Non-Marine Small Propane Stove: "No" or "Yes But"?

[dscribner]

I think Ross should work for Mythbuster. I can't believe they get paid to blow things up. I'd do it for free!

Anyway, I heard that Europeans use butane often. Not necessarily a butane/propane mix. Butane is twice as heavy as air. I wonder what the draw is?

We first used an alcohol stove but it's an old one, probably needed rebuilding and was hard, if not impossible, to keep lit. So, we used our Coleman. I think it still had bacon grease from the Cub Scout cooking incident of '98! As noted in several responses, the propane canister got stuck in the open position when I pulled it off. We store it in the fuel locker in the stern anyway. (Is that a lazarrette?) SO, I left it on the bow until the hissing stopped. I figured that breeze would disperse the gas efficiently enough.

Maybe charcoal would be safer. Just kidding Mainesail! You won't find us adrift by Jewell. But, is there another alternative? It doesn't seem it.

 

[DannyS]

I guess it all depends on how you use the thing. I agree with Jibes, the Origo is great. I have one now, double burner with oven and unlike many, we use the oven quite a bit (fresh biscuits and gravy in the morning...Mmmmm!) But if you mainly daysail in decent conditions and you're looking to heat up some soup for lunch on the hook, then I see no need to spend the big bucks for plumbed propane or an Origo as long s you're careful or cook in the cockpit. However, if you do spend a lot of time on the boat and cook while underway, then you probably should reconsider the stove choice.

 

[sailingdog]

LOL... true, very true, and black powder is more of a propellant than an explosive...though when I lived in VA, they had a truck tip over and spill 10,000 lbs. of the stuff or so... and they evacuated a rather large area around the truck.

subject for a completely different thread but Black powder has a lot of inerts in it that make it work but don't contribute energy to the bang. One pound of propane plus the oxygen in ten pounds of air equals 3.5 pounds of explosive with no inerts, the nitrogen it the air will slow the reaction some. But I idon't think we would notice.

 

[FastOlson]

I guess it all depends on how you use the thing. I agree with Jibes, the Origo is great. I have one now, double burner with oven and unlike many, we use the oven quite a bit (fresh biscuits and gravy in the morning...Mmmmm!) But if you mainly daysail in decent conditions and you're looking to heat up some soup for lunch on the hook, then I see no need to spend the big bucks for plumbed propane or an Origo as long s you're careful or cook in the cockpit. However, if you do spend a lot of time on the boat and cook while underway, then you probably should reconsider the stove choice.

Agree.
Our '88 boat came with an Origo model 6000 stove/oven. We still use it all the time. Last weekend we did chocolate chip cookies and then some cinnamon rolls in that oven.
No pressure, little danger, no hassle, no other "plumbing." Simple and effective. It's a great cook stove.

On our prior boat I did use a portable camp stove, with all precautions, for a little while while I was planning and plumbing in a full LPG system with sniffer. As other forumites have pointed out, you do have to be alert all the time when you have propane anywhere on board. Nowadays the only propane bottle we have is for the rail-mount bbq and is stored in a vented area in the cockpit when not on the Magma kettle.

Regards,
L

 

[Ross]

This seems like a good place to post this information.
http://www.grillparts.com/howto/hrpol.htm

 

[rardiH36]

Reading through all the responses again, I'm now in the alcohol camp. The grain variety has been my drug of choice for years, so this is a natural transition.

I'm partial to the idea that the stoves and fuel can reside in the cabin safely. Then its just starting the thing up when its time to warm some food. If I get a portable model, I can go ahead with the idea to make a recessed board for it underneath the removable section of my countertop.

I'm surprised however, that there are few manufacturers for 1/2 burner counter top or recessed models. Basically, its just Origo or Cookmate? Price for these is 3 or 4 times the camping type butane/propane portables, but much much less than a proper marine propane stove and all its safety, plumping and vented locker items that are needed.

Origo has a following, but anybody have a Cookmate?

If anyone is interested, I came across an article by Practical Sailor comparing compact cookers. The first link is to the written article. The second link is to a table which compares side-by-side:

http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/Compact-Galley-Stoves.html

http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspics/charts/32-7-VG2.pdf

regards,
rardi

 

[chengczk]

Forespar makes a small gimbaled propane stove (minigalley) that I have used for a number of years. It can be used in the cockpit or down below, and stored above decks if you are concerned about leaks.

 

[catsailor]

LOL... true, very true, and black powder is more of a propellant than an explosive...though when I lived in VA, they had a truck tip over and spill 10,000 lbs. of the stuff or so... and they evacuated a rather large area around the truck.

Oh, I remember that one!

I was stuck in my car on the interstate within distant sight of the truck for 3 hours, not moving 10 feet. It took 2 more hours to cover the remaining mile to my office, after I was off the interstate.

As I recall, he did not have the permits or placards for what he was carrying, either, which added to the confusion.

 

[sophias wanderings]

With a little common sense - they work great

My Catalina 27 has been outfitted with a Coleman 2-burner stove for almost 12 years without a problem. Unfortunately time and the sea has made it time for be to buy a new one - I like the looks of the REI model!

While propane does present a risk, I've heard horror stories about alcohol stoves blowing up or regularly catching fire. Cooking in a confined area aboard any boat creates risk. Common sense dictates extreme care to protect both the cook and the boat. Canisters should only be attached to the stove before you cook and removed immediately afterward. All propane canisters should be stored either in a storage bag attached to a rail or in a ventilated cockpit locker.

My suggestion, use your R.E.I. burner in good health!