Propane or Alcohol Stoves
- Thread starter dwgifford
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I've never had a propane stove and thought about replacing my alcohol stove at one time. I decided to stay with the much simpler alcohol stove. Easy to refill with no tanks to cart up the dock and to the refilling station. BTU's are somewhat less but I find it easy to cook with. The oven is more difficult to control as there is no way to set the temp like there is with propane (at least with my Oringo). The difficulty of installing a safe propane system made me decide to keep the alcohol stove.
I have used both.. Propane has more heat ability, generally speaking .. refills are easy.. CONS.. pretty explosive and heavier than air .. tanks are a problem in boats not having a real propane locker. My boat has a great three burner propane stove with oven. Alcohol .. easy to find fuel (Lowes or Depot among other places) and fire can be put out with water.. Heating is not as energetic as propane but it is adequate.. Really depends on how you intend to use the stove. If you need an oven, then propane is probably a better choice since the ovens on propane stoves generally use thermostatic controls just like a gas stove on land. If you do a lot of serious cooking, I find propane to be easier to work with. .. If you don’t need an oven, then the Origo alcohol is a better choice .. they do a fine job of acting like a stovetop and are very simple and easy to work with.. Certainly adequate for weekending or short cruises. They are made of good marine grade materials and with a little care will last a long time.
You have probably seen this: http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=28&aid=7375&page=article&mn=33_77-83 . As already pointed out the locker is probably your main issue. I know it would be for my H37C. There were three of us offshore for most of 1500 miles. We ate like kings with a two-burner Origo alcohol stove. True, no oven and propane is the best for that.
Appreciate all the comments. I have pulled out my old Crosby refer/freezer unit and am now removing the compressor. It had been custom built 20 years ago and needed too much work, and cut off the whole rear of the quarter berth area. By removing my old propane unit, I can build in a refer there and put the alcohol two burner over top ov it and regain my entire quarter berth area for storage/guests. Once again, appreciate it.
My 86 31' has CNG which I understand has many of the advantages or propane without the drawbacks. The con is that it suppliers are not as plentiful as propane and alcohol. I suppose if I were making a lot of foreign ports, I would have to change. For most of what we do, a tankful goes a long way.
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