Anyone have an Alladin Kerosene Lamp on board?

MedSailor · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009

The Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company

I've been thinking one of these would be really nice to have. I've heard that they are as bright as a pressure lantern without the parts or noise. Anyone have one on board? My only concern is that the mantle might be brittle.

MedSailor

erps · #2 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009

I've thought about getting one myself. We had friends who had one in their camper. It was as bright as a coleman type lantern. They're expensive though! They also put out a considerable amount of heat.

MedSailor · #3 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by erps

I've thought about getting one myself. We had friends who had one in their camper. It was as bright as a coleman type lantern. They're expensive though! They also put out a considerable amount of heat.

Expensive... well yes and no. Yes they are expensive, but compared to the trawler style lamps you see on lots of boats, they're likely much more functional and cheaper too. But then again, those things are just a huge rip-off.

MedSailor

sww914 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

They take a lot of time. I lived with them for almost 3 years, I got really tired of trimming the wicks and smelling kerosene. I tried using 1/2 diesel and 1/2 kerosene, don't do it unless you want everything in your boat a couple shades darker. On pure kerosene when they're perfect they produce probably the nicest most comfortable light ever, just beautiful to read by. They're only perfect for 15-20 minutes at a time and then it's time to fiddle with them again. I'll try LED this time when I get another boat. I never tried real lamp oil, I was young & too poor to get the best of some things. It may be much better with the right stuff.
Also, the wicks and mantles aren't cheap. It seems that I spent about equal amounts on wicks and mantles as I did on kerosene? It's been a long time.
All in all, kind of like living on a boat. Finicky, beautiful, needy, and more costly than you expected.
And satisfying.

trantor12020 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

Just for the fun of it, I've a 20 year old Chinadin kerosene lamp onboard. Its probably same as the Aladdin lamp but made in China.

zz4gta · #6 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

I have a cheap oil lantern, I saw the aladins, but the price was too high for me. $10 from a discount store and it keeps the bugs away.

WanderingStar · #7 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

I've only owned mine for six months, but I like it very much. It's bright and quiet, it does not smoke or smell. The mantle was crumbling when I got the boat, I replaced it. The boat was in enough of a sea to bounce the men in the V-berth, the lamp was fine. It does produce radiant heat, we used it to warm and dry in heavy rain.

Marcvet · #8 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

The biggest problem I have with an Alladin is the amount of heat they put out. Although great to warm up the cabin,unless I put it on the cabin sole I start to scorch the paneling above it...even on low.

corny · #9 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

I have one at our off-grid cabin. I will second the thought that they require a lot of fussing, and the mantles are fragile and expensive. The biggest problem I've had is, because they're interesting, other people futzing with them and screwing them up to the point of me having to replace mantles, wicks, etc. So if you get one, learn how to use it and make the rule that NO ONE EVER TOUCHES THE LAMP BUT YOU. Threaten them with keelhauling if necessary.

The other issue is the heat. They throw off a considerable amount of heat. Which, at certain times of the year is a nice plus, but other times not so much. Make sure you have good ventilation and use a high quality kerosene, or you'll smell like a fuel oil truck. Properly trimmed, properly adjusted and with proper fuel they're not smelly or sooty at all. They are nice and bright, but I think that for a boating application, I might want something else.

meuritt · #10 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009

I had one ion my small, 24' RV. Darn thing was too tall to put under the stove vent, and with a dog with me I couldn't put it on the floor. The only way to use it was to have the fold out table opened up. It threw enough heat to make that tin box almost comfy while camping deep in the redwoods one cold January weekend.

I'd like to describe what can happen when things go out of whack on these wonderful lights. I fell asleep while reading by that wonderful light and woke up thinking I had been invaded by tiny flying insects. Once fully awake I realized the lamp was spewing bits of carbon around like a Lawrence Welk bubble machine. What a mess.

Great lamps, but not for the inattentive, or those with low ceilings,

Mike