Magma Catalina 2 Infrared Marine Grill
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The Catalina 2 is Magma's larger infrared marine grill. Where the Cabo is a two-person rail grill, the Catalina is built for a cockpit full of hungry people — and the infrared plate is the reason it works in wind.
What We Love
- +Infrared radiant plate eliminates flare-ups from dripping fat
- +316 marine-grade stainless resists salt corrosion
- +162 sq in cooks for 4-6 people
- +Works with the full Magma rail, rod-holder and deck mount system
- +Wind performance far better than an open burner
- +Limited lifetime warranty
Watch Out For
- −$639 before you buy a mount
- −Infrared plate takes 8-10 minutes to fully heat
- −Single burner — no true two-zone cooking
- −Propane canisters must be stored safely on board
- −Heavier than the Cabo at 28 lbs
Specifications
Cooking Area
162 sq in
BTUs
12,000 (infrared)
Material
316 marine-grade stainless steel
Fuel
1 lb propane canister (or low-pressure hookup)
Mounting
Rail, rod holder or deck
Weight
28 lbs
The Full Review
Wind is the thing nobody warns you about when they tell you to put a grill on a boat. At 12 knots of apparent wind, a conventional open burner loses so much heat that a burger takes twenty minutes. The Catalina 2's infrared plate solves that: the burner heats a radiant plate, and the plate cooks the food. Wind pulls heat off the plate far more slowly than it pulls heat off a flame.
That same plate is why there are no flare-ups. Fat drips onto the radiant surface, vaporises, and flavours the food instead of igniting into a column of flame two feet from your dock lines.
Material is where the money goes. 316 stainless is the alloy specified for marine hardware because the added molybdenum resists chloride pitting. 304 grade — what most 'stainless' grills use — will show rust freckles after one season on saltwater. I have seen it happen on a friend's discount grill in under four months.
Capacity is the practical reason to choose this over the Cabo. 162 sq in is roughly eight burgers or six good-sized fish fillets, which is a real dinner rather than a snack.
The honest downside: it is one burner and one temperature zone. You cook in batches. If you want a hot side and a cool side on the water, you want two grills or a lot of patience.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest marine gas grill rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magma Catalina 2 Infrared Marine Grill (this) | 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. |
| Kudu Open Fire Grill | 4.6 | $599 | Santa Maria-style live fire cooking with an adjustable-height grate. |
| Solo Stove Grill Ultimate Bundle | 4.4 | $599 | Smokeless fire pit with a grilling grate add-on. |
Who Is It For?
Owners of 28-foot and larger boats who entertain aboard. Coastal and lake-house owners who want gear that survives salt air. Anyone who tried a cheap grill on a boat and watched it rust away.
Final Verdict
The Catalina 2 at $639 is the boat grill to buy if you cook for more than two people. The infrared plate is not marketing — it is what makes grilling possible in wind.
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