the stove and am not willing to have an open flame in that closed in area.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Our 280 had the butane burner and ineffective microwave. We added a Magma Newport with the swim platform table post mount. If you go with the Magma, get the infrared perforated steel panels that sit under the grill. These cut down wind flameouts and make the cooking surface Temperature work more uniformly.

For coffee we used either a Melita filter, or French press depending on what we were using for coffee.

The other recommendation would be to make up meal size packages of ingredients (steak tips, chicken, etc) in food saver vacuum bags that are frozen. These go into the cooler and double as “freezer ice” until needed for meal time.

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

We have a magma marine kettle 3 mounted on the swim platform and do all of our cooking on it including making coffee. It works pretty good. We don’t want to do any cooking in the cabin. It gets too hot.

 

[rtp]

Thanks - the in-cabin stove on my '98 is alcohol only, so am still stuck on how to do basic food warming (or cooking scrambled eggs) in the slip before we head out. In general, would prefer to not be cooking in the cabin, but still trying to sort the in-slip variation there.

Agreed on the pre-packaging of most things. Never thought to freeze them vs in frig or cooler, but makes sense.

RE: in-slip/marina, it's seeming like either replacing the alcohol-only stove in the cabin with an electric. or adding a single electric hot plate might be the path here? Anyone happen to know the power draw of the combo electric/butane burner on the later boats (or the built-in microwave)? All of these are 1kW+ appliances - electric burner, coffee makers, even a water kettle...so some juggling at minimum is likely to ensue (e.g. only one on at a time).

On the water, I'm of two minds on the Magmas - I'd prefer a grill with a warming tray, as we often do corn on the cob + <some kind of meats>, but the magma3 round/kettle shaped one looks reasonable to dump a water kettle or wok on top of in lieu of the grate.

Might as well ask it now, as I need to sort the 'once it's cooked' portion as well. I see Magma has an OK-but-certainly-not-discounted set of stackable pot/pan/lid, versus something like this? We have a full AllClad set of cookware at home - not afraid to spend $ where it makes sense to, but have seen more than enough negative Magma complaints in general to wonder if it's 'upper tier price' for lower/same quality?
https://www.amazon.com/Stansport-Pr...t/dp/B000HK50IU/ref=psdc_289816_t4_B01CN7JJ0O

Any other advice RE: cooking aboard is very welcome.
I did have one other thought RE: coffee - nothing really wrong with bringing a double wall insulated thermos, like a Hyrdroflask growler - I do this at the range for shooting competitions and 12 hours later, coffee is still 'warm enough'...

 

[sbw1]

Our 26 foot SR came with an alcohol/electric stove. The alcohol feature was a PIA to use and we stopped using it after 3 or 4 attempts. The electric cook top was marginal in that it took forever to heat things. We ended up using that boat for pre-made snacks only. The galley was in name only.

 

[Henry Boyd]

We have the Magma nesting pans. They are first rate and as good as the Cuisinart pans we use at home. If you go the Magma route on grills, don't forget to add either plenty of aluminum foil, or buy a spare grill rack, to use with pots and tea kettle. Food covered racks will definitely grime up the bottom of pans.

 

[northern]

We had a 3 burner propane stove on our 28 footer and a BBQ. We used to go out for 2 weeks at a time only problem was we only had 50 gallons of water so it was required to go to a marina every 4th night for shower, water and fuel. Had 4 group 27 deep cycle batteries. BBQ was main cooking source and stove was used for making coffee and tea. The refrigerator was small like dorm fridge and we were good for a week with it. Used cooler for vegetables and beer. With meat do not get any with bones as it takes up more room. Bread was a problem but when you replace it with bagels you are fine. Holding tank was good for 5 days between pump out.

 

[Third Edition]

With our 250 we had a one-burner electric hot plate, and a one burner butane stove. We used both in the cockpit on the table. Both worked great. Some marinas are more diligent than others about enforcing the open flame rules. I would use the gas grill with the swimplatform mount and no marina complained. If they did complain I would have used the electric hot plate.

 

[Gofirstclass]

rtp, are you certain about your marina's "no flame" policy? Most marinas prohibit cooking with open flame on the dock but don't mind you having an open flame in a grill when cooking on the boat in the slip? Might be worth checking out.

Since you mentioned scrambled eggs, I came up with an idea a few years ago that made them easy. Crack a dozen or so eggs into a large bowl and scramble them up in the bowl. Then ladle them into sandwich size zip lock bags. Lay them flat in the freezer at home so they freeze flat. Then you can stack them in your boat freezer. Just take out tomorrow's eggs before you go to bed and put them in the refrig.

I looked at the cookware you linked to....for my use I prefer a non-stick interior. Makes cleanup easier because nothing burns and sticks to the interior.

I have a Magma kettle mounted on the boat that's been there for almost 10 years. I've never removed it from where it's mounted and we use it a lot.

 

[Henry Boyd]

No flame on boats in marinas has become prevalent in Northeast (Boston to Portland) where we Boat. Most marinas here provide common area grills (or used to before Covid). That’s the primary reason we switched to a Kenyon electric grill. These are similar to what Sea Ray installed in a lot of the 3xx series boats. Ours is surprisingly good and much better than the Magma.

 

[rtp]

rtp, are you certain about your marina's "no flame" policy? Most marinas prohibit cooking with open flame on the dock but don't mind you having an open flame in a grill when cooking on the boat in the slip? Might be worth checking out.

Since you mentioned scrambled eggs, I came up with an idea a few years ago that made them easy. Crack a dozen or so eggs into a large bowl and scramble them up in the bowl. Then ladle them into sandwich size zip lock bags. Lay them flat in the freezer at home so they freeze flat. Then you can stack them in your boat freezer. Just take out tomorrow's eggs before you go to bed and put them in the refrig.

I looked at the cookware you linked to....for my use I prefer a non-stick interior. Makes cleanup easier because nothing burns and sticks to the interior.

I have a Magma kettle mounted on the boat that's been there for almost 10 years. I've never removed it from where it's mounted and we use it a lot.

I'm not positive, honestly - I need to check the slip packet but think will hold off until can drop by there this weekend.
Still waiting on boat to wrap up and be delivered, so in between excessive work hours, trying to put together the 'sanity list' including - how the heck will we manage to cook dinner in the marina, assuming it's as I see nearly everyone calling out - no flame rules. Will confirm this weekend, and hope for the best. We're golden if it's not a thing there, but seeing so many mentioning it - I assumed it was universal. (Yeah, you know the expression on assume... ).

Either way, some good advice. I think I had read your post elsewhere during a search for cooking aboard on the eggs into ziplocks and freeze them and already jotted it into the 'boat tips' notes I'm saving off.

Not a fan of non-stick after trying a bunch of variants. Went through so many we wound up going to all AllClad, but thinking on it, we do replace a single ceramic non-stick once a year at home, so maybe that's the ticket - stainless but a single non-stick pan for eggs. Kind of irks me on the 'won't stack and stow away nicely' bit, but it's got to be usable.

I also need to sort the mounting options on the 270DA for the grill. Used an added mount + stand when we installed on a buddy's pontoon and have been assuming would do it on the swim platform, but need to spend more time looking at it and seeing what works sanely. What mount are you using for the Magma?

 

[Gofirstclass]

I have it mounted in a 30 degree fishing rod holder that I installed just for the Magma. I've always maintained "I don't let no stinkin' fish on my boat" so I had no need to ever use the rod holder for fishing. When we want fish on the boat I always go to Safeway. Never get skunked, no need for a license or rods and reels or tackle, etc. Much less expensive.

I think I said earlier I don't ever dismount the Magma. That's not entirely true. I take it down in the spring, douche it up good with oven cleaner and let it sit for awhile. Then I wipe/scrub it down so it looks almost new again.

Oh, and did I mention I love my Magma. We use it a lot and it's a good steady source for just about any meat, fish, kabobs, etc.

 

[Highliner]

I have a flush mount rod holder installed in my boat as well that I use for a kuuma grill. I custom made the BBQ mount that slides into the holder but there are commercial versions out there.

This a great way to mount things as it's easily removable, multi purpose and can even be used (gasp) for fishing if you as so inclined. I can put a fishing rod or a downrigger in mine

 

[Creekwood]

I have a 330 with shorepower/no generator. I have a high capacity house battery bank and an inverter that can run the microwave at anchor. I have a portable stainless butane single burner that I use in the cabin when at anchor and a Magma propane BBQ with rod holder mount for grilling. The butane burner works great. The boat has electric cooktop inside for at the slip.

My last boat had an alcohol/electric stove, but I was VERY careful using it with alcohol (and I hated it). It is so easy to have a fire and the flame is blue and hard to see. When I was shopping for that boat, I looked at a boat that the broker said had a minor fire with the alcohol stove that was put out quickly. The damage showed that the fire was indeed put out quickly, but it was scary to see what was warped from the heat. The cabinet laminate above was not burned, but really warped and peeling. The head liner was clearly partially melted. The plexiglass window/port on the hull sides was distorted. Seeing that really spooked me about the dangers of alcohol stoves in boats.

 

[Dave - M]

As far as coffee goes, a plain ol Mr Coffee works great at the dock and doesnt take up much space. Mine sits in a corner beside the sink. I'm assuming with shorepower you have outlets aboard. You can also use an electric percolator.

On the hook, if you get a grill/stove Magma, get a quality non electric percolator. Ive not perked on a Magma but I have perked coffee often on a coleman stove at home during power outages. Nothing like fresh coffee in the morning.

 

[bobeast]

"No Flame" usually just means no grilling on deck. What you do in the privacy of your own cabin is nobody's business but your own.

For boiling water / heating liquids, check into the JetBoil. Its actually faster than a microwave if you are making soup, heating coffee, etc. I'll usually make a pot of coffee with an automatic drip maker at the slip. Then when I'm out on the hook, I just use the jetboil to heat it up, rather than run the gennie.

 

[rtp]

I have a 330 with shorepower/no generator. I have a high capacity house battery bank and an inverter that can run the microwave at anchor. I have a portable stainless butane single burner that I use in the cabin when at anchor and a Magma propane BBQ with rod holder mount for grilling. The butane burner works great. The boat has electric cooktop inside for at the slip.

My last boat had an alcohol/electric stove, but I was VERY careful using it with alcohol (and I hated it). It is so easy to have a fire and the flame is blue and hard to see. When I was shopping for that boat, I looked at a boat that the broker said had a minor fire with the alcohol stove that was put out quickly. The damage showed that the fire was indeed put out quickly, but it was scary to see what was warped from the heat. The cabinet laminate above was not burned, but really warped and peeling. The head liner was clearly partially melted. The plexiglass window/port on the hull sides was distorted. Seeing that really spooked me about the dangers of alcohol stoves in boats.

I think I am now sufficiently spooked myself. No use of the (seems to be new and never used) alcohol stove. Definitely noted.

@Dave, Bob, and 1stClass - thanks for the tips; appreciate it.
Going to percolate (no pun intended..mostly) on it for a few, and want to be hands-on in the boat to take a look at the mounting options as well as talking to the marina and one of the 'there all the time' marina-friends have made to poke at the no-flame policy.

That Jetboil is neat - am pretty familiar with the MSR/camping mini-stoves, but some of this stuff is wild, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019GPCYDK/

New fenders came in for the boat + full camper canvas ordered. Would be damned nice if I could get confirmation on delivery date already to go sort that first cup of coffee.. Feeling like the $100 hamburger from when I was taking pilot's lessons some time back (ok, now it's more like the $200+ hamburger flight)..

 

[bobeast]

Going to percolate (no pun intended..mostly) on it for a few, and want to be hands-on in the boat to take a look at the mounting options as well as talking to the marina and one of the 'there all the time' marina-friends have made to poke at the no-flame policy.

It's always easier to ask forgiveness, than permission....just sayin'

 

[Creekwood]

This is what I use but mine is stainless steel: