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Default Propane vs Alcohol

Gordon wrote:
My Pearson 365 ketch currently has a pressurized alcohol Kenyon cook
stove. This sucker has got to go!
Propane would probably be the best way to go but finding a place to put
the tank is a major PIA. I don't like hanging things on railings. Looks
crummy and tends to loosen stanchions. And I don't like extra stuff on
deck. Converting a space in a locker to meet all safety requirements
also seems like a PIA.
Also the cost. Tanks, solenoid. pressure regulator, hoses, sniffer,
installation of wiring and hoses, yada yada
Go, I'm also considering Origo alcohol stoves. Non pressurized, no
tank, no hoses or electrical. However, alcohol is expensive and can be
hard to find if doing extended cruising and you don't want to carry too
much on board. Also, alcohol doesn't have the BTU's of propane.
So, any good advice?
Gordon


I can't imagine a boat that size not being able to accommodate a propane
tank of some sort.

I find alcohol the least favorable fuel. It not only isn't very hot, but
the smell induces sea sickness in those who otherwise are unaffected. If
you don't want to create a space for the propane tanks and don't wish to
use the little tank two burner stoves, I'd see if you can locate a
kerosene stove. While nasty in some ways, it's safer than most and can
be very hot. Fuel is readily available.

You'll also feel like Slocum when you fire the thing up.

-paul
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Default Propane vs Alcohol

"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
news
Gordon wrote:
My Pearson 365 ketch currently has a pressurized alcohol Kenyon cook
stove. This sucker has got to go!
Propane would probably be the best way to go but finding a place to put
the tank is a major PIA. I don't like hanging things on railings. Looks
crummy and tends to loosen stanchions. And I don't like extra stuff on
deck. Converting a space in a locker to meet all safety requirements also
seems like a PIA.
Also the cost. Tanks, solenoid. pressure regulator, hoses, sniffer,
installation of wiring and hoses, yada yada
Go, I'm also considering Origo alcohol stoves. Non pressurized, no
tank, no hoses or electrical. However, alcohol is expensive and can be
hard to find if doing extended cruising and you don't want to carry too
much on board. Also, alcohol doesn't have the BTU's of propane.
So, any good advice?
Gordon


I can't imagine a boat that size not being able to accommodate a propane
tank of some sort.

I find alcohol the least favorable fuel. It not only isn't very hot, but
the smell induces sea sickness in those who otherwise are unaffected. If
you don't want to create a space for the propane tanks and don't wish to
use the little tank two burner stoves, I'd see if you can locate a
kerosene stove. While nasty in some ways, it's safer than most and can be
very hot. Fuel is readily available.

You'll also feel like Slocum when you fire the thing up.

-paul


Not knowing what are you cruising plans I can only relate to my own
experience.



At the end of the day if you do not use your boat often you may well be
happy with the Origo stove.



At first, I had a camper propane stove using 1-pound can. The operating
cost is high and storage is not safe.

Then I had an Origo alcohol stove for 24 years. It worked great and
accommodates large pots.

I use 99% pure methyl hydrate for all these years without a problem. At
trucks pit stop I used to pay about $5.00 per gallon. A gallon would last
us about 10 to 15 days using the stove three times each day. Filling up was
a little messy.

Now we have a new boat with a propane stove. It works well. So far, since
mid June, I burned one full 10 pounds tanks and I am still on the other one.

The cooking surface on this propane stove is not a big as the Origo.

We had to down size our pots and pans to accommodate the propane stove.

The solenoid valve requires electricity to open the propane tank. If your
batteries are down you may not be able to operate your propane stove.
Unless you do not abide by the rule and connect directly to the propane tank
which is not recommended.


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Default Propane vs Alcohol

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:59:17 -0600, Paul Cassel
wrote:

I find alcohol the least favorable fuel. It not only isn't very hot,


Not hot? Way hotter than red hot is what it is. If the cookware
doesn't absorb heat fast enough, it isn't the temperature, it is the
size of the fire. If you tell me that all available alcohol stoves
have insufficient output, OK. It is not a necessary characteristic of
the fuel. The exhaust system on my alcohol burning car runs yellow
hot. How hot do you need? They make these nice very wide mouth five
gallon plastic jugs, round and rectangular. About 15 bucks. Car racers
use them. Nice thick polyethylene, really sturdy. They are good for
water too. Many car parts stores sell them, you don't need a special
racer's shop, if there is such a thing.

Casady
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Default Propane vs Alcohol

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:59:17 -0600, Paul Cassel
wrote:

I find alcohol the least favorable fuel. It not only isn't very hot,


Not hot? Way hotter than red hot is what it is. If the cookware
doesn't absorb heat fast enough, it isn't the temperature, it is the
size of the fire. If you tell me that all available alcohol stoves
have insufficient output, OK. It is not a necessary characteristic of
the fuel. The exhaust system on my alcohol burning car runs yellow
hot. How hot do you need? They make these nice very wide mouth five
gallon plastic jugs, round and rectangular. About 15 bucks. Car racers
use them. Nice thick polyethylene, really sturdy. They are good for
water too. Many car parts stores sell them, you don't need a special
racer's shop, if there is such a thing. The methanol you can get from
a truck at the sprint car races. By far the cheapest source. Indy cars
also use it, so you can't say it is a wimpy fuel. 100 octane. So is
propane. There is a bumboat that sells stuff to the crews of the
Lakers. It sells propane. Ore boats use it for cooking. They don't
worry about a leak setting the taconite on fire. They do have their
large home size tanks out on deck, in the wind. They could easily have
an electric stove if they wanted one.. Crew size is 29, that much
cooking. I wish I had a propane stove, but whatever.

Casady
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Default Propane vs Alcohol


"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:59:17 -0600, Paul Cassel
wrote:

I find alcohol the least favorable fuel. It not only isn't very hot,


Not hot? Way hotter than red hot is what it is. If the cookware
doesn't absorb heat fast enough, it isn't the temperature, it is the
size of the fire. If you tell me that all available alcohol stoves
have insufficient output, OK. It is not a necessary characteristic of
the fuel. The exhaust system on my alcohol burning car runs yellow
hot. How hot do you need? They make these nice very wide mouth five
gallon plastic jugs, round and rectangular. About 15 bucks. Car racers
use them. Nice thick polyethylene, really sturdy. They are good for
water too. Many car parts stores sell them, you don't need a special
racer's shop, if there is such a thing. The methanol you can get from
a truck at the sprint car races. By far the cheapest source. Indy cars
also use it, so you can't say it is a wimpy fuel. 100 octane. So is
propane. There is a bumboat that sells stuff to the crews of the
Lakers. It sells propane. Ore boats use it for cooking. They don't
worry about a leak setting the taconite on fire. They do have their
large home size tanks out on deck, in the wind. They could easily have
an electric stove if they wanted one.. Crew size is 29, that much
cooking. I wish I had a propane stove, but whatever.

Casady


I have a pressure alcohol stove on Essie and I like it a lot. Fuel is
readily available throughout the States, a gallon lasts me about forever
since I don't really use it much (maybe a dozen times each summer), but when
I do it will boil a kettle of water in less than 10 minutes. Would propane
be hotter and boil that water faster? Possibly. But it would also cost about
$1500 to replace my working stove. That will buy about 750 gallons of
alcohol.

People complain about "flares" with pressure stoves. I've never had one that
wasn't entirely my fault, and not at all since I learned to use it properly.
I might consider converting the stove to pressure kerosene some day, but for
now, alcohol is just fine with me.




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Default Propane vs Alcohol

On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 18:06:18 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

People complain about "flares" with pressure stoves. I've never had one that
wasn't entirely my fault, and not at all since I learned to use it properly.
I might consider converting the stove to pressure kerosene some day, but for
now, alcohol is just fine with me.


A "flare" is a "flare", it doesn't matter who's fault it is when your
boat cabin is on fire. They happen all too frequently with pressure
stoves. That's why they have fallen out of favor. My recommendations
for what they are worth:

Smaller sailboat, occasional use - Origo

Larger sailboat or frequent use - propane

Power boat with generator - electric

If you take a look at the sailboats that are actually out there doing
serious cruising, the vast majority use propane.
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Default Propane vs Alcohol


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...

A "flare" is a "flare", it doesn't matter who's fault it is when your
boat cabin is on fire. They happen all too frequently with pressure
stoves. That's why they have fallen out of favor. My recommendations
for what they are worth:


And a propane explosion is a propane explosion, and it doesn't matter whose
fault it was when your boat is in pieces. And like propane explosions,
flares can be prevented.


Smaller sailboat, occasional use - Origo

Larger sailboat or frequent use - propane

Power boat with generator - electric

If you take a look at the sailboats that are actually out there doing
serious cruising, the vast majority use propane.


I had propane on my previous boat, and liked it a lot. Two tanks mounted in
the cockpit footwell, any leaks would drain overboard through the scuppers.
Solonoid regulated, sniffer mounted in the galley, the works. But I found it
to be a hassle having to take those tanks out for a walk when they needed a
refill. With alcohol or kerosene fueled stoves, all you need is a container.
Much easier. And kerosene will be available in places where propane is
impossible to find. But a diesel stove would be even better.


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Default Propane vs Alcohol

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:28:33 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

And kerosene will be available in places where propane is
impossible to find. But a diesel stove would be even better.


I would guess that a kerosene stove would burn diesel OK, but you can
get kerosene with a lower sulfur content, and you don't need a coating
sulfurous acid over everything in the boat. Dampen a piece of blue
litmus paper and hold it in the exhaust of a diesel and see for
yourself.
If the burner exhaust went over the side, that would be another thing,
but sailboats don't seem to have stoves with exhaust fans, unless
maybe they are big enough to be considered a tall ship. The right room
heater will be vented outside, and may even have a top hot enough to
keep a coffee pot warm, if not to cook with. I think a kerosene
camping stove set up in the cockpit, would be OK with diesel.
Five gallons of kerosene will last quite a while cooking for, say,
four people. I like the five gallon wide mouth plastic jugs the car
racers use. $15 at most car parts houses. They are nice and sturdy.

Casady
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Default Propane vs Alcohol


"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:28:33 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

And kerosene will be available in places where propane is
impossible to find. But a diesel stove would be even better.


I would guess that a kerosene stove would burn diesel OK, but you can
get kerosene with a lower sulfur content, and you don't need a coating
sulfurous acid over everything in the boat. Dampen a piece of blue
litmus paper and hold it in the exhaust of a diesel and see for
yourself.
If the burner exhaust went over the side, that would be another thing,
but sailboats don't seem to have stoves with exhaust fans, unless
maybe they are big enough to be considered a tall ship. The right room
heater will be vented outside, and may even have a top hot enough to
keep a coffee pot warm, if not to cook with. I think a kerosene
camping stove set up in the cockpit, would be OK with diesel.
Five gallons of kerosene will last quite a while cooking for, say,
four people. I like the five gallon wide mouth plastic jugs the car
racers use. $15 at most car parts houses. They are nice and sturdy.

Casady


If I were to ever replace my pressure alcohol stove, I would probably go for
the Wallas diesel. No exposed flame, exhausts and intakes air from outside
the cabin, doubles as a cabin heater.


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Default Propane vs Alcohol

Somebody wrote:

And kerosene will be available in places where propane is
impossible to find.............


You have never tried to find kerosene in SoCal.

Lew




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