One burner or two??

[PSR]

The POs of my Catalina 27 trashed the original galley and installed a custom cabinet lacking a stove and ice box. I'm intending to refit the cabinet with stove and ice box or fridge. A smallish boat like the C27 is short on storage, and I can see that using a one burner alcohol stove instead of a two burner could leave space for an extra drawer in the cabinet or more space for the ice box. I'm mostly a day sailor, but will be doing overnights around the SF Bay and expect to make at least one long haul down the Pacific coast within a few years.

My experience on 7 to 10 day cruises on my friend's C36 is that we boil water for coffee in the morning on one burner, pasta for supper at least once on a burner, and use the propane grill outside for steaks, fish, etc. Nothing much would be eliminated by having one burner in the galley. The oven is just never considered....

My question is this: If you have a two or more burner stove, how often do you use more than one burner at a time? Would you be just/almost as happy with a single burner?

 

[Winkfish]

For myself, I could get by with a one burner, but id rather have two. Just opens up a few more possibilities like sauces, etc.

 

[kito]

You can have a one burner if that's all you need. You can always bring a small portable butane stove along in case you need an extra burner. I bought one for my C22 and works great. There on Ebay for around 20 bucks.

 

[Dunlookin]

The Idea Is Not To "Rough It."

I have survived on a single burner MSR XGK II in the Iraqi desert while I ate MREs and lived in a hole in the ground.

I used to tell my men that being miserable takes little planning. Being comfortable...that takes a little effort.

Yes, you can do many things with a single burner stove. Your food choices grow larger with another burner. The choices become greater with a grill on board.

I recently installed a propane stove another sailor gave me. I don't often use it but, it makes the best garlic bread and pizza afloat.

I try to make myself as comfortable as possible and where-ever I sleep as much like home as I can. If you decide on a single burner stove get one from Harbor Freight that uses the pressureized (SP) cans ($ 25.00)

If you want to impress your friends with a four course meal and a beautiful sunset...a two burner stove is the ticket. Want a grill...check out the Cobb Grill (Camping World/$ 85.00).

IMHO

 

[shemandr]

Dunlookin,
After your Iraq experience, I wish for you as much comfort as you desire. And thank you for your service.

 

[Ross]

Re: The Idea Is Not To "Rough It."

I have a 3 burner w/oven. Often used 2 burners and the oven. Rarely used the 3rd burner. We anchored out all of our trips.

 

[kentobin]

Two is nice so if one fails, and the problem is just that burner, you have a second to use. I usually only use one burner for cooking.

I also keep a portable single burner for backup. Sometimes you just need a hot drink or meal and first having to fix your non-functional stove does not make you a happy sailor.

 

[Steve Dion]

As an alternative take a look at the small butane stoves. They cook very hot if needed and can be stowed away in their plastic case. They are cheap and you can carry as much butane as you think you need in individual cans.

http://www.wholesalemarine.com/burton-mr-max-tabletop-burner.html?gclid=CKXnxvGSib8CFYpefgodSKIAuQ

This is just one of many of them on the market. They are used at buffets for quick cooking omelets and other dishes.

Oh! and you can have it one or two burner.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/2-b...ogleShopping&gclid=CMbct_6Tib8CFcRffgodVxsA2g

 

[kito]

I have a 3 burner propane. How else can you get your grits, bacon,eggs and coffee done at the same time?

 

[Allan12210]

I have a 3 burner propane. How else can you get your grits, bacon,eggs and coffee done at the same time?

Good point. We bought a teflon coated griddle at Sears. It fits right over both Origo burners, however, just one burner lit gets the whole thing hot. We cook bacon, eggs and pancakes all at the same time. No grits here, sorry like Jed Clampett, we moved to Californy. You can even move things around and keep them warm while still cooking.

 

[PSR]

Two is nice so if one fails, and the problem is just that burner, you have a second to use. I usually only use one burner for cooking.

I also keep a portable single burner for backup. Sometimes you just need a hot drink or meal and first having to fix your non-functional stove does not make you a happy sailor.

Thanks! Good point about the second burner backup. I guess a one burner butane could back the one burner alcohol stove & wouldn't take much storage space.

The lack of a proper galley bothers me, so I want one stove installed on gimbals, but portable backup will be easy.

 

[PSR]

I used to tell my men that being miserable takes little planning. Being comfortable...that takes a little effort.
...
If you want to impress your friends with a four course meal and a beautiful sunset...a two burner stove is the ticket. Want a grill...check out the Cobb Grill (Camping World/$ 85.00).

IMHO

Thanks for the thoughts, Dunlookin, and thanks even more for your service in Iraq. I am so happy you are back and sleeping comfortably on the boat or wherever.

I love the comment on being miserable vs comfortable & will not forget it. I've lived for months in tents and houses in tropical forests, and I always aimed to make myself and my companions as comfortable as possible under whatever circumstances prevailed-"as possible" and "circumstances" make all the difference, though.

The grill came with the boat, so I'm on top of that. It's a larger one, so potentially can cook whole meals, although I haven't tried corn, crab, and potatoes r anything else like that in one grill yet. There must be recipes for such meals on the forums, so I'll look for inspiration to add some more pleasure to the cruising....

 

[PSR]

Thanks all for comments and suggestions which are helping my galley plan already.

 

[Kermit]

...potentially can cook whole meals, although I haven't tried corn, crab, and potatoes r anything else like that in one grill yet. There must be recipes for such meals on the forums, so I'll look for inspiration to add some more pleasure to the cruising....

It's called Low Country Boil. A quick search gave me this. https://www.google.com/search?q=low...la:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb Everyone I know adds a can of beer to the pot. Even the non-drinkers. It does take a while to get the water boiling so a small batch on a hot-burning stove would be best. Dang it's good.

 

[patrickince]

Two for sure. Won't take up too much more room.

 

[kito]

It's called Low Country Boil. A quick search gave me this. https://www.google.com/search?q=low...la:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb Everyone I know adds a can of beer to the pot. Even the non-drinkers. It does take a while to get the water boiling so a small batch on a hot-burning stove would be best. Dang it's good.

And add a bag of Zatarain's Shrimp & Crab Boil Seasoning to the pot....yumm

 

[Alan Gomes]

Two is useful if you can spare the room. When I'm cooking breakfast I often will have a frying pan on one burner cooking the eggs or hashbrowns and a kettle on the other, heating water for coffee. I'll put the kettle on low so the water is hot when the other stuff is just about cooked.

 

[Joe]

Two.........there's other opportunities for storage and the stove will fit nicely in the cabinet... if you get the origo type stove the fold down butcher block top is handy, and attractive. I built the cherrywood bins on the back part of the counter and the fold down leaf on the left .... before you ask... I sanded the ratty looking stove top after I took this pic... so it looks quite nice... I tossed in a picture of the other side too.... repainted the ugly formica table and made some slip covers for the cushions..

PS... the pre 1983 Cat 27 offered a dinette or traditional interior... the dinette had either the mid ships galley, like mine, of an aft, L shaped galley, similar to the traditional interior. If you google around, or go to www.catalina27.org, you might find some inspiration for your rebuild. Good Luck.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I have had a four course thanksgiving dinner cooked aboard on a single burner kerosene stove. Including baked sweet potatoes and hot rolls.

Lived aboard three years full time, with just the one burner (gimbled) Had a entire spare stove packed away, just in case.

The small butane stove as a second is a very good idea though, and I have now obtained one.

 

[rbringle]

1+1

We replaced a pressurized alcohol stove with an Seaward Princess 1-Burner Built-In Butane Stove (from Defender). We also have stored a portable butane stove that we pull out about half the time when cooking dinner (e.g., one for cooking pasta; one for the sauce).