Magma Grill Rail Mount (I know, groan!)

copb8tx

Well-Known Member
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Jan 26, 2008
2,829
Highland Village, TX/Port Richey, FL
Boat Info
SOLD 2005 420 DA w/T-8.1S Horizons
Engines
2018 Sea Hunt 255se w/Yamaha 300hp
I've read hours of discussion and banter on CSR before I posted this thread. I already know that Four Suns will say I should just use my microwave and save a ton of cash but I'm going to ignore his sound advise and move forward with purchasing a Magma Catalina grill. Now I have some questions.

For some reason the original owner of my boat checked every option box except rod holders and I don't particularly want to cut big holes into my deck to retrofit them. That leaves me either a pole mount or a rail mount. I liked the idea of hiding the base of the pole mount under the ladder cover but my boat doesn't have that and I don't want a hot toe-stubber in the middle of my swim platform.

So I was thinking of having the grill mounted to the handle on the lid of the swim platform locker. It's has an oval cross-section with the widest portion being an 1". Will the Magma 1" rail mount system work on this shaped rail? Have any of you 420DA owners done this? Also, if someone's done this, is the grill far enough back from the cockpit seat backrest that the heat won't deteriorate the fabric?

BTW, I'm loved the idea of storing it in the engine compartment and have a great space to do so. Thanks for that heads up.

Last question (for now), does anyone have any real hands-on experience with their infrared model and is it worth the extra money?
 
I've never used the infrared model, so can't help you there.

But, take a look at the A10-126 model (http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/Mounts/Marine_Kettle_Mounts/marine_kettle_mounts.html) it requires only a very small hole and is basically flush.

I've also not used the rail mount on anything that's not round. It might be OK, but you're only going to get a few points of contact, instead of all the way around. Maybe a small piece of garden hose would help to avoid scratching your rail.

Looking at your picture, I see no "heat" concerns in regards to your vinyl.

Hey, your boat already has 100's of holes in it... what's a few more?:smt001
 
I use the rail mount and love it. No issues with scratching the rail, as it comes with little plastic rail surrounds to use if you have a 1" rail and not a 3/4" rail.

Its a few inches away from my rear seat, but no issues with heat and the vinyl. From what I can tell, the only difference between the infrared models and the non infrared is the addition of a Anti-Flare/Anti-Blowout plate. Not worth it in my book.
 
We installed the A10-184 Pedestal Mount last year on our Swim Platform. My husband mounted in on the Starboard side. It is almost flush. Two or three stainless steel bolts (not supplied). We love it because he can grill outside the boat and when we are done remove the grill and the pole.:smt038

 
It was either Doug aka Go Aweigh2452 or Todd aka Nehalennia. :huh:

That had a pretty neat way to mount & store their grill. :thumbsup:
 
This is how i did mine...not a big one but enough
 

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We installed the A10-184 Pedestal Mount last year on our Swim Platform. My husband mounted in on the Starboard side. It is almost flush. Two or three stainless steel bolts (not supplied). We love it because he can grill outside the boat and when we are done remove the grill and the pole.:smt038

I did the same thing and I am 100% happy with it. Your transom door is on the port side along with your swim ladder. If you mount the pole base on the starboard side of the platform, the grill is far outside of the normal traffic flow. The base isn't a toe stubber. It has a shape that makes it fairly low profile at the edges. Stepping on the plastic button that locks the pole in place isn't comfortable, but its nothing that will make you bleed or anything like that. You will still have access to the contents of the locker when you are grilling, and it is just a good, out of the way place to grill while everyone else stays far away from the hot metal.
 
But, take a look at the A10-126 model (http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/Mounts/Marine_Kettle_Mounts/marine_kettle_mounts.html) it requires only a very small hole and is basically flush.

This one only works for the kettle models I believe

Hey, your boat already has 100's of holes in it... what's a few more?:smt001

Funny!

I use the rail mount and love it. No issues with scratching the rail, as it comes with little plastic rail surrounds to use if you have a 1" rail and not a 3/4" rail.

Is the rail you're mounting to round or oval?

This is how i did mine...not a big one but enough

That looks good. Do you happen to have a side picture? Is that the Newport or Catalina grill?
 
We installed the A10-184 Pedestal Mount last year on our Swim Platform. My husband mounted in on the Starboard side. It is almost flush. Two or three stainless steel bolts (not supplied). We love it because he can grill outside the boat and when we are done remove the grill and the pole.

I did the same thing and I am 100% happy with it. Your transom door is on the port side along with your swim ladder. If you mount the pole base on the starboard side of the platform, the grill is far outside of the normal traffic flow. The base isn't a toe stubber. It has a shape that makes it fairly low profile at the edges. Stepping on the plastic button that locks the pole in place isn't comfortable, but its nothing that will make you bleed or anything like that. You will still have access to the contents of the locker when you are grilling, and it is just a good, out of the way place to grill while everyone else stays far away from the hot metal.

I really like this method but here in Texas that base ring is going to brand someone's foot or backside. OUCH! If I had the covered ladder I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Another issue I think I'd have is that I assume you through bolted the base to the platform. First I'd have to pull the boat and second I'm not sure with the way the platforms constructed that I'd have access to the bottom of the standing surface.
 
This one only works for the kettle models I believe

Oops, you're right. It looks like there are similar things for the Catalina, though, if you wanted to go in that direction - meaning, mounting it on a horizontal surface (like the top of your starboard side gunwale).
 
You are running out of options here. I would think that wherever it is mounted, you have to think worse case scenario. What I mean by that is that it might be raining and you have all of your plastics zipped in and you get the unenviable task of going out onto the swim platform to cook for your crew. The grille has to be far enough away from all surfaces to prevent heat damage. That narrows it down to a few options. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10119&subdeptNum=10799&classNum=10800

You are going to have to cut a hole or drill in some holes for screws ... unless you have an existing bar or handle that you can clamp onto, there is no way around it.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
If you wanted to go the route of mounting it on your platform...

Do you have access to the space between the topside of the platform and the bottom side? I'm not positive, but I think there is a "cavity" there that you can get to from the bilge.

You could paint the mounting plate white, or better yet, have it powder coated. It shouldn't be nearly as hot if it's white.
 
If you wanted to go the route of mounting it on your platform...

Do you have access to the space between the topside of the platform and the bottom side? I'm not positive, but I think there is a "cavity" there that you can get to from the bilge.

You could paint the mounting plate white, or better yet, have it powder coated. It shouldn't be nearly as hot if it's white.

There is a cavitity between the two and you're probably right about being able to access that from the bilge. Thanks.
 
It was Todd who mounted his base under the swim platform ladder door. I thought it was a great idea, and we came close to getting a Magma last year, this was the way we were going to mount it.

I will try and find the thread.
 

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