Best Pontoon Boat Grill Review (2023 Buyer’s Guide)

The best pontoon grill will make cooking by the water as easy as can be.

They take away the worry of burning the deck and carrying a big home grill around by being portable and mountable.

The best pontoon boat grills will be able to be mounted on any bar, round or square.

They are designed to survive anything the environment can throw at them thanks to their corrosion-resistant materials.

The Best From The Review

Best BBQ Grill for Pontoon Boat

Kuuma Stow and Go Grill

Made with marine-grade stainless steel that’s fully corrosion-resistant and built to handle life by the water.

Kuuma Stow and Go Grill

The best BBQ grill for a pontoon boat is the Kuuma Stow and Go 160.

This marine grill is tough, durable, easy to clean, simple to load charcoal in, lightweight, and has a large cooking surface of 160 square inches so you can cook up a load of tasty treats all at once.

The grill also comes with feet so you can use it camping too.

Best Gas Grill For Pontoon Boat

Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill

Designed to fully rotate and come with a windproof turbo venturi and control valve that pretty much eliminates blowouts.

Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill

The best gas grill for a pontoon boat is the Magma Marine Kettle.

It has a great cooking space, features special valves that ensure no blow-outs, can turn in 360 degrees to hide it from any wind, and the lid is latched on so it never blows away.

It also has a huge space of 176 square inches which is enough to cook up a storm for 7 or 8 friends and family.

Best Pontoon Boat Grill Mount

Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Grill Modified for Pontoon Boat

Has the same qualities as the cuisine art but with a pontoon grill bracket from Arnall’s.

Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Grill Modified for Pontoon Boat

The best pontoon grill mount is the Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Grill.

This exceptional marine grill is perfect for camping or grilling on your pontoon thanks to its durability, portability, and the fact it comes with legs and a mount included.

You can use it on the ground, on a tabletop, or with the included mount on your boat.

Best Pontoon Boat Grill Brackets

Kuuma Quick Release Inboard/Outboard Rail Grill Mount

This product isn’t a grill but a mounting bracket for a grill. It’s easy to install and works with most grills on the market.

Kuuma Quick Release Inboard/Outboard Rail Grill Mount

The best pontoon boat grill brackets are the Kuuma Quick Release Boat Pontoon Rail Grill Mount.

This mount works on a lot of different grills, is tough, corrosion-resistant and it’s super simple to install with one quick release screw doing all the work after you have set it up for the first time.

Our Top Pontoon Grills

Best BBQ Grill for Pontoon Boat

Kuuma Stow and Go Grill

Made with marine-grade stainless steel that’s fully corrosion-resistant and built to handle life by the water.

Kuuma Stow and Go Grill

The Kuuma Stow and Go 160 Portable Grill is made with marine-grade stainless steel that’s fully corrosion-resistant and built to handle life by the water.

You can take this compact grill anywhere and know it’s going to handle whatever the environment can throw at it from saltwater to corrosion, it has you covered.

Charcoal Grill

The Kuuma Stow and Go 160 are charcoal grills, which gives far more flavor when cooking.

One benefit to charcoal grills is not having to carry around gas cylinders and then recycle them – you can buy the bricks and toss them out when you’re done.

Features

These charcoal boat grills come with a charcoal loading bay at the back for easy filling and a removable grease tray that makes it easy to clean too.

It’s quite a large grill with 160 square inches of cooking space.

You’ll have enough space to cook for everyone on this grill.

You can even latch the lid down while you’re cooking to make sure nothing goes anywhere if it’s a little windy or wavey.

Setup

This grill comes without a pontoon grill bracket set for mounting, as they are sold separately.

You do have a lot of options to choose from and will be able to mount this grill anywhere on your boat – Once you pick your pontoon grill bracket set it’ll be easy to install.

Gas

You can also choose the Go 160 Propane if you find using gas more convenient over charcoal but the Go 160 Propane is more expensive and in my eyes, propane gives you less flavor.

Specs

  • Type: Charcoal grill
  • Material: 18-9 Mirror Polished Stainless Steel
  • Dimensions: 11 x 23.25 x 11.25
  • Weight: 16 lbs
  • Heat output: 13,000 BTU

Pros

  • Strong and durable
  • Charcoal loading bay
  • Made from corrosion-resistant materials
  • Removable grease tray for easy cleaning
  • Awesome heat distribution and output
  • Good space for grilling
  • Excellent mounting options
  • Quick and easy to install

Cons

  • Mounting bracket sold separately

Solaire Anywhere Portable Grill

Made with marine-grade stainless steel that won’t rust when hit with saltwater and all the components are welded together for excellent durability.

Solaire Anywhere Portable Grill

The Solaire Anywhere Portable Grill is another great grill for pontoon boats.

The grill is made with marine-grade stainless steel that won’t rust when hit with saltwater and all the components are welded together for excellent durability.

Propane

This is a gas grill that runs on 1lb propane cylinders that are readily available and easy to find.

It knocks out an impressive 14000 BTU’s of heat over the ample 155 square inch cooking area.

You’ll be able to fire up at least 4 or more burgers at a time on this grill.

Grill Grids

These pontoon boat grills also come with V-shaped grilling grids that are meant to get the best flavor by retaining some of the juices, plus they also reduce flare ups quite a bit.

You can mount these pontoon boat grills anywhere with the right pontoon grill bracket set and there are a lot of options to choose from to suit your needs.

Portability

Another great thing about this grill is that it comes with a carry case for portability, which is handy as it’s pretty heavy.

This gas grill is also a little bit expensive compared to the others.

Specs

  • Type: Propane gas
  • Material: Marine Grade Stainless Steel
  • Dimensions: 21 x 13 x 12
  • Weight: 27 lbs
  • Heat output: 14,000 BTU

Pros

  • V-shape stainless steel grilling grids increase flavor
  • Comes with a carry bag
  • Uses easy to find 1 pound propane cylinders
  • Strong and durable
  • Made from Marine Grade Stainless Steel to resist corrosion
  • Good size cooking area
  • Numerous mounting options
  • One year warranty

Cons

  • Quite heavy
  • Expensive
  • No mounting bracket

Springfield Marine Deluxe Barbeque Grill

Made from aluminum, which is not only durable but will never corrode so you can feel free to use it anywhere without any worries.

Springfield Marine Deluxe Barbeque Grill

The Springfield Deluxe Propane Grill is another gas grill that is ideal for use as a boat grill.

Springfield Deluxe Propane Grills are made from aluminum, which is not only durable but will never corrode so you can feel free to use it anywhere without any worries.

Propane Grill

It’s a gas grill that runs on 1lb propane cylinders which you can find easily in a lot of camping stores and gas stations.

Lighting it up is easy, just use a match or lighter, and then you can get to grilling.

You can latch the lid down so it stays closed no matter what the waves or weather is doing. 

TIP

Make sure the wind doesn’t blow it out though – this portable grill is known for this issue.

Features

There is an ample cooking surface on this gas grill of 189 square inches, making it one of the largest in the review.

You can easily grill up steaks, burgers, and hot dogs for quite a few people on it.

Being made of aluminum, it’s pretty light too, weighing just 12lbs, making it easy to move around when you need to.

Setup

Another great thing about this grill is that it comes with a thread-lock 29-inch mounting post modified for pontoon boats so you can get to grilling without buying a grill bracket set.

The one major downside of this grill is that it doesn’t heat evenly, so you’ll want to keep an eye on where it is hotter and cooler, especially if you want a medium-rare steak.

Specs

  • Type: Propane gas
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Dimensions: 9 x 13 x 21 inches
  • Weight: 12 lbs
  • Heat output: Na

Pros

  • Includes a thread-lock 29-inch post for mounting
  • Made from aluminum that will never corrode
  • Durable and well made
  • Large cooking area
  • Quite light for moving around
  • Good heat output

Cons

  • Doesn’t have good heat distribution
  • Blows out easily in the wind

CUISINART CGG 180t Petit Gourmet Tabletop Grill

A gas grill that uses easy to find 1lb propane cans. It’s easy to set and light, and once it gets going has a pretty good heat output of 5,500 BTUs.

CUISINART CGG 180t Petit Gourmet Tabletop Grill

The CUISINART CGG 180t Petit Gourmet tabletop and mountable grill is the choice for anyone who wants a pontoon grill with legs that they can also take camping.

You can choose to mount this grill on your boat or carry it by its briefcase-style handle and have a cookout in the forest or up a mountain.

Gas Grill

The CUISINART CGG 180t grill is a gas grill that uses easy to find 1lb propane cans.

It’s easy to set and light, and once it gets going has a pretty good heat output of 5,500 BTUs.

Cooking Area

This grill has 145 square inches of grilling surface which is a large enough cooking area to grill up enough for the whole family.

It features great heat distribution to ensure that everything gets cooked evenly inside and no one part is hotter than the other.

Build

This grill is made from quality stainless steel for great durability and corrosion resistance.

It also features a drip tray that catches everything and makes it easy to clean.

The only downside to this grill is that it comes without a grill bracket set and you’ll have to buy one separately.

Specs

  • Type: Propane
  • Material: Stainless steel with Aluminum legs
  • Dimensions: 13 x 16.50 x 16 inches
  • Weight: 13.5 lbs
  • Heat output: 5,500 BTU

Pros

  • Light and portable with the briefcase-style carry handle
  • Good heat output
  • Set up anywhere without a mounting
  • Durable and well made
  • Good grilling surface area
  • Made with corrosion-resistant materials
  • Cooks evenly
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Doesn’t go very low
  • Awkward to store with no flat sides
  • Doesn’t do well in wet conditions

Best Gas Grill For Pontoon Boat

Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill

Designed to fully rotate and come with a windproof turbo venturi and control valve that pretty much eliminates blowouts.

Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill

The Magma Marine Kettle Gas Grill is one of the best pontoon boat grills around thanks to its smart design.

The Magma Marine Kettle pontoon boat grills are designed to fully rotate and come with a windproof turbo venturi & control valve that pretty much eliminates blowouts.

Never again will you waste any gas with Magma Marine Kettle grills.

Build

This pontoon boat grill is made from 18-9 mirror polished stainless steel that is durable, corrosion-resistant, and heat-reflective to ensure you hold on to as much heat as possible when you want to.

If you like to grill for large groups this is one of the best to choose with its 176 square inch cooking space.

Cooking Area

You can fit burgers, hot dogs, and steaks all on this grill at the same time.

Another great thing about this grill is that it can go to low temperatures with ease, so you can be sure your medium-rare steak is just that.

Features

The grill also comes with a drip tray that catches all the grease and makes it easy to clean. Just pull out the drip tray and scrub away.

Another great thing about this grill is that it has a hinged lid so it can’t fall overboard and that it’s lightweight for portability.

Setup

This grill does not come with a grill bracket set for mounting but magma products do have the largest selection around.

You’ll also find a huge amount of magma products that you can add to your grill as accessories from covers to LEDs for cooking at night.

Assembly

The only downside to this magma products grill is that it is a little tricky to assemble when it arrives, but other than that, it’s one of the best pontoon boat grills around.

Specs

  • Type: Propane
  • Material: 18-9 mirror polished stainless steel
  • Dimensions: 18 x 17 x 7 inches
  • Weight: 9.13 Pounds

Pros

  • Swiveling, windproof turbo venturi and control valve virtually eliminates blowouts
  • Largest selection of mounting options and accessories
  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Great cooking area
  • Made from excellent corrosion-resistant materials
  • Lightweight and easy to carry around
  • Easy to clean
  • The hinged lid won’t blow away
  • Can cook on a low heat

Cons

  • A little tricky to assemble

Best Pontoon Boat Grill Mount

Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Grill

Has the same qualities as the cuisine art above but with a pontoon grill bracket from Arnall’s

Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Grill

The Extreme Marine Products Cuisinart Marine Grill Modified for Pontoon Boat with Arnall’s Pontoon Grill Bracket comes ready to mount to any 1.25” square pontoon railing.

This makes it one of the best pontoon boat grills if you want to get cooking as soon as possible.

It’s the same grill we looked at above except it comes ready with Arnall’s pontoon grill bracket.

Build

The bracket is stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance and is simple to mount on your pontoon boat rail, you don’t even need tools to do it.

The extreme marine products grill has 145 square inches of cooking surface and is easy to clean.

Features

It uses gas and features its own ignition system for an easy start-up.

The extreme marine products grill is made from stainless steel for durability and comes with aluminum legs that make it a little lighter for portability.

The grill also has a brief-case style carry handle to make it easy to take down to your pontoon.

Grilling

The only downside to this grill is that it doesn’t do well if it’s damp and will struggle to stay lit.

This is more of an issue when camping rather than when you’re chilling on a pontoon.

Specs

  • Type: Propane
  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 19 inches
  • Weight: 18 lbs
  • Heat output: na

Pros

  • Can be mounted to any 1.25" square pontoon boat railing
  • Mounting made from quality stainless steel
  • Grill and mounting come together
  • Great cooking area
  • Easy to clean cooking surface
  • Cooks well and evenly
  • Easy to mount without tools

Cons

  • Doesn’t handle wet conditions well

Best Pontoon Boat Grill Brackets

Kuuma Quick Release Inboard/Outboard Rail Grill Mount

This product isn’t a grill but a mounting bracket for a grill. It’s easy to install and works with most grills on the market.

Kuuma Quick Release Inboard/Outboard Rail Grill Mount

The last product isn’t a grill but a mounting bracket for a grill.

The Kuuma Quick Release Inboard/Outboard Boat Pontoon Rail Grill Mount works with most grills on the market, and definitely with Kuuma and Olympian grills.

Build

It’s made from aluminum to ensure it’s light but durable and corrosion-resistant.

It can be mounted to any bar, square or round, that’s ⅞ to 1-¼”, and you can choose to have your grill on the inside of the pontoon or on the outside.

Setup

It’s easy to install, just screw the mounting to the bar and the bracket to the grill.

To connect them, it’s just one quick-release screw that you can turn with your hands to make sure they are together.

Stability

Some people have found it to be a little wobbly, but the grill certainly doesn’t go anywhere.

One issue the bracket has is that the screws are made of stainless steel and will fuse to the aluminum over time, so make sure you clean them and remove them often enough.

Specs

  • Type: Mount
  • Material: Anodized aluminum
  • Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 0.2 lbs

Pros

  • Mount to any ⅞ to 1-¼" round or square boat rails
  • Hangs a grill inside or outside the boat
  • Quick-release to add and remove grill with wase
  • Durable, corrosion-resistant materials
  • Easy to use
  • Compatible with all Kuuma and Olympian grills

Cons

  • Screws are stainless steel, brackets are aluminum. No protection and the screws will fuse with corrosion into the bracket.
  • Can be wobbly

What Is a Pontoon Boat?

Pontoon Boat
Pontoon Boat

A pontoon boat is like a jetty or pontoon that has an engine and is actually a boat.

Pontoon boats have a large deck and are ideal for having a lot of space and holding a lot of people.

They are one of the best boats to go day-tripping around with family and friends or to go fishing in calm waters.

What Is a Pontoon Boat Grill?

Most pontoon boats are made with bars around the edge and a pontoon boat grill is a grill for cooking that mounts directly on the bars.

This means you can enjoy having a BBQ while you’re out on the water without the need to bring a large, cumbersome grill along.

Function

Pontoon boat grills don’t just have to be used on pontoon boats though, you can mount them to any bar on anything, even a sport fisher.

NOTE

They’re perfect for cooking a fish you’ve just caught so you can find out what a fish tastes like when it’s been grilled within minutes of leaving the water.

Is It Safe To Grill On A Boat?

Yes absolutely, and a boat grill makes it even safer.

They sit on the water side of the boat, so if anything was to go wrong, they would fall overboard instead of in the boat, causing no damage or safety issues. Pontoon boat owners should never leave a grill unattended to prevent any accidents.

Check out the Kuuma 160 Stow and Go Grill in action…

Kuuma 160 BBQ Burgers Corn Boat Grill Lake Cooking – Pontoon Life

TIP

It’s best to have a working fire extinguisher on board as an extra safety precaution.

What Makes The Best Pontoon Boat Grill?

The best pontoon boat grill will be made from durable materials that can handle being on the water and won’t corrode, like aluminum or stainless steel.

They’ll have a large enough cooking area of 120 square inches or more, distribute heat evenly, be simple to clean, and easy to mount anywhere. It’s also best to choose according to your cooking style.

Another thing that makes the best grill is if it can handle the wind and doesn’t blow out when it blows hard.

What To Consider When Buying A Grill For Your Pontoon Boat

Grill Mounted on a Boat
Grill Mounted on a Boat

Durability & Materials

Pontoon boat grills like these are going to be used on the water and often saltwater.

In order to survive, they will have to be able to deal with corrosion pretty well and will need to be made of materials that are resistant to it.

NOTE

Life on a boat can also be rocky and your grill may be bounced around now and then.

If it’s not durable and well made, it could end up not lasting as long as you’d like.

Materials

The top grills will be made from aluminum or stainless steel and will be welded together.

All the marine grills in the review are made like this.

This kind of build quality and materials will ensure longevity and that the grill can handle a salty life.

Other materials like normal steel would rust within a few days.

Cooking Area

Not all bbq grills are made equal and each one differs on the amount of cooking area it has. The shape also affects the cooking area, there are circular, rectangular, or square grills. Think about how large your grill needs to be.

How many people might you cook for?

In my opinion the larger the better, as you never quite know how many people might show up.

Also by having a larger grill, you can use it for other things like camping in big groups.

Heat

Flame on a Grill Close Up
Flame on a Grill Close Up

Each grill has a maximum heat output that’s measured in BTUs.

The higher the BTUs the hotter the grill will get.

The ideal amount is 80-100 BTUs per square inch which the grills in the review have.

By having the right amount of BTUs you can ensure heat retention to be able to cook whatever you like.

NOTE

Grills with higher BTUs do use more fuel though, so bear this in mind when you’re choosing one.

Cleaning

The task of cleaning pontoon boat grills can be a hassle. The last thing you want is to have to take your grill home to clean it, it would be a lot easier to clean it on the boat.

The top grills will have a removable tray that catches all the grease and other things to make cleaning a little easier.

TIP

With a tray, you can avoid taking the grill apart to clean it, but simply remove the tray and the cooking surface, give it scrub onboard the boat and stow it away.

Wind

Grill on Boat Railing
Grill on Boat Railing

When grilling on pontoon boats, you are bound to encounter some wind quite a lot of the time. If your grill can’t handle it, it’ll keep blowing out before reaching adequate cooking temperatures, wasting fuel and causing your lunch to be later.

Some grills come with special valves and can be turned around to avoid any blowouts that might happen.

NOTE

If you live in a windy area, you should certainly pick a grill with these features, as living with one that constantly goes out is rather stressful.

Summing Up

Finding the best pontoon boat grills isn’t such an easy task.

There’s a lot to choose from and you never quite know what kind of quality you get used to them.

I hope this review has helped you find the one for you, it comes down to having a large enough cooking area for your needs and picking a grill that’ll handle the environment you want to use it in.

If you still haven’t made up your mind, here are the two I would choose.

Best BBQ Grill for Pontoon Boat

For a charcoal grill, you can’t beat the Kuuma Stow and Go.

It’s light, durable, portable, looks good, is made from top-grade stainless steel, and there are a lot of mounting options to suit wherever you want to put it.

The Best Gas Grill For Pontoon Boat

If you’re looking for a propane grill, then the Magma Marine Kettle is the grill I would go for.

It’s made for life at sea thanks to its durable materials and the fact it’s built for the wind.

You can swivel it to avoid any wind and it comes with special valves to avoid any blowouts.

It’s also easy to cook on, clean, and has a huge 176 soiree inches of cooking space.

Happy Grilling!

Thanks for reading my article on the best pontoon grills, I hope you found it useful.

Please share it around with your friends, family or other grilling enthusiasts, and feel free to check out some of my others too.

I go into every topic around fishing from depth sounders to sunglasses and even seafood recipe books. If you’re looking for something new, I’ve probably covered it with loads of useful info too.

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