Where would the gas cylinder be when it the stove is in use?

If it is inside the boat this would be a BAD THING! A seriously BAD THING.

Use it on a cockpit table with cockpit drains hmm might be OK but not really practicable.

Also I suspect that you will find that the burners are not stainless steel and rust away within months.

Long term a Force 10 is the way to go. Mine is at least 7 years old and gets used daily. All the burners are original, the only thing that is dicky is the ignition and I could posssibly fix this AGAIN!

 

Good points to ponder, thanks!....

"Where would the gas cylinder be when it the stove is in use?" It appears the regulator attaches in the back of the unit which I believe could be extended.

If it is inside the boat this would be a BAD THING! A seriously BAD THING." Interested to understand how this would be much different from a traditional "plumbed" propane oven. As explained above, the tank could be separated from the open flame via extension by 3-4 feet, thereby removing the cylinder from the "danger zone".

"Also I suspect that you will find that the burners are not stainless steel and rust away within months." Per the ad, the description states the burners are brass and should hold up well in that environment.

 

The problem is the gas cylinder being inside the boat. You want to keep the cylinder in a separate vapour proof locker vented over the side.

I believe that there is a US code on this and failure to meet the code will make insurance a problem.

See http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/propane-systems.asp"]http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/propane-systems.asp

The stove on its own might do the job and at sub $200 is a bargain when compared with a similar Force 10 at $1200 although that comes with gimbals.

I used a Flavell Vanessa on my first boat as a cheap stove. It did the job but I needed new grill and top burners every two to three years. It was enamel and brass.

 

I have recently purchased a Morgan 41 Out Island .

If you bought an Out Islander to go out island I would get a propper marine Eno or Force 10 stove and plum it in properly with a propane system. The propane haters have gone out with the Elivs killed JFK mob.

The stove is the only thing on a boat that one uses more than the dinghy! Its the second most used thing on this boat except the head (used to issue internet advice). Its used 3 meals per day and sundry cups of coffee at anchor and at sea even more!

Unless you are required by law dump the idea of an electronic solinoid.

Mark

 

If you bought an Out Islander to go out island I would get a propper marine Eno of Force 10 stove and plum it in properly with a propane system. The propane haters have gone out with the Elivs killed JFK mob.

The stove is the only thing on a boat that one uses more than the dinghy! Its the second most used thing on this boat except the head (used to issue internet advice). Its used 3 meals per day and sundry cups of coffee at anchor and at sea even more!

Unless you are required by law dump the idea of an electronic solinoid.

Mark

I admit, I am being swayed by short term costs vs long term convenience/use. My Citation has the propane Force 10 and the wife has gotten used to its idiosyncrasies (hot spots, etc). Maybe I will get the portable oven for the Citation and swap for the Force 10...hmmm!

 

How much do the gas canisters run for this stove? You could end up spending less up front but way more in the long run if you are using small disposable canisters. Don't know if this is the case, but if they are disposable then that becomes another issue too. I think there's probably a good reason that the marine industry settled on the choices that they did. Just something else to consider.

 

Agreed. My thought was to refill the 1lb canisters using an available adapter. I was going to install a 20lb cylinder in a vented locker on deck but am trying to avoid plumbing anything below if at all possible. If going this route proves to be unsafe, I will simply do what needs to be done.....

 

Second the insurance issue. If you're unlucky enough to blow you(and the boats around you) up but survive, I doubt your insurance will cover you (or the Hinkley you damaged ).

 

Insurance will cover up to your limits - period. Regardless of stupidity, which only increases rates for the rest of us.

My take on the debate is I am one who actually likes electric, but don't use the oven a whole lot (especially at sea) and still BBQ on the grill @ anchor. Underway, it seems we do an awful lot of getting from point A to point B and have to motor as ideal sailing conditions are not the norm at least for us. My theory is it is a one-stop shop for diesel when cruising and lugging a propane cylinder around with laundry and provisions takes away more of the fun - not to mention finding a filler. Running the genset to cook also charges the batteries and cool and dry things off a bit with the a/c, so we try and take advantage of that time as much as possible, or the main engine and 100 amp alt is enough to run the hotplate and microwave with the 2000 watt inverter. I also like to heat coffee and soup up prior to a passage and keep it in thermoses to stay warm, thus not having to heat up water as often. After heating it up, store it in a Pizza Delivery bag.

 

Youo could sell the boat and buy one with a oven already in it.

Certainly be lunacy cruising anywhere without an oven. Whats the GF going to cook the bunnies in?

A $2,000 fitting for something you use 6 times per day every day for a 5 years cruise and then a 10 year senility is cheap as chups for a boat.

And if you dont use propane what would you use? Buy some firewood?


So look at you, not the boat. What is the purose of the boat? If its to sail 10 weekends per year and then put on the hard its a different use than living aboard for 15 years.

 

And if you dont use propane what would you use? Buy some firewood?

Well there are other options, and yes wood is one, but only if you are cruising northern climates, I imagine that Brent might use it! You get the advantage of heating the boat as well. But alcohol is a viable option and much less money to install. So if you are cost conscience it is a good option. The Cookmates are quite reasonable, the Origo stove with oven is 1,500 so you are getting into propane territory though I have seen them used for much less and the burners are simple, easy to replace and the only thing that could go wrong. There are still Kerosene stoves available as well and they have there advocates. And At least one diesel stove as well.

Propane is preferred because it liquifies under moderate pressure. This greatly reduces the pressure the tank needs to be designed to withstand - usually 200 psi or less (14 atmospheres or less).

CNG stays gaseous, which results in much higher pressures needed to hold a similar quantity of energy in a given volume. Typically 3000+ psi (200+ atmospheres). So the safety you gain in the event of a leak is balanced out by the additional weight and lessened safety against puncture.

That is good to know. The tanks are certainly much heavier duty than LPG. Seems as though supply is the real issue as well.

 

Well....when you put it that way perhaps it is penny smart, pound foolish to go the route I was thinking...the smart move is to keep the wifey happy...it all comes around!

This sounding board has convinced me to deinstall the propane stove/oven and associated solenoids from my current boat and retro fit it with a gimballed low pressure alcohol burner. I can offset the cost of install with selling the electric stove from my "new to me" boat to one of my trawler friends....problem solved...

Now, where does one go to get trawler friends!?

 

I'm not propane-phobic. It simply doesn't cause many fires or explosions, as it requires a fairly narrow range of gas-air mix to ignite. Pure propane won't burn, neither will heavily dilluted. Ever have trouble lighting your BBQ?

However, I would never leave a propane bottle in the cabin. A leak will settle in the bilge and then has no where to vent. There are ignition sources and the gas may just wait and wait until that perfect mix is made. No good.

The bottle should be outside. When we're done cooking, we hit the breaker for the solenoid and watch the flame go out before closing the handle. This way we know the solenoid works. We don't always go shut the tank off, as we now know the solenoid is closed and the fail is to remain closed so a hose leak can't fill the boat.

I have zero concern over using the portable tanks outdoors, which is what that oven seems to be designed for. Way too much dillution for it to ever be a real concern.

 

One thing to consider before going the alcohol stove route. The alcohol can be difficult to find and it is generally pretty expensive, and worst of all you have to store several of the flimsy (and soon rusty) gallon cans of it somewhere on your boat. My advice is to bite the bullet and install a proper propane system and stove. We installed a Dickinson three burner stove several years ago and highly recommend it.

 

One thing to consider before going the alcohol stove route. The alcohol can be difficult to find and it is generally pretty expensive, and worst of all you have to store several of the flimsy (and soon rusty) gallon cans of it somewhere on your boat.

Is the "hard to find" an international concern? In the US and Canada I've found it at every hardware store and painting store that I've looked in, and those are almost everywhere.

1 gallon of fuel is pretty expensive at $10-$15, but that lasts me about a month of living on the boat and cooking most meals (note that I only have a stove, no oven).

For some reason some marine stores sell the same stuff in a different can for closer to $30. My favorite is Fisheries Supply in Seattle which has the $30 stuff in the galley section, or the $12 stuff (which says right on it "good for marine stoves") in the painting section.

For my needs (a few weeks to a month of coastal cruising per year) I find alcohol stoves to be a great solution. If I were living aboard or cruising for years at a time, and had more room, a propane system would probably be worth it.

 

All good points...much appreciated. I have taken possession and am underway back to Tampa bay. In looking at the electric unit currently installed, I can easily retro fit the propane Force 10 but the plumbing will be a bit of a run to the aft deck where I plan on installing the locker. I would be interested to see where others have exited the deck on an Out Island 416 to ensure a clean and most direct run.

The list of "to do's" is already growing and she hasn't even spent the first night in her slip!!!

 

So did you buy Dream Weaver? Looks nice.

 

If you decide to go with propane maybe this will help.

Safe Propane Installations on Boats.

 

Can't image not having a stove on a sailboat. If living on land and just doing brief cruising you can prepare meals, freeze them and then just heat them up when needed. When doing passages this becomes even more important. When living aboard for any period the smell of "something in the oven" just makes your day.
Would suggest when doing your propane get at least a three burner. More cooktop space keeps the food in the pan not on the sole even when using just one burner. With three + burners you can cook a real meal in a reasonable time.