I have used my Force 10 for two summers for all types of cooking. The
only limitation has been the size of the pan. (As the weather gets
cooler, I use my diesel stove or while at the dock, an electric hot plate.)

I think the Force 10 is of good quality and very serviceable while at
ancbor or while under sail.

However here are a couple minor problems I have noted that you might note:
1) The cylinder screws into the bottom of the control valve which is
made of cast aluminum. After threading and unthreading the cylinder
about 6 times a day, these threads are becoming worn and I expect I will
have to replace the whole valve next season..

2) The control valve doesn't allow the flame to be lowered enough for a
low simmer and I end up scorching food somethings. As and alternative, I
made a auxilary grate that allows me to raise the pan higher above the
flame. (Not recommended when under sail, since this may upset the
balance of the stove.)

I may attempt to contact Force 10 about these complaints and perhaps if
others have the same complaints, they my offer an upgrade.

Bottom line-- I think this is a good value for the money, very handy
piece of gear.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I have, and I will

JAXAshby wrote:

I am looking for a gimbled single burner for use in bad weather. I have
seen a force 10 and a forespar advertised. Has any one had good/bad
experiences with either of thes units. Each uses a standard gas cylinder.


the chances of anyone cooking in bad weather are slim and none. Nuts, power
bars, peanut butter on crackers, dried fruit are more handy food. you can also
cook up some hot food ahead of bad weather and store the food inwide-mouth
Thermos bottles.

The advantage of a single gimbled stove is that you can heat water for coffee
or soup without right there immediately (though you do have to pay attention to
the burning flame). but when it gets rough you won't even be doing that.

The force 10 is advertised as having a regulator, not a needle valve. Is
this an Issue?

Wayne.B wrote:

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 09:58:06 -0400, TB wrote:

I am looking for a gimbled single burner for use in bad weather. I have
seen a force 10 and a forespar advertised. Has any one had good/bad
experiences with either of thes units. Each uses a standard gas cylinder.

===========================

The Force 10 Seacook (formerly known as a "Sea Swing") is a great
little stove for making coffee, heating soup, or warming up a 1-pot
meal. I used one extensively when I was racing sailboats and never
had a problem with it. Store the propane cylinders outside (and not
in a sail locker).

Thanks for the input. I have an Origo two burner ungimbled stove for
normal use. But even though they have absorbent material in the pans
the alcohol spills when heeled and bouncing.so even with pot holders
they are limited.

Steve wrote:

I have used my Force 10 for two summers for all types of cooking. The
only limitation has been the size of the pan. (As the weather gets
cooler, I use my diesel stove or while at the dock, an electric hot plate.)

I think the Force 10 is of good quality and very serviceable while at
ancbor or while under sail.

However here are a couple minor problems I have noted that you might note:
1) The cylinder screws into the bottom of the control valve which is
made of cast aluminum. After threading and unthreading the cylinder
about 6 times a day, these threads are becoming worn and I expect I will
have to replace the whole valve next season..

2) The control valve doesn't allow the flame to be lowered enough for a
low simmer and I end up scorching food somethings. As and alternative, I
made a auxilary grate that allows me to raise the pan higher above the
flame. (Not recommended when under sail, since this may upset the
balance of the stove.)

I may attempt to contact Force 10 about these complaints and perhaps if
others have the same complaints, they my offer an upgrade.

Bottom line-- I think this is a good value for the money, very handy
piece of gear.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

you have a different definition of "rough" weather than most actually out
there.

I have, and I will

JAXAshby wrote:

I am looking for a gimbled single burner for use in bad weather. I have
seen a force 10 and a forespar advertised. Has any one had good/bad
experiences with either of thes units. Each uses a standard gas cylinder.


the chances of anyone cooking in bad weather are slim and none. Nuts,
power
bars, peanut butter on crackers, dried fruit are more handy food. you can
also
cook up some hot food ahead of bad weather and store the food inwide-mouth
Thermos bottles.

The advantage of a single gimbled stove is that you can heat water for
coffee
or soup without right there immediately (though you do have to pay
attention to
the burning flame). but when it gets rough you won't even be doing that.

TB wrote:
The force 10 is advertised as having a regulator, not a needle valve. Is
this an Issue?

The valve serves as some form of regulator and the control knob has
several "detents" however the lowest setting is far to hot for "simmer"
and you will end up with scorched food in the bottom of your pan.

There is also a tendency to blacken the exterior bottom. This would be
and indication of a low air to fuel mix/ratio (carborizing flame).

It's still a nice little stove and if these problems were corrected, I
would use it most of the time, even at the dock.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

TB wrote:

I am looking for a gimbled single burner for use in bad weather. I have
seen a force 10 and a forespar advertised. Has any one had good/bad
experiences with either of thes units. Each uses a standard gas cylinder.
Tony


I have a cast aluminum thing that holds canned heat (sterno) and one
small cooking or coffee pot. No name on it, it hangs on a bulkhead
bracket. It's all curved cast aluminum, looks like like a gaggle of
eagles mating in midair, or half of a post hole auger bit.

I did spend a little time fitting my wife's camping stove, a one
burner, to it, then gave it back to her. It worked, but the tank
hung down too far to enable freedom to swing.

Never used it in anger, yet. Likely won't neither.

I am interested in modifying the 3 burner propane camp stove to
allow it to swing, but would need about a foot of space all around,
and that would monopolize too much space, aside from being too scary
in every other respect. If I ever go to sea a-voyaging, it will
probably be with Michalenas and a microwave:-) Or, I will learn to
cook on the exhaust manifold, using aluminum foil and duck tape or
long wire tie wraps.

I know, I know, it's called duct tape. We used to call it gun tape
in the army, it was forest (camo) green.

I did see one such half gimbaled stove arrangement, it looked like a
cast iron wood burning cook stove that used propane, it had a
ceramic tiled sole area under it, like a wood stove in a house, with
a brass foot rail border and there was a tether suitable for pole
climbing hanging on hooks to keep the cook close enough to be
scalded in a seaway. It only swung athwart ships. Pretty
impressive, but impractical if you ask me. There was some Z-brick
nearby too, almost comical to look at.

Hot meals do not get cooked on small vessels in a seaway.

If I recall, that boat also had a matching blue fur bunk coverlet
and toilet seat lid, and mirrors in the V-berth. Big mirrors.

I just had to check to see if it was a waterbed. Nope. Woulda fit,
though, the boat was gussied up purtier than a two dollar whore in a
cowboy saloon.

Eeww!

Terry K