Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and
drains into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

I don't think you'll find it in the bilge... it's lighter than air unlike
propane.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and drains
into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:18:55 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and
drains into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

Alcohol mixes readily with water and that will quickly reduce its
flammability below the danger level in most cases. The real risk with
alcohol on boats (other than consumption), is with the old fashioned
pressurized stoves. They have probably caused more boat fires and
burn injuries than any other single reason. Another problem with
alcohol is filling a stove that is already hot, typically because it
has run out while in the middle of cooking dinner. It is very easy
for the vapors to ignite in that situation and the flames are
difficult to see in sunlight.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

"Mys Terry" wrote
alcohol is lighter than air?

Thanks. I didn't know that!


I think it's your head that gets lighter than air when you put the
alcohol into the brain.

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.

You might enjoy researching the vast variety of home-made, light-weight
alcohol stoves popular among campers. For about $10 you can buy (pretty
much free if you make one) an alcohol burner that will boil two cups of
water in about 4 minutes at sea level (where else?). Just avoid the
isopropyl alcohol you find in drug stores. These small stoves make a
great back-up stove for any boat if care is given to providing for
reasonable stability. Not that the commercial, non-pressurized alcohol
stoves have much of anything that can malfunction, but users of propane,
butane, kerosene, and electric stoves might consider them.

There was a discussion on this group some time ago about fumes from
various on-board cooking stoves that you might find interesting.

Chuck

Roger Long wrote:
I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and
drains into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Sorry, I was thinking CNG and typing alcohol. It might be ok, since there's
probably water in the bilge...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and drains
into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

I think his head is filled with air.

Strange that he is mascarading as a woman who's pretending to be a guy.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
"Mys Terry" wrote
alcohol is lighter than air?

Thanks. I didn't know that!


I think it's your head that gets lighter than air when you put the alcohol
into the brain.

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Hmm, generally speaking, water is a major by-product of burning almost
anything combustible in an oxygen atmosphere.

BS

"Mys Terry" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:

Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.


Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a
great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is
that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Too bad it's also not a by-product of this guy running his mouth. Instead,
all we get is hot air. :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Robert or Karen Swarts" wrote in message
...
Hmm, generally speaking, water is a major by-product of burning almost
anything combustible in an oxygen atmosphere.

BS

"Mys Terry" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:

Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.


Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a
great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is
that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Are you saying that you have had a clammy cabin from burning alcohol?

My experience, based on something like 1,000 meals cooked in a 34 foot
sailboat doesn't support this conclusion.

Chuck

Mys Terry wrote:
On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:


Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.



Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Chuck, he's just got clammy hands. :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"chuck" wrote in message
ink.net...
Are you saying that you have had a clammy cabin from burning alcohol?

My experience, based on something like 1,000 meals cooked in a 34 foot
sailboat doesn't support this conclusion.

Chuck

Mys Terry wrote:
On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:


Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.



Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a
great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is
that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

In article ,
says...


Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

As an alcohol stove and heater veteran, that's for sure. It is simply
unbelievable how much water those things generate. They are not vented and it
all stays in the cabin condensinbg oiur all over everything, including you.

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is that
the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

You can set your boat on fire and not know it's on fire until it's too late.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

In article ,
says...


Hmm, generally speaking, water is a major by-product of burning almost
anything combustible in an oxygen atmosphere.

True, but your propane stove does not leave water dripping from the
overhead. Maybe it's because alcohol already contains a molecule of water
in each molecule. My chemistry is rusty. Too much alcohol?

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

A molecule of alcohol does not contain a molecule of water.

As has already been pointed out in this thread and elsewhere, and which
I pray is not in dispute, is that ALL hydrocarbon combustion yields
water vapor as a product.

The question has been whether to expect a greater (and to capture the
essence of the thread, unacceptable) amount of water vapor from a btu
generated by burning alcohol, than from a btu generated by burning, say,
propane. Even better, we would like to know how much more water vapor is
generated from alcohol combustion if in fact there is more. Because
different alcohols can be used (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, etc.)
combustion chemistry is likely to be difficult to generalize.

But ultimately, we don't really care if alcohol produces, say 10% more
water vapor than propane. What we care about is whether the water vapor
alcohol combustion produces is sufficiently troublesome to cause us to
prefer other fuel types. That may not even be something the chemists can
tell us.

I do not know the answers to all of those questions (though it is
difficult to resist pretending that I do).

I do know the answer to the question of whether my use of alcohol as a
galley stove fuel results in more troublesome production of water vapor
than either pressurized kerosene or propane. And as I have stated,
alcohol has not produced a clammy cabin for me.

Others may have had different experiences using multiple fuels. Even
making a reproducible A/B comparison is quite a difficult undertaking.
The tests would have to be done at the same temperature/relative
humidity conditions in the same vessel. That would rule out successive
trials of each stove. About the only way this can be done is over a long
period of time.

Unless someone can provide the detailed chemical analyses, we cruisers
are stuck with testing and observation. Someone suggests a hypothesis
that burning alcohol will make my cabin clammy. I conduct a thousand
experiments, the results of which contradict the hypothesis. Therefore,
I have demonstrated that I believe gravity is just hype! Now there's a
brand of science only Fox could sell.

Chuck


Mys Terry wrote:
On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 01:24:03 GMT, chuck wrote:


Are you saying that you have had a clammy cabin from burning alcohol?

My experience, based on something like 1,000 meals cooked in a 34 foot
sailboat doesn't support this conclusion.

Chuck



Really? And what's your feeling about gravity? Does it really work, or is it
just a bunch of hype?

The primary byproduct output from burning alcohol is H2O, and lots of it. It has
nothing to do with experience, and everything to do with science.



Mys Terry wrote:

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:



Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.



Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

chuck wrote:
A molecule of alcohol does not contain a molecule of water.

As has already been pointed out in this thread and elsewhere, and which
I pray is not in dispute, is that ALL hydrocarbon combustion yields
water vapor as a product.

The question has been whether to expect a greater (and to capture the
essence of the thread, unacceptable) amount of water vapor from a btu
generated by burning alcohol, than from a btu generated by burning, say,
propane. Even better, we would like to know how much more water vapor is
generated from alcohol combustion if in fact there is more. Because
different alcohols can be used (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, etc.)
combustion chemistry is likely to be difficult to generalize.

But ultimately, we don't really care if alcohol produces, say 10% more
water vapor than propane. What we care about is whether the water vapor
alcohol combustion produces is sufficiently troublesome to cause us to
prefer other fuel types. That may not even be something the chemists can
tell us.

I do not know the answers to all of those questions (though it is
difficult to resist pretending that I do).

I do know the answer to the question of whether my use of alcohol as a
galley stove fuel results in more troublesome production of water vapor
than either pressurized kerosene or propane. And as I have stated,
alcohol has not produced a clammy cabin for me.

Others may have had different experiences using multiple fuels. Even
making a reproducible A/B comparison is quite a difficult undertaking.
The tests would have to be done at the same temperature/relative
humidity conditions in the same vessel. That would rule out successive
trials of each stove. About the only way this can be done is over a long
period of time.

Unless someone can provide the detailed chemical analyses, we cruisers
are stuck with testing and observation. Someone suggests a hypothesis
that burning alcohol will make my cabin clammy. I conduct a thousand
experiments, the results of which contradict the hypothesis. Therefore,
I have demonstrated that I believe gravity is just hype! Now there's a
brand of science only Fox could sell.

Chuck
I agree with Chuck. Roger, you have once again posed a question that
has stirred the pot. I have both (as you know) a diesel stove to heat
and cook during inclement weather and, when it's nice, I use a non
pressurized alcohol stove. I like it. Of course it is a little slower
than propane and CNG but much safer in every regard. I don't need
sniffers (although I have one because my BBQ is propane) and it never
breaks down. I don't need electricity (you do for the solenoid for a
gas stove) and if it catches fire it can be extinguished with water. I
had a pressurized alcohol stove on my Ranger and it was a little scary
but I still used it all the time. I like the non-pressurized much better.

Propane scares me. It is a bomb (Columbine). It requires special
fittings and maintenance that is beyond me. Gas fitters are
specialists. CNG is almost the same but much more expensive.

Diesel and that sort of fuel is great but smelly and hard to clean up.
In a closed system (Dickenson) they work great but take a loooong time
to get the stove hot.

Alcohol just seems to be right. Cheap, easy to deal with, and it always
works. Screw the little excess moisture.

Check out:http://www.goodoldboat.com/newslette...ewslett46.html

For another opinion.

Gaz

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 02:39:09 GMT, Gary wrote:

Diesel and that sort of fuel is great but smelly and hard to clean up.

The best way to cook with diesel is to burn it in your generator and
use an electric stove.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 02:39:09 GMT, Gary wrote:


Diesel and that sort of fuel is great but smelly and hard to clean up.


The best way to cook with diesel is to burn it in your generator and
use an electric stove.

Power boater!

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 05:43:53 GMT, Gary wrote:

Power boater!

Tis true, but there are sailboats with generators as well. We use
cooking as an opportunity to refreeze the cold plates and recharge the
batteries so it is not really a hardship to run the generator once in
awhile.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

"chuck" wrote in message
ink.net...
A molecule of alcohol does not contain a molecule of water.

As has already been pointed out in this thread and elsewhere,
and which I pray is not in dispute, is that ALL hydrocarbon
combustion yields water vapor as a product.

The question has been whether to expect a greater (and to
capture the essence of the thread, unacceptable) amount of water
vapor from a btu generated by burning alcohol, than from a btu
generated by burning, say, propane. Even better, we would like
to know how much more water vapor is generated from alcohol
combustion if in fact there is more. Because different alcohols
can be used (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, etc.) combustion
chemistry is likely to be difficult to generalize.

Unless someone can provide the detailed chemical analyses, we
cruisers are stuck with testing and observation. Someone
suggests a hypothesis that burning alcohol will make my cabin
clammy. I conduct a thousand experiments, the results of which
contradict the hypothesis. Therefore, I have demonstrated that I
believe gravity is just hype! Now there's a brand of science
only Fox could sell.

If you ignore the heat output from each reaction, and just look at
the ratio of carbon dioxide molecules to water molecules produced,
there's no doubt that burning an alcohol produces more water.

Methyl alcohol, 2*CH3-OH + 3*O2 = 2*CO2 + 4*H2O
Ethyl alcohol, 2*C2H5-OH + 9*O2 = 4*CO2 + 12*H2O

Propane, C3H8 + 10*O2 = 3CO2 + 5*H2O

Benzene, 2C6H6 + 15*O2 = 12*CO2 + 6*H2O

On the heat equation, since alcohol is already partly oxidised,
you're likely to burn more of it to reach the same heat result.
That means yet more water.

Whether this matters is a subjective judgement . . . it obviously
offends some, and not others. Fine.

JimB

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

As for the original question, alcohol is widely regarded as
the safest possible stove fuel. Some reasons for this are
spurious, otheres make sense. For one thing, a spill is less
hazardous, more obvious, and easier to clean up.

We used a non-pressurized alcohol stove for years, worked
great. The old-timey pressurized ones are both less
effective & less safe IMHO.


Gary wrote:
Power boater!


???
So is the Navy, since about 1809. Get with the times!

Wayne.B wrote:
Tis true, but there are sailboats with generators as well.

Yep. Some are even configured to work acceptably *while
sailing* (gasp in horror as the opening bars of Bach's
Toccata & Fugue in D minor plays in the background). I've
even seen boats microwaving popcorn & hot chocolate while
racing. What's next, cold beer in cans???


.... We use
cooking as an opportunity to refreeze the cold plates and recharge the
batteries so it is not really a hardship to run the generator once in
awhile.


Is your refrigeration AC or PTO from the genset? We
considered the 120VAC option but went with 12V DC instead...
takes a lot longer to pull down but less dependent on
outside power & works longer "off the grid" IMHO. But then
we invested heavily in insulation, too.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Hey JimB,

Thanks for the info!

I'm embarrassed to reveal my ignorance here, but why is the ratio of CO2
to H2O relevant, rather than just the H2O? I've encountered other
combustion analyses that also focused on that ratio.

Appreciate your input.

Chuck


News f2s wrote:
"chuck" wrote in message
ink.net...

A molecule of alcohol does not contain a molecule of water.

As has already been pointed out in this thread and elsewhere,
and which I pray is not in dispute, is that ALL hydrocarbon
combustion yields water vapor as a product.

The question has been whether to expect a greater (and to
capture the essence of the thread, unacceptable) amount of water
vapor from a btu generated by burning alcohol, than from a btu
generated by burning, say, propane. Even better, we would like
to know how much more water vapor is generated from alcohol
combustion if in fact there is more. Because different alcohols
can be used (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, etc.) combustion
chemistry is likely to be difficult to generalize.

Unless someone can provide the detailed chemical analyses, we
cruisers are stuck with testing and observation. Someone
suggests a hypothesis that burning alcohol will make my cabin
clammy. I conduct a thousand experiments, the results of which
contradict the hypothesis. Therefore, I have demonstrated that I
believe gravity is just hype! Now there's a brand of science
only Fox could sell.


If you ignore the heat output from each reaction, and just look at
the ratio of carbon dioxide molecules to water molecules produced,
there's no doubt that burning an alcohol produces more water.

Methyl alcohol, 2*CH3-OH + 3*O2 = 2*CO2 + 4*H2O
Ethyl alcohol, 2*C2H5-OH + 9*O2 = 4*CO2 + 12*H2O

Propane, C3H8 + 10*O2 = 3CO2 + 5*H2O

Benzene, 2C6H6 + 15*O2 = 12*CO2 + 6*H2O

On the heat equation, since alcohol is already partly oxidised,
you're likely to burn more of it to reach the same heat result.
That means yet more water.

Whether this matters is a subjective judgement . . . it obviously
offends some, and not others. Fine.

JimB

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 09:00:27 -0500, DSK wrote:

Is your refrigeration AC or PTO from the genset? We
considered the 120VAC option but went with 12V DC instead...
takes a lot longer to pull down but less dependent on
outside power & works longer "off the grid" IMHO. But then
we invested heavily in insulation, too.

It is the 120VAC Grunert system that was original equipment on the
Grand Banks although I have upgraded it with a digital thermostat. It
requires about 2 or 3 hours a day of generator time. We also have a
holding plate freezer capable of keeping ice cream at the requisite
zero degrees. Talk about nautical decadence... Both systems work
well, however the freezer unit has been totally rebuilt with new
plates and condenser in the last year.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

"chuck" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hey JimB,

Thanks for the info!

I'm embarrassed to reveal my ignorance here, but why is the
ratio of CO2 to H2O relevant, rather than just the H2O? I've
encountered other combustion analyses that also focused on that
ratio.

For a given heat, you're breaking down a fuel (takes some energy)
then oxidising its components (gives energy back). One element of
this thread was breaking into the criticism of alcohol fuels 'that
produced more condensation'.

For a given heat, alcohol fuels do produce much more water than
carbon rich fuels. The easiest way to see this is by looking at
the ratio of combustion products, and that's easy to envisage if
you look at the reaction equations.

At the top end you could consider a charcoal heater - all carbon
dioxide, no water. We'll dodge the issue that pure carbon burning
easily creates carbon monoxide if it is not extrememely well
ventilated. Which is always the case with all carbon rich fuels if
they're not adequately ventilated. Something that hasn't been
touched in this thread so far . . .

JimB

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

"News f2s" wrote in news:dtsb4h$mrb$3
@news.freedom2surf.net:

Methyl alcohol, 2*CH3-OH + 3*O2 = 2*CO2 + 4*H2O
Ethyl alcohol, 2*C2H5-OH + 9*O2 = 4*CO2 + 12*H2O

Propane, C3H8 + 10*O2 = 3CO2 + 5*H2O

Benzene, 2C6H6 + 15*O2 = 12*CO2 + 6*H2O

On the heat equation, since alcohol is already partly oxidised,
you're likely to burn more of it to reach the same heat result.
That means yet more water.

Whether this matters is a subjective judgement . . . it obviously
offends some, and not others. Fine.



I believe a more correct term than "offends" would be "baffles".

I get light headed, myself, when anyone talks about alcohol. It's probably
just a Pavlovian response, though...(c;

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"News f2s" wrote in news:dtsb4h$mrb$3
@news.freedom2surf.net:

Methyl alcohol, 2*CH3-OH + 3*O2 = 2*CO2 + 4*H2O
Ethyl alcohol, 2*C2H5-OH + 9*O2 = 4*CO2 + 12*H2O

Propane, C3H8 + 10*O2 = 3CO2 + 5*H2O

Benzene, 2C6H6 + 15*O2 = 12*CO2 + 6*H2O

On the heat equation, since alcohol is already partly oxidised,
you're likely to burn more of it to reach the same heat result.
That means yet more water.

Whether this matters is a subjective judgement . . . it obviously
offends some, and not others. Fine.



I believe a more correct term than "offends" would be "baffles".

I get light headed, myself, when anyone talks about alcohol. It's
probably
just a Pavlovian response, though...(c;

So, I was right.. alcohol is lighter than air. :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

In article . net,
says...


A molecule of alcohol does not contain a molecule of water.

A molecule of ethyl alcohol has two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms and one
oxygen atom. That oxygen atom is linked to one hydrogen and one carbon. When
it breaks the bond with the carbon it links to another hydrogen making H2O
from elements that are part of the alcohol molecule. So it does not contain a
molecule of water per se, just the components.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Just putting my 2 cents worth in. I have owned and operated a Sea Swing pressurized
stove over 30 years and never had any incidents with it. It is basically
an Optimus #4. It has been used heavily, when I took long cruises living on the
boat
for months at a time, and it was a single burner and only cooking stove aboard.
The only problem I have with alcohol is finding the right brand to burn under
pressure. I have found that brands like Parks burn well, whereas other brands are
real duds. I suggest trying small samples first if one is not sure.

Sherwin D.

Mys Terry wrote:

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:24:26 GMT, chuck wrote:

Roger, the non-pressurized alcohol stoves have to be the safest of the
liquid fuel types in terms of the fuel itself.


Two problems with alcohol stoves, even if not pressurized:

1) major by-product of burning alcohol is water, and lots of it. It's a great
way to make your cabin clammy in a hurry

2) The real problem with all alcohol stoves from a safety standpoint is that the
flame is almost completely invisible. If somebody doesn't see that as a
significant safety issue, they just aren't thinking clearly.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:38:47 GMT, Mys Terry
wrote:

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:07:01 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

I don't think you'll find it in the bilge... it's lighter than air unlike
propane.

???

alcohol is lighter than air?

Thanks. I didn't know that!

In that case, I'll have another.

(*******s were out of Gosling's)

R.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:18:40 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:18:55 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and
drains into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

Alcohol mixes readily with water and that will quickly reduce its
flammability below the danger level in most cases. The real risk with
alcohol on boats (other than consumption), is with the old fashioned
pressurized stoves. They have probably caused more boat fires and
burn injuries than any other single reason. Another problem with
alcohol is filling a stove that is already hot, typically because it
has run out while in the middle of cooking dinner. It is very easy
for the vapors to ignite in that situation and the flames are
difficult to see in sunlight.

I had two bad flare-ups with alcohol and finally converted the
Homestrand to propane. I haven't finished the installation (the rules
just changed here recently and apparently all that copper tubing in
the forepeak is no longer applicable) and use a Coleman camp stove in
the cockpit. That and the barbeque suffice, but I already use the
gasoline/propane sniffer in the bilge and it works well. I have all
the pieces except the new "to spec" tubing...I just have a few more
pressing jobs this spring...like new portlights.

R.

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

Rodger,
Fire is the biggest risk in boating, very few events can be more
catastrophic than a fire on board a boat. All heat sources represent some
risk, but volatile hydrocarbons represent the greatest risks. I will not
carry gasoline, LP gas, CNG or alcohol. I carry only diesel and everything
on the boat is electric. I think diesel electric represents the lowest risk.
You may choose differently. Diesel electric solutions are not only the
safest, but they also offer low weight, simplicity, ease of use and the
smallest consumption of space.
Steve

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and drains
into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

--

Roger Long

Stove alcohol - how dangerous?
 

What size and type of boat do you have, Steve?

Chuck

Steve Lusardi wrote:
Rodger,
Fire is the biggest risk in boating, very few events can be more
catastrophic than a fire on board a boat. All heat sources represent some
risk, but volatile hydrocarbons represent the greatest risks. I will not
carry gasoline, LP gas, CNG or alcohol. I carry only diesel and everything
on the boat is electric. I think diesel electric represents the lowest risk.
You may choose differently. Diesel electric solutions are not only the
safest, but they also offer low weight, simplicity, ease of use and the
smallest consumption of space.
Steve

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

I can't recall seeing anything definitive on this topic.

If that bottle of stove alcohol in your cockpit locker leaks and drains
into the bilge, how much danger is there of explosion or fire?

--

Roger Long