Our recently purchased 1984 Hunter 31 came without a stove or oven. As in zero, nada, nothing, just a gaping void in the galley. Have reviewed the helpful threads on this board as to whether propane or alcohol or electric is safer, preferred, also threads on people actually baking vs keeping electronics in ovens! Reality is we are more likely to grill after day sails, are happy to have refrigeration on the boat at time of purchase, but don't plan a lot of serious meal preparation. However, we are concerned about eventual resale and thinking a live aboard buyer might expect a stove and oven. SO, what would you do? Buy a new stove/oven, try to find a used stove/oven, and what fuel, just do a stove, put on a microwave, toaster oven, what?
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Take a look at the photo's of this boat.
If you look at the original brochure photo's of these boats you will see that there is was an Origo non-pressurized 2 burner stove/oven combo. Very nice units that is very safe. It is easy to put refrigeration in the original ice box. If you plan on selling the boat and want to get top dollar, I suggest that you replace the stove with some type of cooktop at a minimum. Some owners have replaced the oven with a microwave and cooktop too. The Origo is by far the easiest unit to install. No tanks, no sniffers, no electrical etc.
If you look at the original brochure photo's of these boats you will see that there is was an Origo non-pressurized 2 burner stove/oven combo. Very nice units that is very safe. It is easy to put refrigeration in the original ice box. If you plan on selling the boat and want to get top dollar, I suggest that you replace the stove with some type of cooktop at a minimum. Some owners have replaced the oven with a microwave and cooktop too. The Origo is by far the easiest unit to install. No tanks, no sniffers, no electrical etc.
I second that
I'm a devotee of simplicity. If there's nothing to break, there's nothing to fix. I have an Origo on my little 26.5 and love it. It burns hot, fuel is cheap and plentiful, no electrics or propane or dangerous fumes involved. Sweet!
I'm a devotee of simplicity. If there's nothing to break, there's nothing to fix. I have an Origo on my little 26.5 and love it. It burns hot, fuel is cheap and plentiful, no electrics or propane or dangerous fumes involved. Sweet!
Stove SNAFU
Andy: The Origo alcohol stove which came with the boat works very well. We use ours all the time. We also have a stern rail mounted grill. We also use that all the time. Most meal preparation requires a convenient way to heat something up. Now you could always use the grill, but it isn't as convenient. Being in Florida, the refrigeration is probably also nice to have. Some guys have ripped out the oven and kept the burners. Below the burner, they install a refrigerator which might also be an option. Most people probably don't use the oven much. Greg W "SlipAway"
Andy: The Origo alcohol stove which came with the boat works very well. We use ours all the time. We also have a stern rail mounted grill. We also use that all the time. Most meal preparation requires a convenient way to heat something up. Now you could always use the grill, but it isn't as convenient. Being in Florida, the refrigeration is probably also nice to have. Some guys have ripped out the oven and kept the burners. Below the burner, they install a refrigerator which might also be an option. Most people probably don't use the oven much. Greg W "SlipAway"
All three types of stoves are adequately safe
if properly installed and operated. Choose a stove for yourself and not what you may think a future buyer may want. A propane stove would require an expensive and elaborate installation while the use of an electric stove would be limited to dockside or require a generator. The most simple and practical stove would be the non pressurized Origo stove like others have recommended. If you bake, get an oven, if not use the space for something else. You can bake some foods in a pressure cooker or dutch oven so a book of recipes may be an option. To Purchase use or new may depend on the availability and condition of desired stoves. Good luck.
if properly installed and operated. Choose a stove for yourself and not what you may think a future buyer may want. A propane stove would require an expensive and elaborate installation while the use of an electric stove would be limited to dockside or require a generator. The most simple and practical stove would be the non pressurized Origo stove like others have recommended. If you bake, get an oven, if not use the space for something else. You can bake some foods in a pressure cooker or dutch oven so a book of recipes may be an option. To Purchase use or new may depend on the availability and condition of desired stoves. Good luck.
I'm curious
I have the same boat. Mine is like what Greg described. The PO took the stove out and replaced it with a refrigerator. They kept the gimbal mounted cooktop which we have used a handfull of times. It works well. The old stove is gathering dust in my garage. If you already have refrigeration on the boat and there is a gaping hole where the stove used to be, where is the refrigerator? There dosent seem to be anyplace you can stow one on that boat unless you remove something. I have heard of some who installed a refigeration kit in the ice box, but it seem very inconvienient. FYI we also have a microwave atop the port storage cabinet nearest the companionway and a toaster oven bolted to the cover of the alcohol burners. We use these often when in port, and with a power converter when anchored. There is nothing like microwave steamed king crab legs and corn on the cob to end a good sail.
I have the same boat. Mine is like what Greg described. The PO took the stove out and replaced it with a refrigerator. They kept the gimbal mounted cooktop which we have used a handfull of times. It works well. The old stove is gathering dust in my garage. If you already have refrigeration on the boat and there is a gaping hole where the stove used to be, where is the refrigerator? There dosent seem to be anyplace you can stow one on that boat unless you remove something. I have heard of some who installed a refigeration kit in the ice box, but it seem very inconvienient. FYI we also have a microwave atop the port storage cabinet nearest the companionway and a toaster oven bolted to the cover of the alcohol burners. We use these often when in port, and with a power converter when anchored. There is nothing like microwave steamed king crab legs and corn on the cob to end a good sail.
stove situation, the rest of the story
All comments and suggestions so very helpful. Here is what actually happened: The prior owner added alcohol to a still hot stove, do not know if it was an Origo or not, original or not, and a very bad accident ensued. As in you don't want to know how bad. He admits to operator error, but we are now a little afraid of alcohol or propane. Leaning towards electric and accepting we could use battery power in the unlikely event we want to cook underway or shore power. Like the idea of a two burner electric stove and sliding a toaster oven underneath, may go that route. The icebox is where we have refrigeration.
All comments and suggestions so very helpful. Here is what actually happened: The prior owner added alcohol to a still hot stove, do not know if it was an Origo or not, original or not, and a very bad accident ensued. As in you don't want to know how bad. He admits to operator error, but we are now a little afraid of alcohol or propane. Leaning towards electric and accepting we could use battery power in the unlikely event we want to cook underway or shore power. Like the idea of a two burner electric stove and sliding a toaster oven underneath, may go that route. The icebox is where we have refrigeration.
Coyote, electrical appliances designed for
home use lack safety features that would be necessary for use in a boat. A toaster oven particularly makes the hair in the back of my neck stand out. Stoves on boats cannot just sit on a surface they need to be affixed and hot surfaces need insulation as well as separation from other materials. Marine designed stoves come with safety and installation features appropiate for use on boats. Boat electrical circuitry especially one built in 1984 were not designed to carry heavy loads. To consider using two electrical burners and and an oven on a single circuit may cause an overload causing the elctrical breaker to trip if you are lucky, or a fire should it fail. Running an electrical stove off of the batteries requires an inverter which will set you back around $600 includying installation plus requiring you upgrade your recharging capabilities. I had failed previously to mention a butane stove. Kenyon makes a single burner marine unit. It has a couple of safety features to prevent flare-ups and butane leaks. Even though butane is lighter than air and explosive the small size of the canisters and the design of the stove makes their use quite safe. Do your homework but choose a marine appliance.
home use lack safety features that would be necessary for use in a boat. A toaster oven particularly makes the hair in the back of my neck stand out. Stoves on boats cannot just sit on a surface they need to be affixed and hot surfaces need insulation as well as separation from other materials. Marine designed stoves come with safety and installation features appropiate for use on boats. Boat electrical circuitry especially one built in 1984 were not designed to carry heavy loads. To consider using two electrical burners and and an oven on a single circuit may cause an overload causing the elctrical breaker to trip if you are lucky, or a fire should it fail. Running an electrical stove off of the batteries requires an inverter which will set you back around $600 includying installation plus requiring you upgrade your recharging capabilities. I had failed previously to mention a butane stove. Kenyon makes a single burner marine unit. It has a couple of safety features to prevent flare-ups and butane leaks. Even though butane is lighter than air and explosive the small size of the canisters and the design of the stove makes their use quite safe. Do your homework but choose a marine appliance.
B.S. regarding the alcohol & not enough power for elec.
Coyote: This is B.S. regarding the safety of propane or alcohol. This can be compared to thowing gasoline on hot charcol on the BBQ when it is already burning. Propane or natural gas is not safe if you turn on the burner for 2-3 minutes before you strike the match either. The electric stove top is not going to work unless you have a hugh battery bank when you are away from the dock or you must run a generator to power it when on the hook. That electric stove will draw 18.5 amps AC. When you try to add gasoline to that generator when it has been running for a while is just a destructive or more so than that stove story. ORIGO Alcohol/Electric range. Power - Alcohol / Electric: 14000 BTUs (approx. 7000 BTUs per burner) 2200 Watts at 120 VAC / 18.5 Amp Max. (1100 W per burner) Source of Energy: Denatured alcohol; 120 Volts AC 60 Hz. Fuel Capacity: 1 qt. 8 1/2 ozs. (1.2 liters) per canister Average Cooking Capacity: 6-8 hours per canister, per filling Boiling Time: 6-8 minutes for 1 qt. per canister
Coyote: This is B.S. regarding the safety of propane or alcohol. This can be compared to thowing gasoline on hot charcol on the BBQ when it is already burning. Propane or natural gas is not safe if you turn on the burner for 2-3 minutes before you strike the match either. The electric stove top is not going to work unless you have a hugh battery bank when you are away from the dock or you must run a generator to power it when on the hook. That electric stove will draw 18.5 amps AC. When you try to add gasoline to that generator when it has been running for a while is just a destructive or more so than that stove story. ORIGO Alcohol/Electric range. Power - Alcohol / Electric: 14000 BTUs (approx. 7000 BTUs per burner) 2200 Watts at 120 VAC / 18.5 Amp Max. (1100 W per burner) Source of Energy: Denatured alcohol; 120 Volts AC 60 Hz. Fuel Capacity: 1 qt. 8 1/2 ozs. (1.2 liters) per canister Average Cooking Capacity: 6-8 hours per canister, per filling Boiling Time: 6-8 minutes for 1 qt. per canister
Origo
Is safe and easy to install. I'd go with a 2 burner stove. Forget the oven. Build a simple shelf under the stove and secure a microwave in there. That will probably still leave enough room under the microwave for another shelf or if you are handy, a large drawer for pots & pans. That was my plan. After 4 years we had never even lit the oven. I had a microwave on a shelf above the stove and didn't like it there. I talked about removing the oven and putting the microwave under the stove with a drawer for pots & pans. When I came home one day with the oven in my truck, an electric outlet installed under the stove and dimensions to build a shelf, my wife decided we had not given the oven a fair chance (4 yrs???). OK, re-install the oven, put the microwave back above the stove and ignore the new electric outlet. Well, NOW she was committed to trying the oven. We baked some muffins in it a few weeks ago. They were good but now she realizes how much heat the oven puts in the cabin (I knew that) and I doubt we will ever light it again.
Is safe and easy to install. I'd go with a 2 burner stove. Forget the oven. Build a simple shelf under the stove and secure a microwave in there. That will probably still leave enough room under the microwave for another shelf or if you are handy, a large drawer for pots & pans. That was my plan. After 4 years we had never even lit the oven. I had a microwave on a shelf above the stove and didn't like it there. I talked about removing the oven and putting the microwave under the stove with a drawer for pots & pans. When I came home one day with the oven in my truck, an electric outlet installed under the stove and dimensions to build a shelf, my wife decided we had not given the oven a fair chance (4 yrs???). OK, re-install the oven, put the microwave back above the stove and ignore the new electric outlet. Well, NOW she was committed to trying the oven. We baked some muffins in it a few weeks ago. They were good but now she realizes how much heat the oven puts in the cabin (I knew that) and I doubt we will ever light it again.
reconsidering
What excellent advice, so very helpful. The electric cookstop under consideration was from the West Marine catalogue, a Force 10, not a standard home use item. As it happens, we have an electrician coming to review all the wiring and replace the distribution panel, will consult with him as to what our system will be able to handle once we put in additional house batteries. Will reconsider opposition to Origo, may be the way to go. Size is also a concern, space is 20 by 20 by 11.
What excellent advice, so very helpful. The electric cookstop under consideration was from the West Marine catalogue, a Force 10, not a standard home use item. As it happens, we have an electrician coming to review all the wiring and replace the distribution panel, will consult with him as to what our system will be able to handle once we put in additional house batteries. Will reconsider opposition to Origo, may be the way to go. Size is also a concern, space is 20 by 20 by 11.
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