We just purchased a 1995 29.5 last season and were thinking about replacing the alcohol stove with a propane one. Has anyone done this? How difficult/expensive? Is there a hole from the stern locker to the existing stove? Thanks in advance.
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Outside cooking
Before you go to all that trouble, check in to using your rail mounted grill (such as the Magma) as a propane cooker. Ours has a removable tray so you can put a pot on it. For the most part, we are pretty happy cooking on the alchy stove except when boiling pasta.
Before you go to all that trouble, check in to using your rail mounted grill (such as the Magma) as a propane cooker. Ours has a removable tray so you can put a pot on it. For the most part, we are pretty happy cooking on the alchy stove except when boiling pasta.
Why?
Why do you want to replace a perfectly good stove? You don't get a lot more heat from propane than you do from the Origo. Check out the specs!
Why do you want to replace a perfectly good stove? You don't get a lot more heat from propane than you do from the Origo. Check out the specs!
Easy and safe
I agree with Steve. We have the factory stove on our Hunter 285 (1987) and it works great. One of my sailing friends is a chef and he prefers the alcohol stoves over propane.
I agree with Steve. We have the factory stove on our Hunter 285 (1987) and it works great. One of my sailing friends is a chef and he prefers the alcohol stoves over propane.
How much achohol do Origos use?
So far, we've only boiled water for soup & coffee. The guy who had the boat before was using tennis ball tube caps (plastic disc sort of thing) wedged between the opening lid and the alchy cans - presumably to stop evaporation. How much fuel do they get through in a typical cruising day - bacon/eggs/coffee + coffee + soup + typical evening meal - Obviously everyone is different - just after a ball park fig for how much to keep on board - gallons or pints? Also - is there much difference between fuels - generic alchohol from hardware or special stuff for Origos? Thanks in anticipation
So far, we've only boiled water for soup & coffee. The guy who had the boat before was using tennis ball tube caps (plastic disc sort of thing) wedged between the opening lid and the alchy cans - presumably to stop evaporation. How much fuel do they get through in a typical cruising day - bacon/eggs/coffee + coffee + soup + typical evening meal - Obviously everyone is different - just after a ball park fig for how much to keep on board - gallons or pints? Also - is there much difference between fuels - generic alchohol from hardware or special stuff for Origos? Thanks in anticipation
Several weeks between refills.
Patrick: I doubt if we use a gallon of alcohol a year (and we use the boat year round, much less in the winter). We boil water for coffee every morning (2 x each weekend). We cook assorted things on the stove top and in the oven. There is really not that much difference in cost between Home Depot fuel and West Marine fuel as for cost. I really notice very little difference in either as far as how clean it burns. We also do a lot of cooking on the BBQ so it is difficult to compare how you may cook to the way we may cook. But at $10/gal, it is an inexpensive cooking fuel. If I lived on board, I would probably consider a propane setup. If it is weekend use, it is hard to beat and you don't need to worry about sniffers for your bilge, failed regulators etc etc.
Patrick: I doubt if we use a gallon of alcohol a year (and we use the boat year round, much less in the winter). We boil water for coffee every morning (2 x each weekend). We cook assorted things on the stove top and in the oven. There is really not that much difference in cost between Home Depot fuel and West Marine fuel as for cost. I really notice very little difference in either as far as how clean it burns. We also do a lot of cooking on the BBQ so it is difficult to compare how you may cook to the way we may cook. But at $10/gal, it is an inexpensive cooking fuel. If I lived on board, I would probably consider a propane setup. If it is weekend use, it is hard to beat and you don't need to worry about sniffers for your bilge, failed regulators etc etc.
Evaporation
Somebody turned me onto using canning jar lids to place over the fuel canister when not in use. I think you could also cut a few circles in an old mouse pad.
Somebody turned me onto using canning jar lids to place over the fuel canister when not in use. I think you could also cut a few circles in an old mouse pad.
forgot to add
Origo also sells rubber pads to go over the canister openings to prevent evaporation. We don't even bother to cover ours.
Origo also sells rubber pads to go over the canister openings to prevent evaporation. We don't even bother to cover ours.
Thanks everyone
Having never used the alcohol models and having done endless summertime cooking on the backyard gas grill, I was wondering if it was worth it. My goal is to pickup a rail mounted grill and do most of my cooking there. Just the morning time tea and eggs inside.
Having never used the alcohol models and having done endless summertime cooking on the backyard gas grill, I was wondering if it was worth it. My goal is to pickup a rail mounted grill and do most of my cooking there. Just the morning time tea and eggs inside.
Now you are start another thread.
Shippy: When you start looking for rail mounted BBQ's. There are several choices. I don't like gas grills, but I have one. We have a Force 10, which I like better than the Magma. Keeping some of these unit lit in a blow can be very challenging. Charcol gets my vote, but you need to be aware of the dangers of storing charcol on board too.
Shippy: When you start looking for rail mounted BBQ's. There are several choices. I don't like gas grills, but I have one. We have a Force 10, which I like better than the Magma. Keeping some of these unit lit in a blow can be very challenging. Charcol gets my vote, but you need to be aware of the dangers of storing charcol on board too.
Steve, what are the dangers of charcoal?
I tried it once in the '70s and went out and bought propane. Charcoal was too messy.
I tried it once in the '70s and went out and bought propane. Charcoal was too messy.
Agree with Fred
Charcoal would seem too messy, especuially with the ash that could/would blow back on board. Plus you now have a bag of charcoal to store (avoiding moisture) and possibly ligher fluid. Plus what about if you are out several days, what do you do with the spent coals/ashes....Propane seems so much efficient for an outside grill.
Charcoal would seem too messy, especuially with the ash that could/would blow back on board. Plus you now have a bag of charcoal to store (avoiding moisture) and possibly ligher fluid. Plus what about if you are out several days, what do you do with the spent coals/ashes....Propane seems so much efficient for an outside grill.
But don't the ashes blow over the stern?
(assuming one is at anchor, swinging with the wind not the tide!) I ask as I have inherited a Magna charcoal kettle and 2 bags of self-light charcoal. What do you do with the hot ashes?
(assuming one is at anchor, swinging with the wind not the tide!) I ask as I have inherited a Magna charcoal kettle and 2 bags of self-light charcoal. What do you do with the hot ashes?
When your Origo is not in use...
Lift up the unit and place rubber jar lib remover pads on them (be sure they are cool first). Or you can pay ten times more and order the pads from Origo. Either way, it will stop any evaporation, and a gallon of fuel should last for weeks. We love this very safe stove. We tried baking cookies the oven once, with poor results.
Lift up the unit and place rubber jar lib remover pads on them (be sure they are cool first). Or you can pay ten times more and order the pads from Origo. Either way, it will stop any evaporation, and a gallon of fuel should last for weeks. We love this very safe stove. We tried baking cookies the oven once, with poor results.
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