Belowdecks & Amenities

In June of 2006 Practical Sailor looked at six propane marine barbecue grills from four manufacturers. Two high-end Australian barbecue grills have come to our attention since that test: The Sovereign Bravo BBQ and the Galleymate 1100. We took a close look at these grills and then pitted them in a cook-off against the winner of the June 2006, the Magma Catalina. Both Aussie grills have an optional grill face that is part grill and part flat plate, or griddle. The grill plates are machined from large sheets of corrosion-resistant steel. Both Aussie grills offer excellent wind protection and both come with an impressively large range of both rail and deck mountings. Both grills are made from 316 stainless steel, nearly twice as thick as the Catalinas 304 grade stainless steel.

Following our reviews last year of single-burner stoves (July 2006) and two-burner stoves (September 2006), Seaward Products sent us three products for a small stoves update. The late comers were a propane-fired, two-burner drop-in and two single-burner, butane cookers (one portable and the other a drop-in). Testers compared their performances to the top picks of our 2006 tests.

We received four galley ranges for our test-three propane stoves and one alcohol stove. The propane models were: Force 10 Gourmet Galley (Model 63351), Seaward Princess Model 3175, and Tasco Model 755LP. The alcohol-fueled Origo 6000 by Dometic was the only non-propane stove we tested. Our hunt for the best marine stove looked at the stoves construction, durability, performance, safety, size, and price.

One of the advantages of a compressor-driven portable refrigerator is that it can also serve as a freezer. And compared to thermo-electric coolers, they require fewer amps to do the job. Cruising boats need to be energy efficient, so amp consumption with a 12-volt power supply was one of the key factors Practical Sailor looked at in this test. As in any marine refrigeration test, insulation is a key factor in efficiency, so our comparison also tried to single out the best insulated units. Ultimately, the linear compressor system used in the Engel and Norcold refrigerator/freezers proved to be more efficient.

The main drawback of thermoelectric coolers is power usage. This will likely be an issue during extended use or for boats with small battery banks and anemic charging systems. The 106-130 amp load, over a 24-hour period, is about twice as much demand as a built-in evaporative sytem and about three times the demand of the most efficient-and most expensive-installed systems. Also, thermoelectric units are limited in their ability to cool internal temperatures, usually to a maximum of about 40 degrees below the ambient temperature.

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MARINE INSURANCE REDUXI have been reading with much interest your articles about marine insurance this year (April and May 2006).

It was mid-July 1990 on the Caicos Banks, a stretch of shallow, gin-clear water extending for about 70 miles east to west in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Along with a dozen other cruisers whod chosen to thumb our noses at hurricane season (ah, those were simpler times), we were pausing in Providenciales before heading south. …

Force 10 takes top honors; Origo named Budget Buy.

Petite, portable, and powerful: Single-burners face off.