...with a brand new Magma Newport Infra red bbq.
I have been wasting so much time trying to figure out exactly what grill, what fuel and what size I wanted, that I finally decided to take a ride to Defender and see the models in person. I would happily have purchased the grill from West Marine but they didn't have one on stock (and the Newport store is supposed to be an anchor store!).
Anyway, I first spoke to the people at Magma about their product and asked all the questions I could think of. They gave me to someone named Greg who very patiently answered everything I threw at him until I was happy. Then I decided that in order to make my mind up I needed to see and compare the various brands and models side by side. Defender was the answer!

When we drove into the lot at Defender I realized that this is the annual big spring clearance sale there. I have never seen the place so busy. The best part was finding that, much like a boat show, the manufacturers had representatives all throughout the store. The Kuuma rep was there and the Magma rep. I learned that the poor person I had pestered with questions was actually the vice president of Magma (I thought he was particularly good at dealing with me.....).
Anyway I was comfortable with the company, the product looked well made and I got to check the competition out too.

We have owned 4 bbq's in the past 20 years. A SeaBQue charcoal grill (not the Dickinson marine Sea B Que) that we just grew tired of, an Australian Galleymate 1000 that we gave away when we purchased our current boat as it was simply too large for our lazerette, the Parker Grill that we have used for the past 10 years and now finally this Magma. I will begin cooking with it tomorrow (at home) and report back but it appears to be exactly what we wanted.
Bruce