Everything tastes better off the grill, but marine gas barbecues—like this old model Magma kettle—have a downside too: They get dirty quickly, they rust, and they require propane, which can be a storage hazard.

To grill or not to grill, that is the question.

Whether it is better to pack a picnic lunch or to buy a stainless propane barbecue—and in doing so assume the initial cost, the work of setting it up and keeping it clean and free from corrosion—rests on just how important grilling is to you. While the benefits of marine grills are largely existential, the pitfalls tend to be concrete, like layers of baked-on grease. These things get dirty, they rust, and they require bottled propane, which can be a storage hazard on boats. …