Butane, propane vs alchohol stoves

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zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
the only problem with cng is availability. if staying in usa--no problem. if cruising--biiiig problem. propane is common outside of usa.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
JohnS said:
How I see it -

Alcohol safety "pros":
  • fumes lighter than air
  • Low probability of explosion, hence chance to grab extinguisher before fire gets too big
Alcohol safety "cons":
  • requires manual transfer of fuel, hence more chance of spills
  • flames nearly invisible, so burning spills can spread without being noticed immediately

Propane safety "pros":
  • Use of well maintained safe installation with sensors, along with regular safe practices makes for very small chance of dangerous leaks. (Check ABYC standards.)
  • No pouring of flamable substances. Tank replacement connections are done in gravity vented space with no chance of draining into boat.
Propane safety "cons":
  • If a leak is ignited, it doesn't just burn, it explodes. No chance to run topside if you're below.

Feel free to add to this.

I've taken the propane tank off my boat, and don't plan on returning it until I upgrade the whole system, including building a propane locker if necessary. (The boat's vintage '65, and I'm not sure about the current propane system. Same reason I've yet to connect to shore power.) But I definitely plan on going with propane. Until then, it's cooking in the cockpit on my portable butane camp stove.
Click to expand
alcohol safety con,... higher chance of stove flare ups than with any other marine cooking device.
..... more dangerous if tipped over.(both depending on type of stove used)

propane pro,... ease of use
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
jviss said:
Agreed. With a sailboat with a diesel auxiliary, I'm more worried about the propane than anything else. I would prefer to have CNG, but my boat wasn't built that way.
Click to expand
We built a CNG refill manifold that allows us to refill our CNG tanks at the "local" CNG Vehicle fill stations. The parts are not cheap but the fuel is. We fill 4 CNG tanks for under $10.

It is easier to convert from propane to CNG than going the other way. The tank can be placed in most any compartment that it will fit (no need for a air tight box).
 
Richard Bryer

Richard Bryer

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Jun 3, 2004
890
Hunter 34 Toronto, Ontario Canada
And then there is the old one about the guy who is plummeting to earth with his parachute that has not opened and he suddenly realizes that there is this guy shooting up in the air passing beside him. He shouts to him "do you know anything about parachutes?" He replies " No- do you now anything about gas barbeques?"
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,810
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Steve Dion said:
We built a CNG refill manifold that allows us to refill our CNG tanks at the "local" CNG Vehicle fill stations. The parts are not cheap but the fuel is. We fill 4 CNG tanks for under $10.

It is easier to convert from propane to CNG than going the other way. The tank can be placed in most any compartment that it will fit (no need for a air tight box).
Click to expand
Steve,
We're using CNG and have to wait for the delivery two weeks or more from RI (also pricey). Would you mind sharing the parts list for your manifold?
All U Get
 
C

capnJudd

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Mar 8, 2012
3
Morgan OutIsland 30 Perth Amboy
I just talked to Corp Brothers in RI, and their president says that they used to make a gadget to fill CNG tanks at car refill stations but stopped due to safety concerns. The issue was that the tanks were only rated to about 2000 psi, whereas the filling stations were going to 4000 psi.

Does that story fit with facts you know?
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,810
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
That could be, I checked the bottle and it's stamped 2250. The guage is scaled to 3000 psi so my thinking is my system works on 2250 or less. Too bad.
All U Get
 
V

vmaks

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May 31, 2012
79
Pearson 31 Suttons Bay
Thnx for the pic...this is one of the exact stoves (someone gave me 2 b/c they didn't like me using my portable Coleman) in which I have. I have not tried it out b/c I was intimidated by the use of Butane since I was on familiar with white gas ( I use for my backpacking/kayaking) or propane (use camping). I take it that it is a good stove?My next trip up to the boat this will be a goal, give it a shot.
 
DannyS

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
centerline said:
alcohol safety con,... higher chance of stove flare ups than with any other marine cooking device.
..... more dangerous if tipped over.(both depending on type of stove used)

propane pro,... ease of use
Click to expand
In my experience, and I've had both, flare ups only occur with pressurized alcohol. I've had an Origo two burner with oven for 6 years now and we basically live aboard during the summer and I've never had a flare up. I don't even know how one could happen with this stove. The only real danger is having to refill a canister when it is hot. Easy solution to that problem, don't do it. We have three canisters, one for each burner and one for the oven. If one goes out while cooking, I switch out the hot one for a cold one and refill it once it's cooled off.
 
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