Latest gear available – everything including the kitchen sink
What is it?
A new concept in outdoor cooking Who’s it for?
New yachts in the 45-65ft bracket
There is a strong expectation that a new cruising yacht will have provision for cooking outside that goes well beyond an old-school barbecue mounted on the pushpit. However the reality is that, while a few are well executed, many cockpit galleys still leave much to be desired.
Dometic has put a year of intense development work with boatbuilders into this retractable all-inone unit. It’s primarily designed to be used as an outside galley so is not intended to replace a yacht’s main galley. Nevertheless it provides everything needed to prepare hot food for a large crew without banishing the cooks into a roasting cabin on a hot day.
There are four different models of the Slide-out Kitchen, reflecting units of either 1.0m or 1.5m in length and options for the drawer runners to be fitted on either the short or long sides. All include a sink, three-burner gas hob and large chopping board, giving separate areas for cooking, cleaning, chopping and serving, and there are built in utensil and drinks holders. A version with an induction hob is planned for 2020.
“We aim to develop products that are smart, reliable and have good ergonomics,” says Julien Le Feuvre, head of Dometic’s EMEA marine division.
“We think we’ve done a really good job with this.”
While the Slide-out Kitchen could be retrofitted into existing boats, the cockpit essentially has to be designed around the unit so Dometic expects to primarily sell direct to boatbuilders who’ll incorporate it into their new yacht models.
The core market is expected to be in the 45-65ft segment, but it would also be possible to incorporate a single unit into a smaller vessel in which it could function as both the internal and external galley, sliding between the two positions.
Price: approx £3,000. www.dometic.com