I have a drop in alcohol range with 2 burners that measures 20” by 10”. I’d like to keep the footprint of the unit (e.g. keep the box) and see if I can convert from alcohol to propane. Some of the portable coleman stoves that I saw just don’t fit ideally in my space requirements. Has anyone every tried this? Are there any companies that sell conversion kits? Alternatively, does anyone know where I can buy the whicker that goes inside the canisters for alcohol stove? Do they ever expire?
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keep the alcohol
Converting from alcohol to propane is not worth the money. Alcohol is much safer. If you have a propane leak it will settle in the bilge. Alcohol does take longer to heat the water - but we are sailors and are not in a hurry. Seriously, if the brand you currently have is Origo, they are very good alcohol stoves and do not bother to replace it.
Converting from alcohol to propane is not worth the money. Alcohol is much safer. If you have a propane leak it will settle in the bilge. Alcohol does take longer to heat the water - but we are sailors and are not in a hurry. Seriously, if the brand you currently have is Origo, they are very good alcohol stoves and do not bother to replace it.
Please - Check the archives
Take the time to research the archive. Simply type in "alcohol to propane" and you are going to find tons of valuable information from many postings on this topic.
Take the time to research the archive. Simply type in "alcohol to propane" and you are going to find tons of valuable information from many postings on this topic.
No Propane on My Boat
A friend of mine had a Catalina 27 berthed two berths from my Venture 25 on a lake in Kansas. He had a proffessional install a propane stove system approved by some marine association into his boat. Unfortunately, he had got a leak about a year after installation. Since Propane is heavier then air, it settled in the bilge and the bottom of the boat. When he came on board and turned on his power, the boat exploded! He received 3rd degree burns over 90% of his body. His boat, and the boats on either side of his were totally destroyed! He is still alive, but is on permenant disability. He cannot get a job with the burn marks on his face. If you want to go gas, go with compressed natual gas or CNG. It is the same gas that is used in your home. It is lighter then air, so it will not collect in the bilge or the bottom of the boat. You can contact your gas company to give you more information. The jets are a little smaller then on a Propane stove, because it burns hotter. IT IS ALSO MUCH SAFER! I am now going to get hell from all the Propane people! Paul
A friend of mine had a Catalina 27 berthed two berths from my Venture 25 on a lake in Kansas. He had a proffessional install a propane stove system approved by some marine association into his boat. Unfortunately, he had got a leak about a year after installation. Since Propane is heavier then air, it settled in the bilge and the bottom of the boat. When he came on board and turned on his power, the boat exploded! He received 3rd degree burns over 90% of his body. His boat, and the boats on either side of his were totally destroyed! He is still alive, but is on permenant disability. He cannot get a job with the burn marks on his face. If you want to go gas, go with compressed natual gas or CNG. It is the same gas that is used in your home. It is lighter then air, so it will not collect in the bilge or the bottom of the boat. You can contact your gas company to give you more information. The jets are a little smaller then on a Propane stove, because it burns hotter. IT IS ALSO MUCH SAFER! I am now going to get hell from all the Propane people! Paul
Bob- alcohol has its dangers too
In sunlight burning alcohol vapors are virtually INVISIBLE, so if you have a 'flare-up' with alcohol and sunlight is shining inside into the galley .... you can get badly burned and wont know it until the skin, etc. starts to hurt, etc. Been on too many rescues for folks with alcohol stoves. Besides, alcohol has the WORST heat output in comparison to Propane and CNG. ;o)
In sunlight burning alcohol vapors are virtually INVISIBLE, so if you have a 'flare-up' with alcohol and sunlight is shining inside into the galley .... you can get badly burned and wont know it until the skin, etc. starts to hurt, etc. Been on too many rescues for folks with alcohol stoves. Besides, alcohol has the WORST heat output in comparison to Propane and CNG. ;o)
Alcohol is also a risk…..
While taking a boating safety course some years ago a Coast Guard instructor commented (“off the record”) to me that they probably respond to more alcohol fuel caused accidents and fires than propane. He blamed the invisible flame and sometimes messy lighting process. Jeff
While taking a boating safety course some years ago a Coast Guard instructor commented (“off the record”) to me that they probably respond to more alcohol fuel caused accidents and fires than propane. He blamed the invisible flame and sometimes messy lighting process. Jeff
Paul, sorry for your friend and his neighbors.
There is one factor missing from the story. When propane leaks, it STINKS! Did your friend not know what that smell was? Did he not have a sense of smell? P.S. Also CNG is going away. It's not generally available and very expensive.
There is one factor missing from the story. When propane leaks, it STINKS! Did your friend not know what that smell was? Did he not have a sense of smell? P.S. Also CNG is going away. It's not generally available and very expensive.
A note on alchohol
In the early days of alcohol stoves the manufacturers tried to tool their existing models of propane stoves for that fuel including the pressure tank system, which was a mistake. Most of the pressurized alcohol stoves had flareup or flame problems and gave the fuel a bad reputation. The Origo non-pressurized system, however, is very safe and I found it to heat very well on the burners (mine didn't come with an oven). The only way you're going to have a big problem with the Origo is to spill fuel on refueling or dump a pot of liquid into it as you remove the liquid from the stove. Possible, but a different level of danger from an explosion. I don't agree with the negative comments about alcohol stoves if the stove is an Origo, and I would take one over my current propane stove system any day just for peace of mind...
In the early days of alcohol stoves the manufacturers tried to tool their existing models of propane stoves for that fuel including the pressure tank system, which was a mistake. Most of the pressurized alcohol stoves had flareup or flame problems and gave the fuel a bad reputation. The Origo non-pressurized system, however, is very safe and I found it to heat very well on the burners (mine didn't come with an oven). The only way you're going to have a big problem with the Origo is to spill fuel on refueling or dump a pot of liquid into it as you remove the liquid from the stove. Possible, but a different level of danger from an explosion. I don't agree with the negative comments about alcohol stoves if the stove is an Origo, and I would take one over my current propane stove system any day just for peace of mind...
Canister
Ok - my unit is not a Origo. I think it's an almatica or something like that. Inside the canister is some wicker material. I understand that i need to put the fuel in the canister and wait for the material to absorb the liquid. My only question now is where do I buy a replacement wicker - or what ever the material is made out of. Thanx guys,
Ok - my unit is not a Origo. I think it's an almatica or something like that. Inside the canister is some wicker material. I understand that i need to put the fuel in the canister and wait for the material to absorb the liquid. My only question now is where do I buy a replacement wicker - or what ever the material is made out of. Thanx guys,
Conversion
A few years ago Taunton Stove Co. converted a stove for me. (508) 823-0786 Great job! George Irish Wake
A few years ago Taunton Stove Co. converted a stove for me. (508) 823-0786 Great job! George Irish Wake
Not worth the effort
I add my vote for sticking with Alcohol. I believe that the extra effort to fuel the cylinders (do it on the dock or in the cockpit, not the cabin) is worth the effort over the potential propane issues. If you must move to propane, start worrying about where you're going to store the tank. It can't be in a cockpit locker--must be a self-contained locker with a reasonably-sized drainage hole to let the excess propane bleed out the bottom of the locker and away from the boat. You should also invest in wiring a propane solenoid with a switch in the cabin, beyond the standard tank valve. Valves leak, but a solenoid will create a complete break in the feeder line in advance of entering the cabin.
I add my vote for sticking with Alcohol. I believe that the extra effort to fuel the cylinders (do it on the dock or in the cockpit, not the cabin) is worth the effort over the potential propane issues. If you must move to propane, start worrying about where you're going to store the tank. It can't be in a cockpit locker--must be a self-contained locker with a reasonably-sized drainage hole to let the excess propane bleed out the bottom of the locker and away from the boat. You should also invest in wiring a propane solenoid with a switch in the cabin, beyond the standard tank valve. Valves leak, but a solenoid will create a complete break in the feeder line in advance of entering the cabin.
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