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What size grill is best for the Mac 26X to hang off the back? I'm referring to the round one. The 15" or the larger one. All of the round models look the same. For budget reasons Im not sure to get the grill or the two burner alcohol stove in the cabin to start off with. I'm tired of eating sandwiches Thanks for your input.

Brian

You can cook about anything on the Magma that you could cook on the stove, plus you can use the Magma for a grill and even an oven to some extent.
That said, we have both and use the alcohol stove more. The 15inch Magma Kettle ($199 at Defender.com) hangs off the back and seems a perfect size for the two of us and does fine with a couple of guests. We have a two burner alcohol Origo ($339 at Defender.com) in the galley and use it for coffee early in the morning and breakfast a bit later. Whenever I am grilling on the Magma, the Admiral is in the galley using the Origo for the rest of the meal. On a cool evening, we use it to make hot chocolate or tea or coffee. In bad weather it is so nice to be able to cook inside (we don't let any propane inside the cabin).
I have a CO detector and if the cabin is closed, it will go off when using the alcohol stove. I finally installed an exhaust fan right above the galley and that took care of that issue so that when it is cold or stormy we can close up and still cook.
I can't imagine going without the Magma though...grilling steaks as the sun is setting.......They are both high quality with stainless steel and simple, dependable design, so I think you should get both for Christmas!

SILK

I just bought the 15" Magma 2 (grill/oven/stove) for $159.00 new off ebay and the rail hanger for $38.95. There r just the two of us 90% of the time and the bigger was $75.00 more...that will buy a lot of propane Fits perfect but haven't used it yet. But from all I read here, that is the way to go.


Allan

BNG wrote:Im not sure to get the grill or the two burner alcohol stove in the cabin to start off with.
Brian

The answer to ALL these kind of questions is always BUY BOTH

Rick

PS I had both and NEVER used the alcohol stove even one time, because any cooking I did was always at the dock when I used the grill and the microwave. At a slip, a microwave is a MUST, as well as a wide toaster.

In bad weather it is so nice to be able to cook inside (we don't let any propane inside the cabin).

That says it all If you are going to be spending a lot of time living aboard, or just some overnighters, the convenience of the stove in the cabin will make a difference. Most especially in the morning

I don't have a Magma. I have a Kuuma Stow N Go, and I am as happy with it as a pig is in slop. Little legs fold out so I can take it ashore for use.
I also do not have a stove in the cabin, but I do recognize that if I did spend time living on board Nice Aft, a stove would not only be my next purchase, but I would have done so before the Barbecue. My choice would be an alcohol stove. They do also have their drawbacks. You don't want any containers of alcohol breaking, or leaking.

Ray

Denatured alcohol usually comes in a plastic (oil type) bottle with a tight screw on cap. I think that's pretty safe from leaking, spilling or breaking.

Rick

We don't normally take portable containers of stove alcohol to refill on board. The Origo stove containers are stainless and hold a LOT of fuel and do not spill easily. We buy stove alcohol at Lowes by the gallon and take the stove out of the cabin to refill. I do have a backpacker's screw top, stainless, stove fuel container for an emergency....but have never needed it.

We anchor out almost always and have only been at a dock at night when it was too dangerous or uncomfortable to be out (Lake Superior). Toasters take too much electricity away from the marina to be practical (although I do admit to have started up the generator so we could have some decent toast

SILK

Id probably go against what the others said and say the bigger kettle is better ( I had both but sold the smaller one) | cook for two of us and a 4 year old and would say that by the time you cram three steaks on there, there aint much room left for the foil wrapped coin cobs and potatos, steamed vegies etc!

I love the Magma (although I still cant always get the cooking right on it...) but if I could only have one, would take the alcohole stove anyday, much more versatile, can be flashed up in a second to make a coffee, make a bit of toast, fry an egg, or heat up some beans etc, where as, I wouldnt bother with stuff like that if I only had the magma (mind you, I have the heat bead one, not the gas version)

Use of stove verses magma on our boat is probably 80 percent stove verses 20 percent magma

Paul

NiceAft wrote:

In bad weather it is so nice to be able to cook inside (we don't let any propane inside the cabin).

That says it all

You forget - - - in California we didn't have any bad weather

Rick

Yeah, I know Rick. Just a lot of hot air

Ray

I use both a Magma and a Brinkmann SS propane stove but sometimes Im cooking for 7. ..

They use the same 1# propane bottles so I only need one fuel. Safe use of propane on board has been threaded to death elsewhere on the Board.

For many years , all we had was our 15" charcoal Magma grill and I did all our cooking on it . Steak , baked potatoes , grilled corn , etc .
You would be amazed at how creative you can get with just a grill .

We had a little cheap burner , cheap as in less than $10.00 , that sat on/attached to a green propane bottle for coffee .

We cooked like that for years untill we bought the Bayliner cabin cruiser that came with an alcohol stove .

I highly reccomend , grill first , stove later .

I highly reccomend , grill first , stove later

NAH - JUST BUY BOTH!

Rick

pokerrick1 wrote:

I highly reccomend , grill first , stove later

NAH - JUST BUY BOTH!

Rick

As the Admiral is so fond of telling me ,,,

DON'T PUSH IT !!!

And I say ,,, Yes Maam .

Thanks for your suggestions. I will add it to my X-mas list. Yeh...No more cold sanwiches!