Cook stove

[bern]

Hi all
I am new to sailing so please excuse me asking a dumb question..........

I have noticed that while installing propane heat seems to be no problem I don't see many installs of a propane cook stove.
In my camper I have a very nice compact 4 burner stove complete with a small oven and it seems to me this would fit very nicely into the cook stove area in the MacGregor.

Is it a ventillation issue??? Please enlighten me

Bern

[FinallySailing]

Hi Bern, welcome to the forum.

Here in Europe you will find many boats with propane cookers but will find propane heaters not so often, most heating systems I've seen here are diesel hot air systems You will have to have a gas locker, ensure the piping is safe and you may run into problems with your boat on some inland waterways.
I got rid of my propane cooker for safety reasons and installed an alcohol stove instead. No need for a separate locker for the gas bottles, no pipes or valves that can fail. Gas is heavier than air, if there is a leak anywhere in the system it will collect in the bilge or cabin sole and a single spark is enough ... kaboom !

[JohnCFI]

I did think about it, but having researched it throughly I decided propane was a bigger risk than was worth taking.

[Russ]

Welcome Bern,

Propane gas (and other heavier than air gases and gasoline fumes) are a major concern on a boat. Unlike our RV counterparts that can vent easily to the ground, our boats will collect gases in the lowest part of the boat and have no place to go after that. Therefore, flammable gases (and fumes) on boats take on a major concern.

Most of us avoid propane in the cabin for the above mentioned reasons. A leak and a spark and you are blown to bits (and dead). Propane can be done, but with great caution. RV grade appliance won't cut it. You need marine grade connections etc. and the tanks stored above decks in case of leaks with auto shut off valves. It's a lot of effort to ensure safety on the water. Heat can be a problem using these gases as well as cooking.

So what do do?

Kerosene and diesel are MUCH safer as they don't have the explosive gases of lighter than air gas. We use a Butane stove for cooking using portable gas canisters. However we ALWAYS vent the cabin and are mindful of this. Heat, I'd be more careful. We live in northern latitudes and find blankets much safer. Alcohol stoves are very safe. Consider them for cooking.

Please research this carefully and engage the responses on this forum for advise. DON'T blow yourself up trying to cook or stay warm. There are safer methods.

[yukonbob]

More of a propane is heavier than air and sits in your bilge til it explodes kinda thing. It is completely doable though but tanks shold (preferably) be stored outside and minimal connections (possible leaks) or an expensive propane locker. We have a froce 10 propane heater plumbed in from the anchor locker which has O2 sensor and pilot sensor, and would be too much hassle to plumb to the kitchen. I went with a two burner coleman white gas which I can remove for other things. Also is much cheaper to replace as the salt air eats EVERYTHING! AAARRGGG

[Ixneigh]

There is a semi marine grade butane stove made under the ikari name. I have one but have not used it yet. It's aluminum instead of steel so rust should be less of an issues. I payed 90 dollars for it. I like the butane since I don't cook complex meals. The cheaper steel cookers do rust quickly in salt air.

[cptron]

I use alcohol burner in the cabin and propane for the grill which is outside for the same safety reasons mentioned above.
Ron

[Catigale]

We use propane in disposables for both our SS brinkmann stove and our grill

We follow rigid protocols on its use and storage on board to mitigate the fuel hazard

We use only new propane bottles for each week cruise due to the salt environment - we consume the rest in the winter on the grill back home!!

[robbarnes1965]

I use the alcohol too. Works fine and no worries. I do have a rail mounted bbq outside that runs on the small propane bottles though where ventilation is not a concern.

[dive4it]

One thing that I'd like to add. I use a propane Magma grill rail mounted outside. With all the talk about storing propane in the cabin, I found that I can fit 4 spare disposable propane cylinders on top of my 12 gallon fuel tanks in the tank area in the cockpit. They just barely slide in between the fiberglass and the tanks. To keep them from falling out onto the floor, I cut a rectangular section of plastic out of a 55 gallon drum and slipped it between the tank and fiberglass locker. It is able to slide fore and aft like a rolltop desk only horizontal. It keeps things very clean and tidy, with external venting for any gas leaks.

JT

[Sumner]

We use propane in disposables for both our SS brinkmann stove and our grill

We follow rigid protocols on its use and storage on board to mitigate the fuel hazard

We use only new propane bottles for each week cruise due to the salt environment - we consume the rest in the winter on the grill back home!!

We also use a ...



....propane stove and have absolutely no fears about using it vs. other types of stoves. We only have the canisters in the cabin when we are cooking and also always have lots of ventilation in the cabin. When the stove is off the canisters are ...



...stored over the stern rail in ABS pipes to the left of the arrow above. I just don't see a problem doing this.

Now I do see a problem plumbing lines into the boat for use with a stove or heater unless you spend some bucks on proper equipment and follow proper procedures doing it. The Endeavour has ...



....a propane stove along with thousands of other boats. We didn't use it until I had installed a new line from the tank to the regulator and from the regulator down to the stove. We also added a new regulator and made sure the shutoff solenoid is working and will continue to check it frequently as it is easy to do. There is a switch in the galley for the shutoff solenoid and a light that comes on when it is open. We flip the switch and open it when cooking and it is turned off when done cooking. The shutoff solenoid/valve is up in a proper propane locker on the side of the cockpit. This stuff is not cheap, but critical to have and have in good working order. If you go this route don't skimp and do it right,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[bern]

Thanks everyone!
That was very interesting............looks like propane is to unsafe and costly to consider.
Good info for sure.

[Sumner]

...looks like propane is to unsafe and costly to consider ...

I feel that is only true if you want to make a permanent install, which I think is what you are saying and a person doesn't want to spend the money/time to do it safely. There are thousands and thousands of sailboats around the world safely using propane for stoves in the boat, but they are generally boats larger than our Mac. I wouldn't attempt it for ours.

...looks like propane is to unsafe

A small 1-2 burner camp type stove with the bottles stored outside can be a safe way to go. Alcohol stoves are not without their negatives also. I read of people spilling the fuel, not wise to refill if you run out while preparing a meal and they are hot, can be hard to start and flame up then, hard to see the flame when lit.

Another example of there is no 'best' solution just the one that you like and that fits your needs,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[AlaskaMan]

I have the "Wallas" stove and it burns "Klean Fuel" doubles as a heater with the 270 Blower head. http://www.scanmarineusa.com/wallas-85D ... -2011s.pdf
It works great for us.

Mental Floss
Juneau Alaska

[dive4it]

I have the "Wallas" stove and it burns "Klean Fuel" doubles as a heater with the 270 Blower head. http://www.scanmarineusa.com/wallas-85D ... -2011s.pdf
It works great for us.

Mental Floss
Juneau Alaska

Wow, that Wallas stove is cool cool. Now I want one.

JT