Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:
On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 14:08:14 -0400, 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.


If I were ever to use alcohol again it would be the Origo, but it
makes just as much water vapor as propane for the same amount of heat.

The only problem I ever had with an Origo was one where the rivet was
broken at the pivot for the on-off cover. I had one smolder all night
once. Otherwise it is simple, and makes enough heat to steam lobsters.



Another enthusiastic vote for the Origo.

The last boat I delivered from Hawaii had one and that worked well enough for bread
and cake baking (using an unregulated pressure cooker as a Dutch Oven)... Never gave
any trouble and seemed nearly as fast as LPG for water heating.

Brian Cleverly



Fresh Breezes- Doug King



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

"Religious wisdom is to wisdom as military music is to music."