My boat did not come with a stove so I have been using my 1 burner camping Coleman propane stove. I was given a 1 burner alchohol stove and a flatter type 1 burner butane stove. The person who gave me the 2 stoves, butane stove/alchohol stove, told me that she cooks out in the cockpit b/c it is not safe to cook inside the boat(the previous owner took out the stove that came with it so there is definitely a place for a stove-an electric broiler stove in it's place). The question......is it safe to cook INSIDE the sailboat, using either of the 3 stoves mentioned above? Obviously, ventilation is important. Other question, if I put in a stove, does it increase the value of the boat?
Butane, propane vs alchohol stoves
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Yes it is safe if you follow all of the safety instructions. I switched from an Oringo alcohol stove to the coleman one burner due to its ease of use. We had a grill on the stern rail that we used most of the time but made coffee on the stove. My sink was small enough that I trimmed the rubber base of the coleman. the part that holds the gas bottle, so it fit tight in the sink and would not tip. Of course you can't use it under way without a gimbal mount. And then there is the problem of boat wakes.
Can't speak to resale BUT seems to me that if you are looking at a boat, the stove is probably the only piece of equipment most women are familiar with. That really sounds sexist but my point is that some weird stove with pressure pumps or strange knobs might intimidate the spouse of a potential buyer.
Can't speak to resale BUT seems to me that if you are looking at a boat, the stove is probably the only piece of equipment most women are familiar with. That really sounds sexist but my point is that some weird stove with pressure pumps or strange knobs might intimidate the spouse of a potential buyer.
We use a 2 burner world famous propane stove. For now we use it on one of the quarter berths. In the mornings up here its amazing how fast it takes the chill out while boiling water for the first cup of coffee. We always disconnect the 1lb bottle and store it again in the lazarette when done.
c_witch
c_witch
Safety
I'm guessing, but I would say that probably the most common way a boat blows up is a propane leak. And, the will blow to smithereens! This is because propane is heavier than air, and if you have a leak, it will fill up the hull.
For that reason, you should be extremely careful with propane on boats. Handle it like it's a loaded gun.
A permanently installed range should be installed following all required safety practices: a separate locker for the gas tanks with an overboard drain and with a solenoid valve to switch off the lines at the locker.
My view is that portable propane tanks should only be brought on board when they are in use, and then stored such that if they leak, the gas goes overboard. I'm sure few people do this, but it's an important consideration.
I'm guessing, but I would say that probably the most common way a boat blows up is a propane leak. And, the will blow to smithereens! This is because propane is heavier than air, and if you have a leak, it will fill up the hull.
For that reason, you should be extremely careful with propane on boats. Handle it like it's a loaded gun.
A permanently installed range should be installed following all required safety practices: a separate locker for the gas tanks with an overboard drain and with a solenoid valve to switch off the lines at the locker.
My view is that portable propane tanks should only be brought on board when they are in use, and then stored such that if they leak, the gas goes overboard. I'm sure few people do this, but it's an important consideration.
Been a few threads through the years that also have more info/considerations that should help with your decision. Regarding adding value to your boat: Dedicated marine stoves/ovens and the supply and gas storage systems are really really expensive. Unlikely that you will ever come close to recouping the $'s in the added sales price, particularly for an older boat. Also give thought to how frequently you would be using it where a portable would do 90% of the time. You will see in the threads that I opted for a marine rated butane portable which has several shut-off safety features. The canisters (two which will heat up many meals) are stored in a loose topped plastic box that is wrapped in a couple of plastic bags placed in my anchor locker where in the event of a canister leak, the down slope of locker drain hose would vent the gas to the atmosphere rather than into the boat. After a couple of years up there, the canisters show no signs of rust spots anywhere. But also I don't anchor much.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=712518&highlight=butane
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=887626&highlight=butane
Attached is a pdf compiled a few years back by Practical Sailor Magazine that compared various portable stove models. Regrettably, the url to the article that accompanied the chart is no longer active.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=712518&highlight=butane
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=887626&highlight=butane
Attached is a pdf compiled a few years back by Practical Sailor Magazine that compared various portable stove models. Regrettably, the url to the article that accompanied the chart is no longer active.
On our small boat, we opted for a portable single-burner butane unit, because it's smaller and lighter than a propane burner, less 'kit' to mess around with, and the heat output is impressive, when you need it. Also, for our infrequent use it's alot more cost-effective. The small light fuel cans store easily in an outdoor locker.
I also took note that the portable butane burners are legal to use indoors (at least here) whereas propane burners are not.
I also took note that the portable butane burners are legal to use indoors (at least here) whereas propane burners are not.
Coleman is a maker of camping products and most of their stoves are only recommended for outdoor use. The alcohol stove will be the safest to use indoor but you have to be careful and follow manufacturers instructions for refueling. Store fuel in a suitable container and away from stove. The alcohol flame is not visible so always be aware when lit and turn it off as soon as you are done cooking. The positive point is that alcohol fumes are lighter than air and disipate rather quickly. Butane stoves are OK if marine grade like a Kenyon but the flea market units can be prone to flare ups and most don't have a good pot holder surface. Connect and disconnect the butane cannister for each use. Common sense and a watchful eye are your best accident prevention measures. A quality stove rounds up the team. Fire is the most dreaded ocurrence in a boat as there is no place to run to but the water.
We have CNG aboard, but sometimes we need more burner space so we use one of these butane stoves. They cook very fast. The only reservation would be if you have an area that is safe to place it. If you are in an area where there may be large wakes you want to be sure that it does not shift around too.
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Bar-B-Q-90004-Portable-Butane/dp/B000E58GB6/ref=pd_sbs_indust_5
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Bar-B-Q-90004-Portable-Butane/dp/B000E58GB6/ref=pd_sbs_indust_5
Before you start believing that you should try it. It isn't easy or reliable. Pour some into an aluminum pie pan add a paper towel and toss in a lighted match.
Interesting thread. Some years ago I had a Ranger 29 with an early alcohol two burner stove. It was the type that had to be pre-heated before your started the burners. I explained to my racing crew how to use it and added that should you have an alcohol fire it can be put out with water. Famous last words....
We had completed a race and I had to go to work and so let the crew bring the boat home the next day. The next morning wanting to make coffee they started up the stove but apparently didn't have enough "pre-heat" so that when they pumped the alcohol it flared up...really flared up. Anyway, they poured the coffee water over the flames thinking it would put out the fire.
Not so! It only floated the flaming alcohol so that it ran down the back of the stove scorching the material at the back of the stove and it started some wood trim burning. Galvanized into action they got the big bucket and pour enough water on the fire to start the bilge pump. The fire did go out but it took a lot of water.
Now I use a two burner stove, one electric and one Butane. Butane is lighter then air and will dissipate into the air. You can also get it cheaply at REI.
We had completed a race and I had to go to work and so let the crew bring the boat home the next day. The next morning wanting to make coffee they started up the stove but apparently didn't have enough "pre-heat" so that when they pumped the alcohol it flared up...really flared up. Anyway, they poured the coffee water over the flames thinking it would put out the fire.
Not so! It only floated the flaming alcohol so that it ran down the back of the stove scorching the material at the back of the stove and it started some wood trim burning. Galvanized into action they got the big bucket and pour enough water on the fire to start the bilge pump. The fire did go out but it took a lot of water.
Now I use a two burner stove, one electric and one Butane. Butane is lighter then air and will dissipate into the air. You can also get it cheaply at REI.
Would you care to share your sources on that?
From the USCG data, overall fuel v. non-fuel explosions are about 2:1 overall, but for boats 26 to 40 ft., it's pretty close to even (2010 data).
This requires some interpretation, though, since they don't break out 'other' into what the exact cause of the explosion is.
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