Alcohol stove reassembly

[Pops]

The previous owner of my boat took apart the pressurized alcohol stove on my H27. Having recently just recovered all of the parts, I will be putting it back together. My question is whether or not I should use a sealant on the copper connections (pipe dope, teflon tape, etc). I don't know if it is needed or what is compatible. Thanks for the help.

 

[jackhartjr]

It would help to know what stove you have.
I can point you to diagrams on a couple of them.
Jack

 

[Pops]

Sorry Jack I should know better. It is a Kenyon Marine Homestrand Model 206. I have a pdf of the original manual but, it doesn't mention much on assembly, just installation of complete unit. It does have a blow up of parts so I be able to get them in the right order. My concern is getting the fittings leak-proof. Thanks

 

[j_schoenfeld]

I have a circa 1982 hiller range, two burner with a oven. It had been retro fitted for propane. I don't like propane on a boat and wanted to move it back to alcohol. So I bought a stove and tank off ebay from florida. I then redid the whole stove with the burners from the other stove. I did not use any sort of sealant on the copper tubing or fittings, and it holds tight as can be. I have had the system pressurized (12 lbs pressure) for 5 months and haven't had a leak or lost pressure. I did solder the burners to the new tubing and just used crimp fittings on the rest.

 

[Joseph Shirley]

I almost lost a boat many years ago, to a fire that started in a pressurized alcohol stove, and have never wanted one again. The next boat I got had a 3 burner pressurized alcohol stove with oven, and it looked like a nice unit, but I just ripped it out and threw it away, I didn't even try to sell it. It was replaced with a nice 2 burner w/oven propane stove and I never regretted it.

There are non pressurized alcohol stoves that are safe, but I don't know if they are available with ovens

Good luck

Joe S

 

[Pops]

Joe, I'm OK with pressurised alcohol. I can make it work and I think it is a good solution on a small, well founded boat. I'm sorry you almost lost that boat. What happened, I'd love to have an oven.

 

[Nereussailor]

Alcohol Stove

I've had a Kenyon Mariner Homestrand stove Model 205-32A on my last two boats. I loved it. I kept it to use in my H30, but it wouldn't fit in the space that was there. so I ended up with an Origo. It works ok, but I liked the Homestrand better. Since it doesn't fit in my boat, I'm thinking of selling it. It doesn't do me any good sitting in the garage collecting dust. Personally, I don't think that pressurized alcohol stoves are any more dangerous than propane stoves.

Dave

 

[druid]

I'm with Joseph on this one: I had too many fires with my pressurized alcohol stove on the Cal 25 - turfed it and replaced with propane. 3 boats and 25 years later, I've always had propane and never had a problem.

Assembling it by hand only makes it even less safe. Either buy a complete unit (used ones can be had for amazingly cheap by owners who have seen too many fires...), or go propane (installed by a professional, of course!)

druid

 

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that there are origo unpressurized units that have both a stove and oven.

I'm a third person that would say no to pressurized alcohol for a galley setup. Too many fires have been caused by them. Read Boat US insurance's book Seaworthy...

 

[Joseph Shirley]

Merry Prankster, You said: "I'm sorry you almost lost that boat. What happened,---"

I developed a leak in a pressure line (salt water corrosion on a copper tube I think) and flooded the top of the stove while it was in use. When it flared up it ran over behind the gimbaled edge of the stove the fire became unaccessible and got large in a hurry. After using everyone of my fire extinguishers and stuffing towels and clothing behind the stove to put it out I finally did. It scared me almost to death because it was a 30 foot wooden sloop with a gas engine

A propane stove can catch fire accidently too, but supply lines are under much lower pressure, can be secured with a solenoid valve, and are protected by automatic shutoff valves on the burners and sniffer alarms/shutoffs in the bilge.

I don't know any serious cruisers who use pressurized alcohol. I do know one or two who use non-pressurized alcohol but I don't know any who have an oven. There is a device like a big domed cover that goes over a burner to act like an oven. I had one myself many years ago but don't remember too much about it.

Here is some info about a non pressurized alcohol with oven

http://www.fisheriessupply.com/onli.../1/Ntx/mode+matchpartial+rel+Inactive/Ntk/All

The reduced price is for a wholesale account. You can generally find someone to beat the retail price however.

Good Luck

Joe S

 

[MoonSailer]

Propane on a boat really scares me. It is heavier than air and explosive!!!! Sure alcohol might burn your boat but propane can turn your boat into a bomb. Pressurised alcohol stoves work well if you know how to use one. But just like I don't like gasoline on my boat I don't like propane. ANY source of fire on a boat is dangerous and needs to be treated with respect. IMHO a fire is better than an explosion!!! http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=502

here another boat explodes.
http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_080807_boat_explosion.157e5d71.html

and another boat explodes
http://www.wafb.com/global/story.asp?s=9631072&ClientType=Printable

 

[Pops]

I brought home my stove the other day and discovered that the PO had damaged it sufficiently, when removing the burners, to render it unrepairable. I have contacted Phil at this site to see if he can get me an Origo 4200. So, I won't be endangered by a pressured alcohol stove (I sure did like the one on my H25). Thanks every one for your comments.

 

[Hermit Scott]

This is one of those subjects that has very polarized views. I don't use propane on our grill at the shop so I don't feel as comforatable putting it IN my boat. A grill off the back with a proper propane locker sure no prob.
The nonpressureized alcohol stove sounds the safest. I have an alcohol stove, I think it is pressurized though. I am going to install it after I get some practice in the shop with it.
Ross siaid he uses an oil lamp in the cabin. At first I thought "how old fashioned" after thinking about it, I think the ambiance would be cool.
But I keep imagining the scene in the old movies where the oil lamp hits the floor in the hay barn and the whole place goes up like a match. they have them at WalMart(antichrist) for $7 or $8. I have a chain already installed in the saloon, salon what ever it's called.

 

[MoonSailer]

I too have a propane grill on my rail. The propane is stored out in the cockpit. My wife caused a minor explosion using a propane camp stove on our last boat. She was having trouble with her matches and left the valve on too long. Fortunately the hatches were open as I felt a huge gust of air coming out of the companionway hatch. She escaped with just burned hair . If the hatches had been closed it would probably have been bad!!!! My point is that propane is not "all good" and alcohol "all bad". Both have attributes to be considered. I am not going to trash my alcohol stove but if my next boat has propane I am not going to trash that. Both can be dangerous. Even natural gas can be a problem. My son was renting a house that has an old cooking stove that somehow caught fire and almost burned the house to the ground. It seems that a safety valve failed and allowed gas to flow and be ignited. This set the exhaust fan on fire and destroyed the kitchen. Supposedly new gas appliances have better safety valves.