Dickinson Sea-B-Que 180 Marine Grill
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First Published
Dickinson builds marine heating and cooking gear for boats that go offshore. The Sea-B-Que 180 is their grill: heavier, plainer and more serious than the weekend-boater competition.
What We Love
- +Thick 316 stainless construction built for offshore use
- +Can plumb into an onboard low-pressure propane system
- +Cast burner and heavy grate survive years of salt
- +Deep body handles wind and spray well
- +Fully serviceable — parts available for old units
- +Made for liveaboard duty cycles
Watch Out For
- −$799 and the mount is extra
- −Overkill for a day boat or pontoon
- −Heavier and bulkier than a Magma
- −Plumbing into ship's propane is a professional job
- −Plain looks — no showroom polish
Specifications
Cooking Area
180 sq in
Material
316 marine-grade stainless steel
Fuel
Propane (canister or onboard low-pressure)
Mounting
Rail or pedestal
Weight
26 lbs
Use Case
Coastal and offshore cruising
The Full Review
There is a difference between a grill that survives weekends and a grill that survives a season of living aboard. Dickinson builds the second kind. The steel is thicker, the fasteners are heavier, and nothing on it is designed to look good in a big-box aisle.
The feature that matters to cruisers is the low-pressure propane hookup. Instead of feeding it disposable 1 lb canisters — which are expensive, wasteful and hard to find in remote anchorages — you run it off the boat's existing propane locker. On a long passage that is the difference between cooking and not cooking.
Wind and spray handling are excellent because the body is deep. Heat stays where you put it.
The honest caveat: for a 22-foot bowrider used ten Saturdays a year, this is far more grill than you need and the Magma ChefsMate does the job for less than half the price. The Sea-B-Que earns its keep when the boat is your home.
Plumbing into ship's propane should be done properly, with the correct regulator, solenoid and hose. Propane below deck is the one thing on a boat you never improvise.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest marine gas grill rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson Sea-B-Que 180 Marine Grill (this) | 4.4 | $799 | The bluewater cruiser's grill — heavy 316 stainless, plumbs into an onboard propane system, and shrugs off ocean passages. |
| Otto Wilde OFB Steakmaker | 4.7 | $799 | 1500°F overhead infrared. |
| Magma Catalina 2 Infrared Marine Grill | 4.6 | $639 | The big-boat grill — infrared burner, 162 sq in of 316 stainless, and enough output to feed a full cockpit without flare-ups. |
Who Is It For?
Liveaboards and long-distance cruisers. Owners with an existing onboard propane system. Anyone who has already worn out one marine grill and wants the last one.
Final Verdict
The Sea-B-Que 180 at $799 is the cruiser's grill. Expensive and unglamorous, but it is the one still working after ten seasons.
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