Commissioning the BBQ

The decision to have a BBQ on board was a much bigger exercise than just acquiring the device and then attaching it to the boat i.e. spend money. It's been a project that has taken months and months to execute; it's gone something like this:-

1. Dream
2. Surf the net for information
3. Talk to other yachties - in the main, whatever they bought they tend to be happy with. This is not an unexpected emotion since the parting of lots of dollars always makes one inclined to 'talk up' and justify the choice. 
4. Visit chandlers
5. Dream
6. Agonise
7. Hesitate
8. Allow for the passage of time so that you forget that you ever started down the path and talk yourself out of it.
9. Return to step 1

Eventually we took the plunge, seeing the Galley Mate at the Wooden Boat Festival we were seduced by a 'Show Special' and decided to take it while it was going.  It has a viewing window, a shelf, a steel hotplate with a drain, another hotplate that is teflon coated and 50%grill; a rack that can be used as a hot plate to cook with a pan or kettle; a rack to rest tools and a large solid stainless steel baking tray for roasting. We opted for some fittings to clamp it to the rails. The trophy came back to the Kettering Marina with us and was first of all attached to the transom railing. We elected to plumb the gas fitting into existing supply instead of to an external gas bottle, but decided against an external bayonet fitting. We hatched a plan that a sturdy stainless steel support post could be manufactured that would conceal the gas hose and its entry into the gas locker. Both of these items would need outside assistance. In the meantime, it became my job to create a cover using our stash of Sunbrella and the Sailrite sewing machine. I had ample time during bad weather to get the job done. The BBQ in the meantime sat on the transom railings unused for a month!

Knowing that we were going to make a short stop back at The Royal to replenish supplies and make some good-byes we coordinated the 'outside help'.

The gas fittings inside the gas locker, inside the boat and concealed in the support.

The all important compliance plate.

The Bloke working on the installation of the support. 

For once he was on a job that didn't require him to be contorted inside the boat;

he just needed to dangle off the back of the boat instead!

Carl, the club Bosun is on sick leave and came to watch the progress for entertainment.

The elegant solution.

 

Peter and Debbie from 'My Way2' visited for the BBQ commissioning.

It was declared a success!