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

"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?


Alcohol is either for consumption or thinning shellac, depending on
what you have.

Propane is a viable solution.

Assume you would install a 2 burner, counter top to replace the
Kenyon.

If so, consider using propane torch bottles that you disconnect when
not in service.

Most expensive way to buy propane, but you don't use that much.

I used a shut of valve from an old Coleman camp stove on my last boat,
a 30ftr, with torch bottles for a few years and safety was not an
issue.

YMMV

Lew

Propane is a viable solution.

If so, consider using propane torch bottles that you disconnect when
not in service.

Most expensive way to buy propane, but you don't use that much.


Hi Lew:

Interesting you should mention torch bottles today. Yesterday I was
sweating on some Cu 1/2" water supply pipe. My last bottle was near
empty so I went to my local Bi-Mart (Oregon) and got a new one. Pretty
blue it was. Put on the new bottle and went to work. When finished,
shut off the torch valve, and spun off the
botttle..............................

Hisssssssssss went the bottle. The valve in the bottle did not close !
**** ! Ran outside and tossed the damn thing.
Now, that had never happend to me in the 40 years Ive been using those
things. And Ive plumbed two houses with copper supply, heated hubs,
melted lead for all sorts of projects. Never had a failure.

HOWEVER BE ADVISED///

A highschool buddy of mine was camping in the late 70s. He used a scew
on propane bottle one burner cook stove when back packing. He ran out
of propane, started to swap out the empty but the bottle valve failed
to close. there was some flame left on the burner. That ignited the
bottle. Now picture this..... He has a blow toarch inside his NYLON
tent !. The tent went to flames, melted and fell on his upper body,
His down coat melted and burst into flames.............

3rd degree burns to face and sholders........ It really scared him up.

I always remember my friend Bob Hayes and his experince with spin-on
propance bottles...... And now mine!

I'm gonna stick to a built-in propane stove-locker-electric shut off
valve and then close the bottle valve system. Although diesel is my
first choice.
Bob

"Bob" wrote:

Interesting you should mention torch bottles today. snip a list of
bottle failures

HOWEVER BE ADVISED///

snip
A highschool buddy of mine was camping in the late 70s. snip his
sad tale

Those bottle manufacturers would have no difficulty providing data
that would show for every so many gazillion bottles made, they may
have one failure.

So be it, when you are dealing with a volatile gas, even one failure
can not be accepted.

SFWIW, I use a plumbers torch when sweating copper.

Costs a tad more the Home Depot version, so keep it connected to the
bottle to protect the threads and to use the shut off valve.

YMMV

Lew

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

"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.

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

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

"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.

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.