Single Stove Gimbals

[HMS Images]

Last year as I was accessing what I would like to do with my boat for this coming spring. I thought that it would be nice to be able to cook onboard and do it safely. So, I started looking for seaswings and gimbals and to my surprise could not find much for sale or even available. I came across this site and locked into Slartibartfass post on making a gimbal. This is exactly what I was looking for, something small. So I have spent most of the winter braving the cold of the garage and sourcing parts and materials to start making them. At this point I have made four, one of which can be found on ebay if anyone is interested. Stainless Steel Stove Gimbal | eBay . I expect to making these on a per order basis after I figure out what I need to charge for them. I have also sent one to a boat builder in Brisbane, Australia. Tom Robinson who is getting ready to row the boat he made across the Pacific from Peru back home to Brisbane. He is a very interesting and capable young man who I expect will be very successful. You can follow his journey here. Tom Robinson Boats
I have posted a few photos of one of the gimbals, take a look and let me know what you think. Great to be a part of the group. Thanks.

 

[Benny17441]

It sure looks homemade.

 

[thinwater]

Note that cooking underway with boiling water or hot grease is never completely safe. It's really easy to get boiling water down your leg and a 3rd degree burn. Heck, I've done that at home cooking spaghetti (a few square inches on my ankle--took more than a month to heel and could not wear a sock for 3 weeks). It doesn't enven have to be on the stove, it can be transfering and a wave hits. Unless you are wearing rain gear there is always a serious risk.

If your boat is a Cape Dory Typhon, these warnings go triple. Too much motion, too little space. Better to cook only foods that don't have boiling water (thick stews etc.), use an oversized pot so it is not nearly full, and use pot holders on the stove. If it is rough, use common sense and don't cook. Otherwise, yes, something like the above or Jet Boil. But honestly, unless you are doing multiday passages (which you are not), just forget about it. Not worth the hastle and risk. There is LOTS of good food that is served cold.

(I've cruised both small and larger boats and speak from that experience.)

 

[Timm R Oday25]

I also found very little when I was looking for a gimballed stove . I was very fortunate in being able to convince an old sailor to sell me his.
If I was in the market ,I would certainly be asking you for a price and availability . You might want to weld to pivot points instead of using screws.

 

[thinwater]

...You might want to weld to pivot points instead of using screws.

If there is any concern (probably no need), add Locktite. Much easier and can be taken apart.

 

[HMS Images]

If there is any concern (probably no need), add Locktite. Much easier and can be taken apart.

There are a number of different loctite applications. I use the permanite for most of this unit. A few points I use the kind that you can take apart.

 

[HMS Images]

Note that cooking underway with boiling water or hot grease is never completely safe. It's really easy to get boiling water down your leg and a 3rd degree burn. Heck, I've done that at home cooking spaghetti (a few square inches on my ankle--took more than a month to heel and could not wear a sock for 3 weeks). It doesn't enven have to be on the stove, it can be transfering and a wave hits. Unless you are wearing rain gear there is always a serious risk.

If your boat is a Cape Dory Typhon, these warnings go triple. Too much motion, too little space. Better to cook only foods that don't have boiling water (thick stews etc.), use an oversized pot so it is not nearly full, and use pot holders on the stove. If it is rough, use common sense and don't cook. Otherwise, yes, something like the above or Jet Boil. But honestly, unless you are doing multiday passages (which you are not), just forget about it. Not worth the hastle and risk. There is LOTS of good food that is served cold.

(I've cruised both small and larger boats and speak from that experience.)

Thanks for the words of caution. Maybe I should put this on a flyer if anyone buys one.

 

[HMS Images]

It sure looks homemade.

It is all hand made and home made. Like most classic sailboats. You gotta start somewhere.

Thank you.