Care to indulge a PBC decision for spring? (ok I've got MCS and too much time on my hands)

[fzxdoc]

I may be in the minority here, but I think you need to get to know your cooker before tossing a controller onto it. Part of the fun of grilling and smoking is seeing what the (in your case, Hugh ) new-to-you kettle will do for various types of cooks. Getting a feel for a new cooker or grill is challenging, rewarding, and a great part of the learning curve.

In general, it's so enjoyable to smoke meat that giving some of that fun over to a motor, fan, and thermostat is not something that I am particularly eager to do. Now for overnight cooks (which I don't do anyway), I'd be singing a different song. But if you have the luxury of time and can do all-day smokes, then, in my opinion, you've got some time to think about what a controller would bring to the party that has already started.

All of this said, I'm considering purchasing a controller for my WSCGC. Why? Because I have MCS big time and want to see what a controller could do for me, now that I've got a couple of years of cooking on it under my belt. And because I bought a Fireboard not long ago (which I "needed" ) and the fan cable is a new option. And because lonnie mac said I could. Hahaha.

So once again, Hugh, take my comments with a grain of salt.

Kathryn

[EdF]

I'm of the same school. Being someone who teaches himself, I have often skipped to where I wanted to go, ignoring the basics. Then I got to go back and do them for real. Sometimes it works out well, because you have a better frame of experience to understand the basics. And sometimes not. I got my BGE in '02, and only picked up a controller mid this year.

[RobertC]

There are many paths to enlightenment. No single path is the path for all.

Sometimes the path includes buying stuff.

[Hugh]

Hmmmm. You two make a lot of sense. As an MCS sufferer, I reserve the right to change my mind about the PBC. I was staying away from the SnS for my kettle because a) I thought I'd want a controller right away and b) I thought I should learn old school minion and banking and such before I started adding accessories to the kettle. Everyone's advice has been pretty consistent that its a good idea to jump to a SnS right away when starting out on the kettle. I like that the controller can wait. I just found out we are doing a big vacation next summer so I will have less money for my MCS habit. Doing the SnS in the spring and learning the art of charcoal bbq on my kettle is looking very appealing. Additional smokers and controllers can wait for another season. As you have pointed out in other places Ed, the sous vide gives me lots of options for large groups. I can do 8 racks of ribs with my weber racks combined on the gasser and the kettle. Enough volume for now.

This all seems way to rational and easy...