The Kenyon pressurized alcohol stoves, which were inexpensive and popular,
had their problems. I recollect one whose tank was small and close to the
burners. Having to refill the tank next to a hot burner was unpleasant.
There were other good pressurized alcohol stoves.. I had a Shipmate. Its
tank was large and several feet away from the stove and needed filling only
once or twice a season . Its burners were large enough to provide enough
heat to cook on and its priming cups were large enough that spills were
rare. It gave little trouble in over twenty years.

DSK wrote:

(Parallax) wrote:
It is my opinion that alchohol stoves are the most dangerous item on
most boats. The pressurized ones require priming with fuel whose
flame is hard to see insuring that eventually you will attempt to
prime a stove that is already (or still) aflame from a previous
attempt.


Agreed, those old-timey pressurized alcohol stoves were a disaster
waiting to happen.

Wayne.B wrote:
Absolutely correct. It is amazing to me that they were recommended
equipment for so long.

Well, it was a fad because they required a lot of manly fiddling about,
just like an old fashioned campfire.

... For a small
boat I like the gimbeled one burner propane stove currently marketed
by Force 10. It works well and stows easily and out of the way.
Propane stored outside of course.

The only thing I don't like about propane is the way it makes the cabin
so dank... gives off a lot of water vapor. If you can always cook
outside, not a problem. But in cold or rainy weather it is unpleasant.
Also it's difficult to tell how much fuel you have left.

We used a wick-type alcohol stove (an Origo) for years and found it
simple & effective. Never failed, and while many people complain that
alcohol "burns too cool" it seemed to cook everything in reasonable
times. Excellent for boiling up a kettle for coffee and/or tea. We
bought denatured alcohol at the hardware store, much cheaper than
camping fuel. If I were outfitting another small cruiser that's exactly
what I'd get again.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King