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Stove alcohol

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calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/25/2010 : 10:58:29

Hey all:

Going on an overnighter with my 83 C25. Has the original stove. Does anyone have the operating instructions? Looks like a fill-and-pump and then carefully light. Yes, I know it's nickname.

And... what kind of alcohol to get? Standard stove alcohol I find at West Marine or REI or any outdoor goods store?

Thanks,
Carlos

S/V Mazama
1983 FK SR
#3682

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 12:04:40

I forget the generic name - white alcohol maybe?

Key is to purchase the cleanest alcohol you can find - makes a dramatic difference.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 12:12:34

[url="http://www.catalina27.org/Clips/PRICESS%20ALCOHOL%20STOVES.pdf"]Instructions[/url]

That said, I heartily recommend the little Kenyon butane stove you can get for about $40 from WM or Defender. Cooks like natural gas--no muss, no fuss. The "curtain burner" is another story.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/25/2010 12:15:55

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 12:30:41

Also have a wet towel handy.....to smother the thing if it gets a little out of control and maybe a fire extinguisher too....And you might want to practice your abandon ship drill beforehand. May God have mercy on your sole....Good luck.

Edited by - on

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 12:40:37

Thanks all, and especially to Dave for the manual. Wish me luck!

I do have fire extinguishers and have access to plenty of water (I'm on a boat, after all.) I've done lots of backpacking in my days and have tons of experience with stoves of all types. This is more of an experiment, and we might decide to not cook anything and live on bread, cheese, and wine.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 15:03:46

The guys aren't kidding when they warn about the hazards of the alcohol stove. They can be used safely, but there are so many things that can go wrong, even when you're careful, that I wouldn't trust one as far as I could throw it. A portable camping stove would be a better choice.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 18:38:34

I never had an alcohol stove, but I happily use a Coleman white gas single burner stove to make coffee, and a two burner butane stove like the one Dave (Curmudgeon) described. Mine has a funny name: "Max Brunton".

It's great for frying eggs, bacon or pancakes for breakfast and boiling rice or noodles for dinner. All stoves on a boat are risky business, but as Scott commented, you may need the intercession of the Saints to keep out of trouble with an alcohol stove.

Edited by - on

calden
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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 18:47:12

You guys are scaring me. I think I'll just bring some teak scraps and build a fire in the cockpit.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 19:00:50

Get soot-free alcohol from West Marine or elsewhere -- it really makes a difference on your eyes.

The absolute commandment to be obeyed is to pre-heat the burners. Follow the instructions to pump, then release a little alcohol into the cups. Burn off that alcohol, thereby pre-heating the burners. When it burns off, open the valves and the alcohol will come out as gas, which you can light. DO NOT light it if there's liquid coming out that second time. Almost all the "curtain burner" horror stories come from not adequately preheating the burners. Fortunately, the burners heat faster in summer than in winter, for obvious reasons.

It's not the most convenient technology, but it works. Don't be a guy: read and heed the instructions.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 19:11:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">May God have mercy on your sole<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's a special sailing invocation.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I think I'll just bring some teak scraps and build a fire in the cockpit.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Seriously, look at the Kenyon. It's a little beauty, and it costs a lot less than teak.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/25/2010 19:23:55

Even Chance
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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2010 : 20:11:11

If he builds a fire in the cockpit, he will need mercy on his sole.

And I agree about the Kenyon. I ditched my Princess for the Kenyon several years ago.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 05:02:08

I'm not saying not to use the stove, but you might want to take it out of the boat and give it a couple test runs. Then its not as far to catrry it to the shed or scrap heap or whatever.

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 06:54:47

Edited by - on

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 07:28:39

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't know this group had so many comedians.

CarlPr

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 07:36:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by calden
 You guys are scaring me. I think I'll just bring some teak scraps and build a fire in the cockpit.

Carlos
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
During the era when those stoves were prevalent, most of the seriously fire-damaged boats that I saw were attributed to alcohol stoves.

About 10 years ago, at the lake where I used to sail, I saw a tall plume of black smoke about 1 1/2 miles from where I was sailing. I headed that direction and found a Mc Gregor 24 that had already burned to the waterline, in a very few minutes. I learned later that the owner was cooking something on the alcohol stove, and the fuel ran out. He began to refill the tank from a gallon can, but didn't wait long enough for the stove to cool before refilling it. The fuel burst into flames, and he dropped the container, spilling it on himself and inside the boat. He became ignited, and jumped out of the boat into the water. His teenaged daughter was in the vee-birth, and she was obese, and too big to get out of the forward hatch, so she had to run out through the flames to get out of the boat. Both survived, but were burned.

I never had a fire while using mine, but once had a leak in the fuel line, where a compression fitting came loose, and the thought of what could have happened sent chills through me, and I never used the stove again.

The last time I bought a Coleman propane camping stove, it cost about $40. in an end of season sale, and was much safer.

I've never had one of the modern alcohol stoves, but have heard that they are very safe.

Edited by - on

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 11:08:07

Okay, decided. Bringing the old Coleman propane camp stove. I lit up the old MSR Dragonfly backpacking stove and it runs great, but it's not nearly as stable.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2010 : 13:58:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by calden
 Okay, decided. Bringing the old Coleman propane camp stove. I lit up the old MSR Dragonfly backpacking stove and it runs great, but it's not nearly as stable.

Carlos
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A much better decision. Our standard setup is to lay the top hatchboard across the 2 cockpit benches, making a U shaped kitchen. Prep on one side, cooking in the middle, and serving on the other. Also less worries that way since if the hatchboard gets scorched from a hot pot or the stove, it cha be replaced, wheras the fibreglass cannot. This also affords you far more room than trying to cook below.

Of course in bad weather, the galley is always in the galley.

We have found that the campstove stows nicely beside the greywater tank. Just put a board in to protect the transdeucer for the depth sounder.

Edited by - Prospector on 08/26/2010 13:59:48

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 16:44:26

Agree with all that has been said, especially the substitution of a butane stove. But one other trick to prevent burning down the boat with an alchol stove is to put a frying pan on the burner before lighting it, even during the warming phase. That way if there is a flare up the flames will be deflected to the sides and away from the curtains, your face and hair. Also the pan will absorb much of the heat from the flames. Of course you still need to keep the fire extingusher handy.

Edited by - on

Happy D
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921 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 17:46:22

Maybe just move the curtains before you light the stove.
Don't be scared to death, just be a little careful.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Bringing the old Coleman propane camp stove<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not sure this is a safety step-up.

Edited by - Happy D on 08/27/2010 17:49:51

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 18:20:27

Chance nailed it. Learn how to use it properly, and forget all the doom and gloom. Used ours for years on a C22, no burnt curtains when sold. Eventually an Origo made it's way onto our C25 but that's only 'cuz the PO trashed the regular one.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 08/28/2010 10:32:58

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 19:17:26

Interesting thread -- mine came with no stove and as I day-sail having one has not been the priority. That said, I had looked at the Origo but the Kenyon that has been mentioned sounds far more user friendly for the occasional outing. Also, I have to believe that while technology has marched forward, if an alcohol stove is used per the instructions, more times than not it will work without crating a towering inferno.

Edited by - on

crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 12:51:05

This is true and tough to top. My Cape Dory had a really nice alcohol stove. It had, as I recall, two burners and an oven and was gimbal mounted and everything. I hated that thing and my wife refused to use it. We continued to use the old gimbal mounted Sea-Swing one burner that we had used for years.Plus the darn thing took up a lot of space which could have been used to better advantage. Therefore, one hot, boring day over the Puerto Rico trench, we wrestled it out into the cockpit and gave a whole new meaning to "deep six." That sucker now resides in somewhere around 12,000 ft. Give or take.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 15:22:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bigelowp
 ...I had looked at the non-pressurized Origo but the Kenyon that has been mentioned sounds far more user friendly for the occasional outing.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I bought an Origo for Passage--it was OK, but nowhere near as simple as the Kenyon, nor did it cook as nicely. Also, if you cook with alcohol in a closed cabin, you get a lot of moisture and odor. <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Also, I have to believe that while technology has marched forward, if an alcohol stove is used per the instructions, more times than not it will work without crating a towering inferno.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">More times than not... yes.

Would you buy a car whose brakes were rated to work "more times than not"? And wouldn't you prefer to have a stove that doesn't require a "trained operator" to safely (hopefully) get it going?

I recall BoatUS reporting that pressurized alcohol stoves were the number one cause of fires on boats, based on their insurance claims.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/28/2010 15:23:43

JohnP
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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 17:43:25

I have always used a Coleman white gas stove for camping and now on the Catalina 25.

I found 2 more propane stoves on my boat when I purchased it and donated one to my sailing buddy with a C-25 in the Narragansett Bay, so that he could discard his old, original, curtain burner. He now cooks stuff...like hot water, for the tea that he likes...with no fear of certain death.

Edited by - on

cat25
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2010 : 04:08:02

I have the original stove that I took the burners out of. Put a ss bolt into the burner hole to seal it. Then I use 2 sterno cans in place of the burners. They work pretty well and stay put. Cat 25 1990.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2010 : 09:57:03

Good idea on the Sterno Cans. I have often wondered if it would be possible to take the guts from a coleman stove and fit them to the original curtain burner. I still have the burner in the basement where I do experiments on it on long winter nights.

I need to find an old Coleman stove to dissassemble.

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