Ever Heard of CanaFlame Marine Fireplace?

[Gary A]

I recently purchased an item from e-bay called a CanaFlame Marine Portable Fireplace (model 5700). It is a snazzy looking fireplace about 1 1/2 feet tall made of stainless steel. The front has a brass-surrounded opening glass port, which allows access to the firebox as well as a view of the flame. The rectangular firepan is gimballed in four directions so it is safe to use underway. The book says to only use "CanaFlame gelled heating and cooking fuel", but the firepan neatly holds two of the large Sterno cans side-by-side. The CanaFlame company seems to no longer be in business. They had been located in Burnaby, B.C. Canada. Anyway, here are the questions I have:1. Has anyone ever heard of these things before?2. Any idea about other fuel sources I might try? The Sterno run about $5 for two cans, which will only power this thing for two hours. Could be an expensive night's heat. The Sterno also produces a really dim blue flame, not much to watch through that pretty glass port. 3. I found a few recipes online last night for making your own Sterno. Sounds like fun, but I'm not sure my insurance agent would approve. Anyone ever tried this?4. I have an Origo oven on my boat and would love a soution that would let me use the same alcohol fuel for this heater. Any guess how one might make a wick burner similar to the round Origo ones, but rectangular in shape? The posts I have read say that the Origo fuel containers have wool inside. I'm assuming I can't just stuff an old alcohol soaked wool sweater in a SS container and hit it with the lighter!5. Any information about these stoves or add-on options (the instruction sheet mentions a steam tray insert, and oven option with lid, etc.) would be a great help.

 

[Trevor]

Used to be my sole source of heat...

...when I cruised an Islander 28. Not a lot of BTUs, but a pretty nifty set-up that's portable and gives off a nice ambience flame. However, what you are doing is burning gelled alcohol, much like your Origo stove, so fumes can bother your eyes without proper ventilation. I never used anything other than Sterno cans, but I was able to buy them in bulk for cheaper at a local restaurant supply store. Also, the glass "porthole" cracked in many places from the heat. I had the factory replace it but the same thing happened. I chocked it up to an "artistic" look and just lived with it. Set up an extra can ready to light in the morning to take the chill off, since they only last a few hours.Good luck,Trevor

 

[Gary A]

Magic Heat

Hi Trevor,Thanks for your thoughts. Are you still using your CanaFlame? If so, I may have found a better fuel option than Sterno. I came across a product called Magic Heat tonight in my local grocery store here in Raleigh, NC. It is made by a Canadian company called Scientific Utility (www.scientificutility.com). It is the same size can as the large Sterno cans, so it fits nicely in my CanaFlame heater.It uses a wick instead of open evaporation like Sterno, and according to the package burns for up to six hours per can ... three times longer than the two hours for a can of Sterno the same size. Cost was $5.99 for two cans, versus $4.99 for two Sterno cans. If it really burns three times longer, it is a better deal. One other thing, it produces a mixed blue and yellow flame, which looks much nicer through the port window in my stove. Much better than the dim blue flame of the Sterno. BTW, if you don't still use yours, might you be interested in selling it?Gary

 

[Trevor]

Gary...

Thanks for the tip on Magic Heat. However, it seems that the longer burn time likely comes at the cost of lower heat output - but if it takes the chill off the air and lasts longer, sounds like an improvement (probably emits less fumes too). I think I sold the Canaflame with my Islander several years ago (are you going to start collecting these things?). I've got a Force 10 propane heater in my Catalina 36 now, which does an adequate job of taking the chill out (but doesn't really make the cabin toasty warm). I agree with you, the ambience is nice with the Canaflame. I've thought about upgrading my Force 10 to one of those Newport propane bulkhead mounted heaters with a "window" to see the flame, but it's pretty low on my lengthy list of stuff to buy for the boat!Best,Trevor

 

[Barrie McDonald]

Cana Flame FirePlace

Hi Gary,I had one of these on my Ericson 29 for 5 years. It was great. Definately heated up the cabin and kept our coffee pot warm when placed on the top. The top is a nice platform to cook scampi if you ever get the urge.We burned Methal Hydrate which I purchased in one gallon jugs for about $6.00 Cdn. or about $2.75 US funds these days. I poured it into the little metal cans which I filled up with sand from Waikiki Beach I brough home a few years ago. Nice and fine. The flame lasted about an 1 & 1/2 hours . Really neat and a cheap source of heat. The company is out of business now but its still a neat idea.Enjoy,Barrie

 

[Neil Scoltock]

Generic Sterno

The Cannaflame is a great little fireplace and does a great job taking the dampness and chill out. I buy generic sterno by the case at Costco, very reasonable and good fuel.