Alcohol or Propane - Is it a question ?

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DavidWDempsey51

DavidWDempsey51

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Jan 8, 2013
3
Hunter 34 Vancouver, BC
Hello Hunter Owners

My sailing buddy and I just purchased a 1986 Hunter 34. Happily we are on the west coast of Canada and can sail all year.

The current stove and oven is alcohol ( methyl hydrate ). I have used alcohol often when kayaking or backpacking, but we are considering putting in propane for the stove and for the BBQ which is currently those little wasteful propane bottles.

My question is this. Who has converted to propane and what are the gotchas ? Any advise is appreciated.

We also have to replace the hot water heater which is end of life.

Thank you

David in Vancouver
S V Ge Mara soon to be either "all to play for" or "never better"
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
DavidWDempsey51 said:
Hello Hunter Owners

My sailing buddy and I just purchased a 1986 Hunter 34. Happily we are on the west coast of Canada and can sail all year.

The current stove and oven is alcohol ( methyl hydrate ). I have used alcohol often when kayaking or backpacking, but we are considering putting in propane for the stove and for the BBQ which is currently those little wasteful propane bottles.

My question is this. Who has converted to propane and what are the gotchas ? Any advise is appreciated.

We also have to replace the hot water heater which is end of life.

Thank you

David in Vancouver
S V Ge Mara soon to be either "all to play for" or "never better"
Click to expand
Welcome to the site...
there are currently a couple different threads within the last 4 pages here about converting from alcohol to propane.... type into the search engine and you will find waaaay more reading than you want....:D
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
David: If you have an Origo stove/oven, I would keep it and try it out for a while. These are not like your pressurized units.

Converting to propane is not cheap $1300-2000.
 
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Ray Bowles

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Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
We had an Origo double burner stove on our Hunter and I found that I liked it better than the propane stove on our next boat. They must be properly used and covered when not in use. Its that simple.
Ray
 
Bosman

Bosman

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Oct 24, 2010
346
Solina 27 Wabamun, Alberta
Having alcohol stove on my first boat and propane on the current (and propane heating) I will never go back to alcohol. But it is only mine opinion and I know many boat owner would disagree. If you are considering converting to propane, and reading that your water heater is past its prime, why not install marine propane water heater as well? For example like this German-made Truma: http://www.truma.com/int/en/water-comfort/boat-boiler-b-10-b-14.php I am using their Trumatic E2400 forced air heating system and I am very happy with it.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,098
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
I am with the group on this one too. My PO had installed a great propane stove but the conversion was expensive.. I would probably not convert, but I do love my propane stove. Ya have the new stove and the propane locker and the detectors and the solenoid controls to do.. I have used the Origos on OPB (other people's boats) and found them to be very good. Unless you plan to do a lot of cooking, the origo is a pretty good stove.. You can get the fuel at Home Depot or Lowes at a much better price than at a marine place.
 

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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,174
CC 30 South Florida
David, conversion to propane is a costly endeavour (@$1,500) plus the loss of locker space. The Origo, non-pressurized alcohol stoves that came as standart equipment on the h34 works rather well. My main complaints were the smell of alcohol and having to frequently fill the cannisters. These complaints quickly dissipated for $1,500. Propane is much more convenient, do not get me wrong but you may need to answer a question for yourself, "how often do I use the stove and grill on the boat?". For a liveaboard the answer will be very different than for a weekend sailor. In my case I find those little 1lb propane bottles are quite convenient as I may use the stern mounted grill perhaps once a month. Our current boat has working propane because it came with it but we still use the 1lb bottles for the grill, heater and as a backup.
 
P

PKFK

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Jul 12, 2004
206
Hunter 36 Ottawa
I will chime in here - we had the same propane stove/oven as Claude in the picture (Seaward princess 3 buner + oven) on my Ticon-30, and we have a force-10 propane stove/oven unit on our H36, and I really like them.

Even though we are not liveaboards, having the oven with decent thermostatic heat control opens up a huge amount of options for cooking - even on weekends.

When everyone else is having BBQ for the 200th time, we can chow down on a nice baked Lasagne, roast chicken, or other tasty option because of the oven capabilities. Freshly baked croissants (taken frozen from home) with jam and Brie with your coffee will go down very nicely with that morning coffee......or baked quiche !

It really depends on how you use the boat - but if it is your cottage, you might want to give it some hard thought - for us, having the propane oven is a big deal !

Paul
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
I have a 2 burner Origio, no complaints at all. It works well and requires zero maintenance. Propane wouldn't be an option for me, I don't have the locker space to properly install.
 
YVRguy

YVRguy

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Jan 10, 2013
479
Hunter 34 Vancouver, BC
"When everyone else is having BBQ for the 200th time, we can chow down on a nice baked Lasagne, roast chicken, or other tasty option because of the oven capabilities. Freshly baked croissants (taken frozen from home) with jam and Brie with your coffee will go down very nicely with that morning coffee......or baked quiche !"

This quote says it all! Speaking as the other owner of the boat, it's tons of fun to cook up a nice dinner while you're afloat. If I wanted to make do with the bare minimum I'd head into the bush with a backpack and a can of sterno. :)

Great advice from everyone - thanks. We'll run with the Origo for now but I'm betting we'll be switching to propane soon.
 
YVRguy

YVRguy

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Jan 10, 2013
479
Hunter 34 Vancouver, BC
So after trying it out, David and I are pleasantly surprised by how efficient the alcohol stove is. True, not quite as fast as propane but it worked fine for a full kettle, coffee pot and a pot of soup. Given the safety and simplicity I doubt we'll switch now. Then again it still has to pass muster with the wives...
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,186
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Yea, I think you'll find it not worth changing. The Origo is terrific and sure is simple.
 
Claude L.-Auger

Claude L.-Auger

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Dec 14, 2003
1,433
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
After 13 years of using my Origo, I am still happy with it. I solve the issue of those annoying 1 lb bottles for the grill by installing a 10 lbs LPG tank on the port side railing and I put a gauge on it. No more having to replace the little tank half-way through the grilling. I looked at propane to replace the Origo but like Benny the $1500 + for the conversion + the locker (i.e. loosing storage space) was too high.
 

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centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
there is more discussion concerning alcohol vs propane on this thread. search "2 burner stove for C22".... (I wish I knew how to create a link here)
I find it humorous that one thread within a couple of days of another one can weigh so heavily in the other direction as to an opinion on the same subject.... its a different title and different people.... but the same subject, propane vs alcohol....
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
David 51...

Welcome aboard!

Am in the Origo camp, but removed the oven portion and installed a dorm-type fridge in its place.

In addition to the cost factor, consider the safety issues of propane use and don't cut corners or you'll go "BOOM".
 
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