Denatured alcohol (meths) stoves?

[Terry B 71]

Hi all, you may recall my thread on this in late summer. I still haven't decided what to replace my old 2 burner cooker with. I'm currently using a little portable but it's not a long term solution.

 

I have a 25' trailer sailer, gas bottle stored in cabin under the burner/stove. I have a gas detector. The gas burner is b?%gered.

 

I'm leaning towards an Origo 3000 as a replacement. It's a 2 burner (I don't need a grill or stove, just burners). Looking thru the web, it appears they are safer (especially given where my gas bottle is stored - and there's nowhere else to put it without spending a fortune re-designing the yacht), take up less space (I get the gas bottle storage area back!), they are tried and true.

 

Two questions:

 

1. Anybody got one? Any thoughts from owners of them?

 

2. Given the denatured alcohol in NZ is purple meths, does this smell badly?

 

As always, any thoughts would be appreciated. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about the Smart Marine website has them for sale.

 

Cheers - and roll on Summer!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Meths stoves are fine and if you do have a flare up you can douse it with water.

[Guest]

A lot of American fizz boats in this country have them and the owners generally really like them.

[wheels 543]

I would go for one of those self contained Gas camping cookers. The one that you screw the cannister of gas into the unit. It has peizo ignition and the can is captive and the whole thing is small and compact. And it is actually quite amazing how long the cans last.

[Terry B 71]

Wheels, you mean the ones that the can screws on to the unit from underneath?

 

If you do, they aren't very stable - I'd have to rig something to keep them upright when the wash comes thru in Issie Bay (as it does)...........

 

I've got a temporary one - real cheap, that the little cannister (size/shape of a fly spray can) sits on the end of the unit lying down. But I'm assuming you're not talking about these? $29 to buy at the local Mitre 10, Marine Store etc............

 

Okay, I'm going to post this and then figure out how to post a piccie of what I mean.............

[Terry B 71]

Assuming I managed to upload the piccie.......... this is the cheap, nasty (but very efficient) cooker I referred to previously.

[wheels 543]

Yeah, but sorry, I didn't know they were for outside use only.

[benny14 6]

Yeah, but sorry, I didn't know they were for outside use only.

You read that?

[wheels 543]

Why Benney, can't you read the little words on the sticker?? maybe you need glasses.m

[Terry B 71]

Okay, I've had a lok at various other websites and forums from overseas and I think I'll give the Origo a try.

 

A plus is that if it catches fire you can put it out with water - which is a big bonus for stupid people who panic.................. like me................Plus water makes a lot less mess than fire extinguishers!!!!

 

And if the beer runs out I can forget the cooking and use the meths................... I understand that if you drain it thru bread a cuppla times it takes away that awful smell and flavour. At least I think that's what Wheels said.............

 

Thanks for your comments people.

 

Terry.

[ab1974 1]

You can buy 'proper' clear denatured alcohol in NZ as opposed to using meths. Some of the hardware stores and Burnsco from memory sell it. Cheers

[Terry B 71]

Thanks ab. I didn't know that.

 

Anyone sailing on the west coast this weekend????

[wheels 543]

hehe, I have about 40ltrs left out of 200Ltrs of pure ethanol. You can have 20ltrs for free if you knew of some way of getting it to yourself. I can't put it on a courier because it would be dangerous goods.

[Clipper 343]

Yeah, but sorry, I didn't know they were for outside use only.

 

Dumb question perhaps, but why shouldn't you use these inside?

[wheels 543]

They have no flame failure device, so if flame goes out, they can fill your boat with Gas.

[Clipper 343]

Thanks. But I believe there are lots of cookers out there that don't have those?

[wheels 543]

Terry, spied this on TM

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 675091.htm

[Terry B 71]

Hi Wheels - thanks for that - sorry about the slow reply - been away in Aussie for a week. Good time, average weather...............

 

And I've splashed out on the meths stove - instal it on the gimbals next week.

 

HERE COMES SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Hi Wheels - thanks for that - sorry about the slow reply - been away in Aussie for a week. Good time, average weather...............

 

And I've splashed out on the meths stove - instal it on the gimbals next week.

 

HERE COMES SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Let us know how you get on. I'm considering the change as well - partly as a safety thing but also because my cockpit lockers are too small to store anything except the smallest gas bottles - which are expensive and not available in alloy.

[Theseus 1]

I don't think you will regret getting the meths cooker. I have had one for 6 years on my Trailer Yacht and I like it. Many of the trailer yachts down here use them. They are expensive though and not being pressurized makes them safer but they do not work well outside in a breeze. They are also a bit slower than gas.

 

If you don't put the rubber seals back in your boat smells of meths.

 

One bloke said he got a headach after using the cooker with the boat closed up so I don't know if they emit more carbon monoxide.