Alcohol Pressure Stove and Oven

[Bob Perreault]

I have recently purchased '85 Catalina 30 Tall Rig W/bow. The vessel has the original pressure alcohol stove, it appears in excellent condition, but I have no operating manual. Any sugggestions appreciated.

 

[Todd Osborne]

Preheat the burners!

You are wise in asking this! These stoves can flare up & cause you to use your fire extinguisher if not pre-heated properly. This is a tricky process & you should pay careful attention when lighting. These stoves work similar to a coleman white gas stove, if you are familiar with them. Turn on the burner for about 2 - 3 seconds. You should hear a gurgle of liquid alcohol. Turn the stove off. wait for a few seconds for the fluid to make its way to the burner (and the area just underneath). now light & watch flame size. If the flame becomes too big you opened the valve too long and allowed too much alcohol out. Try to maintain a flame that is 2-3 inches high & let it warm the burner. you may have to open the valve an additional time to keep the flame hot enough to adequately warm the burner. Let warm for about one minute. Now turn the burner valve on & listen for a hiss rather than a gurgle. This implies the burner is hot enough to turn the alcohol to vapor & begin to use. If you still get a gurgle, the burner is not hot enough. Immediately turn the valve off & continue maintaining a small warming flame until you can turn the valve on & hear a hiss.Hope this helps. as cleaning up the mess after using a fire extinguisher is not fun!

 

[Bill B.]

Be Careful

Read the below posting by Todd. It pretty well tells the story. I must emphasize also that you MUST be VERY CAREFUL when preheating your burners. A little acolhol will go a long way. After you have done it a couple of times, you will know how long, and how open to crack your burner valves. But, again, be careful until you know what to expect. then keep being careful!!!Bill B.S/V "Eagle's Nest"

 

[Gene Foraker]

Once was considered safest

Alcohol stoves were once considered the safest type, but now many people are terrified with them. If used with care they still are safe. The biggest chance of a flare up is not when first lighting, but trying to relight if it has been blown out. If it blows out from the wind, excess fuel can gather under the burner and cause a huge flare up if you try to relight right away. Always check for this! Occaisional small flare ups can occur, but the flame is quite cool, like sterno, and unless there is a huge amount of excess fuel, water will put it right out. If there is a large amount of fuel, then water will just wash it around and make it spread. Please try to get good instructions on use for your own safety. If you learn to use it, it can still be OK for light duty or occaisional use, but if you need to use the stove often, you will probably enjoy a stove with higher btu output. I rarely used the alcohol stove on my old C30, instead we used an electric hotplate at the dock or a small butane burner while at anchor like those sold at West. We didn't cook much, mostly just water for coffee.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Try contacting the mfgr

You don't mention a manufacturer but you can try contacting them to get an operation manual. I had a pressure system on board my boat & switched to non-pressurized (Origo) and am very happy. I find myself using the stove more cuz it's much easier & "safer." Ladonna

 

[Bob Perreault]

Thanks for the comments

I appreciate your responses, they are all helpful. I will certainly take the recommended safety tips to heart. Happy sailing all...this area is incredible if you ever have the chance...we've been here since 7/3, sail in ocean off Kiawah and Seabrook Islands and had at least 15-18 everyday but with most days 15-25. Easy cruising to Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah etc.