Source of alcohol stove fuel

[sailingdog]

As for how long the hose lasts—it really depends on how the installation was done. If it was done with the proper chafe protectors at every bulkhead and passthrough, it can last a very long time. Ideally, there should be no connections on a propane line. It should be a single hose run from the regulator or solenoid to the back of the appliance. Any connections should be made inside the propane locker, where any leakage will safely drain overboard.

[joethecobbler]

My vote is for the Non-pressurized alcohol. Specificaly the Origo.
I have an Origo 2 burner w/ the oven and it is gimballed. The stove/oven work well and are easy to light,refill, and keep in top working order. Very few moving parts. Easy maintenence. No explosion issues ever. no "Tank" to fill and wonder how much is left. The fuel is available at all kinds of stores- paint supply,hardware,home repair, I've even found it in grocery stores. So re-fueling is plentiful more than propane.
I noticed if you fail to replace the neopreme cover disks on the burner after use that your fuel will evaporate between uses. Also , when baking it is important to fill the burner with only the amount of alcohol necesary to comoplete the baking session to minimize evaporation loss.
Condensation is usually not an issue as in a 30-40' boat you need ventalation when cooking anyhow.

[L124C]

I boil water all the time on my pressurized Alcohol stove, and notice little difference in performance between the boat stove and the gas stove in my home. Yes, It takes a little longer, but not much. It does take a couple of minutes to prime, but not a big deal. I have yet to experience the "rain forest" effect mentioned in the other post. As I stated in my other post on this issue, the flame is only invisible in bright direct sunlight. It is clearly visible in the cabin. It IS EXTREMELY important that someone be shown how to light the stove and oven. You don't need much fuel to prime the system, and this is were most people get into trouble. Even then, you would have had to do something really stupid, to not be able to handle the situation with a pot of water to douse it. In fact, I wonder how many of the Alcohol stove horror stories you hear, were related to another type of alcohol.! When the stove was new to me, I always kept a pot of water handy because I wasn't confident (and I had heard the myths as well!). Never had to use it. In my opinion, the simplicity of the system is it's beauty. As with any device that makes fire (especially on a boat!), you simply have to treat it with respect and use your head. If anyone has a Alcohol stove in the SF Bay Area and doesn't know how to use it, contact me. I'll be happy to show you.
Bill

QUOTE=hellosailor;394711]Alcohol has the lowest fuel energy (coldest burn) of any common stove fuel, and also forms the largest amount of water vapor in the combustion products. So you need more time and more fuel to boil a cup of anything, and in damp weather you can turn a boat into a rain forest.

Other than that, and the invisible flame causing fires to spread before they're noticed...

I'm quite happy to live on cold food rather than play with alcohol stoves, pressurized or un.[/QUOTE]

[hellosailor]

Bill, alcohol is a reliable fuel that has been used for millenia. Just like camel chips.

That does not mean it is the right fuel for everyone. The facts remain, that it puts out more water vapor from combustion than any other liquid fuel. That it has the lowest combustion heat of any similar fuel (the coldest flame). And that the problems of accidental fires are way disproportionate to any advantages of the fuel--at least, in the minds of most boaters today.

It may boil water well enough for you, but at altittudes, in in high latitutdes and cold wx, there are significant differences. And in a tightly closed boat in humid weather--prolonged use of the alcohol will give you a new appreciation for condensation.

Each to their own, glad you love yours.

[add]

I have used Denatured Alcohol for the last 2 years and it works fine in my Origo 4000. I bought it at Home Depot where the current price is $ 15.29 per gallon.

[Ricemarket]

If you use a MSR type of stove it can burn any type of fuel you happen to have on hand. MSR xkg or the whisperlite international. I use them when I camp.

[Porthos1961]

Although I do not use alcohol myself I have a close friend who does and he buys it at Home Depot or Loews and at present it seems to be about $12.00 a gallon. BTW - He has a pressurized stove with oven and HATES IT .... LOL.

[JomsViking]

We use LPG, because of those exact issues = Condensation and painfully slow cooking times.

Camel sh.t not so much, and I believe it is not pressurized (any longer) when used for heating

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Bill, alcohol is a reliable fuel that has been used for millenia. Just like camel chips.

That does not mean it is the right fuel for everyone. The facts remain, that it puts out more water vapor from combustion than any other liquid fuel. That it has the lowest combustion heat of any similar fuel (the coldest flame). And that the problems of accidental fires are way disproportionate to any advantages of the fuel--at least, in the minds of most boaters today.

It may boil water well enough for you, but at altittudes, in in high latitutdes and cold wx, there are significant differences. And in a tightly closed boat in humid weather--prolonged use of the alcohol will give you a new appreciation for condensation.

Each to their own, glad you love yours.

[AdamLein]

Just like to second the votes for unpressurized alcohol... I have also noticed the condensation problem but I haven't found that cooking takes significantly longer (we have a CookMate 3100, two-burner). The biggest problem is evaporation, so it's important to replace the gaskets after the burner cools. The best thing about it is how it's easy to explain to somebody new how to use it.

Speaking of prudent mariners -- a prudent mariner using a pressurized alcohol or kerosene stove would be sure to adequately preheat the burner We used to use pressurized kero and always preheated *twice* to ensure no flare-ups.

[roofcoatings]

Nice Discussion