Pequod

What's the story on the front vent on the 23? I see some pictures of it with a single dial, others with dual dial, and the dual dial is listed as an accessory. What's the standard vent with the 23?

That's a real good point on the smaller one first. Was thinking the same and for the same reason. Strategic. Like chess. Three moves ahead.

Plan B isn't the preferred plan for sure, but it beats Plan C...no KK at all.

Good idea! Wife's a Trekkie. Might actually work. I'll give her a few more days to cogitate. If she doesn't get there, Plan B will be the incremental, non-matching bosco. Take the 32 now, then add a non-matching 23 in a complementary color and cabinet later.

Yeah, that's the argument I'm hoping will win the day. Told her every other cooker we've owned needs replacing every 10 years (if not sooner). Better value in the end. Sometimes takes her a bit to process, but she should get there.

I'm ready to embrace the dark side and follow Sith Lord Bosco's evil example. Wife is more frugal (a rare beast) and is only halfway there. She's in on a 23 or 32, possibly with cabinet. She tends to be a bit more aesthetically challenged, and so the desire for matching KK's eludes her. She *usually* comes around, but might need a Jedi mind trick.

Father?

Bosco keeps reading my mind! No doubt I'm being mind controlled! That's exactly where I am right now...thinking through that range of options from: Low end: add a KK to my existing lineup High end: the full bosco My gut says that going low will result in my incrementally crawling to the high end and dumping my existing lineup anyway. Movement soon either way I hope. ...and it will be pebble. Definitely pebble.

@bosco- you're reading my mind about getting the ball rolling and asking for "the Bosco". I'm kinda liking olive and gold. Guessing yours is harvest gold?

Might be easiest if I just ask for the Bosco setup. That pebble is tremendous. More questions to come. Dealing with the install of the patio area at the moment.

@bosco, can you tell me about your cabinet? I've seen others recommend stainless steel tops for their side tables. Is that a stainless top on the cabinet as well? How do you cover the cabinet and KK's between uses? Do you have 1 (or 2? or 3?) Sunbrella covers? Given the location for my future KK(s), I think a cabinet of some sort will be likely. Getting closer to sorting things out. Who had September in the pool?

Question: I've seen reference to "venting" in some posts on this forum. I assume this is some sort of burn-in process. What is that process?

We need to stop this geek talk and get back to the matter at hand before I accidentally name my imaginary KK's "Navier" and "Stokes". [That'll send some of you running to Google and result in night terrors]

Once a geek always a geek. 'Tain't nothing wrong with that!

Not ready to take he wraps off my *real* project yet , but why do you think I was leaning toward twin 23's? If that project fails, at least I'll have something to cook on once the lights go out!

I'd be good with a KK rotisseried turkey in November, and if it was only one KK we're talking I bet it'd happen. I've aaalmooost got wife biting on one...lure is in the water. Not ready to dangle the bait of two just yet. She's still recovering from the shock of my suggesting we part ways with my smoker. You can't use the Jedi mind trick too often or it loses effectiveness.

Interesting and something I was wondering about. Seems like the oval shape of the 32 would be a bit more 2-zone friendly as well. And I'd likely want the rotisserie on the 32 for the extra size. I could see the 23 as my primary for low n' slow and day-to-day use, and the 32 for my party rig, rotisserie, and larger direct cooks. Is it March 2017 yet?

This old engineer did his thesis on internal aerothermochemistry -- what goes on inside rocket motors -- and spent the early part of his career working on the space shuttle motors. I see twin KK's as strap on boosters. Just crank open those vents and let 'er rip. Problem is we've got a sign error on the thrust vector. Alright...enough geeking out for today.

Works for me. First step is to create the patio space off my deck to put these things -- involves HOA approval, so will take a wee bit o' time. Started that process today with wife. Second step is to sell my high capacity smoker. Wife was shocked at that idea 'cause she know I love that thing. Third step is to remind wife of the cash I squirreled away from this year's bonus. Low and slow. This is a process.

23 and 32. Was afraid y'all were gonna say that. Lol!

Ha! I said pretend money and spousal consent weren't barriers. Let me have my fantasy!

For those that have both a 32 and another size (23 or smaller), what are the biggest differences you see other than capacity and the shear bulk of the thing? Are there things you prefer to cook on one vs. another? For example, wondering if the 32 is better for 2-zone than a 23.

First step in this journey, help me answer the subject questions. Let's pretend money and spousal consent isn't a barrier for a moment . I'd appreciate your thoughts. 1) How Many? I think this one is easy -- I like having two cookers for both capacity and flexibility in terms of temps and cook types when cooking for a crowd (20-30'ish hosted at our house twice per year). Don't know if I'd buy both at once, but two makes sense. 2) What Size(s)? I currently have a six-shelf, 1500 square inch smoker that runs from 225-325o and has been my go-to for larger cooks. For those cooks I'm often running at capacity with two meats plus sides and appetizers. Don't need to have all that in one cooker (although it is comparable to a 32" KK), but want that cumulative capacity and/or a bit more. My first inclination is a pair of 23's, but would like to better understand the advantages of the others (both smaller and larger) before settling on that. Moving away from a dedicated smoker to two versatile Kamado's opens the range of cook styles for when we host crowds (grilling, rotisserie, etc.). 3) Where/How to Deploy? See the attached image. That's my house (ignore the neighbor uphill). I post this because I'm expecting challenges in getting any KK to it's destination in my backyard. Trucks stop at the top of the driveway. They'd hand truck my crated KK to my garage. But, there's no walkway to the back corner of my house, and the red lines highlight the sloping terrain from front (high) to back (low and sloping). Any KK will have to be carried by multiple burly folk (that's not me) down sloping terrain. Further, that white structure is my sunroom with wood deck underneath -- not the optimal spot for any grill, but I currently survive by rolling my cookers into the yard, than back to the deck between cooks. That won't work for a KK (there's a small step down from the deck), so if I'm to do this I'm thinking I need to build a small patio area with large stone pavers off the deck and leave the KK(s) in the open. Any advice on moving a KK into position over sloped terrain with burly folk to deploy on an open patio? Others done this? I'm thinking the heft of a 32" and the terrain to be navigated takes a 32 off the table.

Thanks! It's like a cult in here. A cult I want to join! So how does this work? Just post my CC #'s and financials here? Where do I send the deed to my house?

Not taking that bet!