Camp stove in a sailboat?

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p323ms

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May 24, 2004
341
Pearson 323 panama city
alcohol fires can be put out with water

Recently my wife started yelling "fire, fire" and as I came below she was grabbing the fire extinquisher and heading for the stove. She had accidentally turned on one burner while using another. I stopped her and poured about a quart of water on the stove and the fire immediately went out. The powder from the extinusiher would have made one major mess. Alcohol mixes with water and once it is dilute enough it will not burn. I would guess that you should use about twice as much water as there is alcohol. But with a fire in progress add water until it goes out!!!!! A pressurised alcohol stove can be dangerous but so can gasoline or propane. My son had a major house fire that destroyed the kitchen from a natural gas fire that started in their gas stove!!! In the hands of a child or idiot even a microwave oven can start a fire. A person at my wife's work burned their kitchen by trying to cook food wrapped in aluminum foil in a microwave. The resulting fire did major damage. Children and idiots should never be allowed to play with dangerous objects or substances,especially on a boat.
 
Jun 21, 2004
12
- - Iuka, MS
Boat US - Again

Brought it up once, I'll point it out again - Boat US's monthly newsletter - Seaworthy - just came out. According to Boat US, alcohol fires are the leading causes of galley fires on boats. They do point out that pressurized stoves are more dangerous, but that alcohol is dangerous regardless because of several factors. This same newsletter also cautions strongly against using water to extinguish an alcohol fire - using water can actually spread the fire. Fire is a serious and life threatening danger. Please be careful of advice that may lead to loss of property or life.
 
Jun 4, 2004
26
-Catalina -C30 Anacortes
Safe cooking

All in all, stoves are dangerous (after all you're playing with fire!) You use propane, butane etc (not GNG though) & get a leak, add spark & boom, you're dead. Cook with alcohol, white gas & get a flare up, flames spread over your cooktop & fire on board! Bottom line, unless you like cold cereal 3 times a day (cold coffee, yuk!), you'd better be not just careful, but dilligent about you're stove & it's operation. On my boat, only the captain starts the stove. Unfortunately that option isn't plausable for the head...
 
Jun 14, 2004
4
- - Subtle, KY
Camp stove conversion

Your 2 burner coleman campstove can be easily converted to propane. You can then use the small propane cylinders instread of white gas. The conversion kit is available at many camping stores. Try campmor.com for an e-source or mail order.
 
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