I wanted a griddle that was convertible to natural gas. The cheaper griddles don't, but higher end ones like Vermont Castings do offer this option. I considered Blackstone but went with Vermont because the cold rolled cooking griddle is 8mm thick - the Blackstone had a larger cooking area but is only 4mm. The other reason for going Vermont was a set temperature feature. Just set the desired cooking temperature then turn up both burners to Max. The temperature control now adjusts gas flow automatically.
My first impression of the griddle pan was that it must be recycled armour from a Sherman tank. Not really but the base is very thick with thinner side walls. The griddle pan weighs 38 lbs.
Overall the shipping carton weighs 207 lbs - you will need help moving this around. The carton didn't fit into my hatchback but the solution was to remove all the component parts and load them separately. These smaller cartons and parts were now easy to unload. Canadian Tire even kept the carboard, straps, and Styrofoam packing so I didn't have to recycle them myself.
The assembly and user manuals are well written and easy to follow. There numerous QR codes for both assembly and operating help. This includes a BILT app for animated assembly instructions.
The cooking griddle pan measures about 27 x 18 inches. This should be ample to prepare meals for smaller group. I plan to keep my propane gas BBQ as a backup to either cook for larger groups or use the rotisserie.
I ordered a cover, grease pan liner, and natural gas conversion kit online. The CT part numbers are included in the manuals. Cost for shipping was about 10 bucks.
My overall impression is one of very high quality.
