Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
alcohol vs gas stoves
What are the pros and cons of these two types of stoves for a small boat
(20')? Thanks, Grainger |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
You should post this question to rec.boats.cruising .
Alcohol Pro- It's safer- alcohol will not explode and fires can be put out with water. Some alcohol stoves are simple and compact. Con- Most alcohol stoves don't heat very hot. A few do. Fuel is expensive. It takes a couple of minutes to start a pressurized alcohol stove. It's hard to find a big-oven alcohol stove. Propane- Pro- Fuel is widely available and inexpensive Most stoves heat vigorously Stoves available in small and large sizes, including ovens and broilers Con- Propane is heavier than air and , at the right concentration, can explode. Not a good thing. Making a propane stove system safe on a boat is complicated. The design of tank enclosures, piping, shutoff systems and bilge sniffers is nontrivial and can add significant cost and complication. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) My knowledge of this is old. Dunno if these are still viable. pro- gas is lighter than air, so much safer than propane The other plusses of propane con- tanks and equipment were expensive and distribution never got widespread. Butane I'll let others fill this in. For some people, kerosene or diesel could be a good solution, too. Grainger Morris wrote: What are the pros and cons of these two types of stoves for a small boat (20')? Thanks, Grainger |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
on most 20' boats, the very best is a butane chafing stove, available often
under $18 (close out store), and nearly as often for $85 (chandleries) and in between (department stores). An okay second is an Origo 1500 non-pressurized alcohol stove everything else is something else, and not a hell of a lot better than a coffe can filled with sand and some gasoline set on fire (I have cooked on such). What are the pros and cons of these two types of stoves for a small boat (20')? Thanks, Grainger |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
The $18 solution is appealing. Is butane heavier than air?
JAXAshby wrote: on most 20' boats, the very best is a butane chafing stove, available often under $18 (close out store), and nearly as often for $85 (chandleries) and in between (department stores). An okay second is an Origo 1500 non-pressurized alcohol stove everything else is something else, and not a hell of a lot better than a coffe can filled with sand and some gasoline set on fire (I have cooked on such). What are the pros and cons of these two types of stoves for a small boat (20')? Thanks, Grainger |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
The $18 solution is appealing. Is butane heavier than air?
yes. it is best to store the cartridges outside the cabin. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
JAXAshby wrote: The $18 solution is appealing. Is butane heavier than air? yes. it is best to store the cartridges outside the cabin. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Jim Conlin wrote in message ...
The $18 solution is appealing. Is butane heavier than air? JAXAshby wrote: on most 20' boats, the very best is a butane chafing stove, available often under $18 (close out store), and nearly as often for $85 (chandleries) and in between (department stores). An okay second is an Origo 1500 non-pressurized alcohol stove everything else is something else, and not a hell of a lot better than a coffe can filled with sand and some gasoline set on fire (I have cooked on such). What are the pros and cons of these two types of stoves for a small boat (20')? 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. Similar situations have arisen with unpressurized alchohol stoves where they have been refueled while still burning because they seemed to be out. I think the alchohol stoves are so dangerous that I took one out of my boat and simply put cans of sterno down into the empty burner wells and this works as well as alchohol and is safer. For real cooking, I favor a Coleman propane stove used in the cockpit only while at the dock or maybe at anchor if it is very calm. I store the cylinders in a net bag hung off the stern below coaming level. Thanks, Grainger |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Problems with ethanol in fuel | General | |||
py 26 rubrail cracking and burner alcohol replacement ideas | ASA | |||
Alchohol stoves | General | |||
No alcohol on this boat!!! | ASA | |||
ALCOHOL STOVE | General |