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

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

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.

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the forepeak is no longer applicable) and use a Coleman camp stove in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.

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?

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

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

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