Alternatives to gas stoves

Many people dislike gas on board a boat. On a Corribee it is difficult to arrange a suitable draining gas locker to store the gas bottle because of the low freeboard. This means that in the event of a leak the escaping gas will accumulate in the bilge. Alternatives to gas are methylated spirit stoves and paraffin stoves.

Paraffin stoves

The Taylors paraffin stove is the most well known example - they are very expensive but built to last a lifetime. They need pre-heating before lighting - if not pre-heated properly the paraffin will flare up. Alarming, but usually harmless, this is sometimes the reason that secondhand models become available! They burn hotter than either gas or spirit so will boil your kettle faster. As fitted to Katie Miller's Elektra - there is a picture on her web site (see links on the right).

Taylors stove The Taylors 028 cooker - Image provided by Blakes Lavac Taylors and used with their permission

Spirit stoves

The best known make is the Origo, which uses methylated spirit. Some people object to the smell, which is caused by naptha (an additive used to prevent people drinking it!). It is possible to apply for a license to buy industrial denatured alcohol (meths with little or no naptha added) by applying to HM Customs and Excise (click here for the downloadable form). Others have suggested adding 10% water to reduce the smell - I haven't tried this. The French sell Alcool Abruler in supermarkets, which is denatured alcohol. It is supposed not to smell, but some people dislike it - because of the smell!

Despite all this, there are many satisfied Origo stove owners - if the are set up and operated correctly there are very few problems, and are certainly far safer than a gas installation.

Full instructions on the operation of Origo stoves can be found as downloadable instructions at http://www.dometic.com.

origo stove

Fitting a Taylors Paraffin Cooker Model K

Fitting is very straightforward once the original gas stove has been removed - most Corribee galleys are built to take a double burner stove so one of the small Taylors stoves will easily take it's place, either the 028 model shown above or the cheaper Model K.

Taylors model K

As standard they come with a 1.5 gallon paraffin tank, which is rather large for a small boat. Taylors used to make a 4 pint tank, which is often available secondhand at boat jumbles, and this is what I opted to use.

Taylors tank

Because it is pressurised the mounting position isn't critical, but it needs to be accessible for filling and to pump it. I chose to mount it on the forward side of the bulkhead. The galley is on the aft side so the fuel pipe connects via the bulkhead connector supplied. Also provided are a small filter and a shut-off valve, along with 3m of copper tube and the necessary compression fittings to connect it all up.

Although the cooker is supplied with gimbals I decided not to use them. I generally sail single handed in the Solent, so the chances of going below for ten minutes to make a cup of tea when underway without hitting something are fairly remote. The plates each side which hold the fiddle rail in position usually extend upwards to provide the mounting points for the gimbals. I took these off and turned them round through 180^o so they don't stick up (just visible in the first of the two photos above).

There are a few other points worth considering. A drip tray under the tank may be useful, not because the tank will leak, but in case of over-filling. A dispenser for methylated spirits would make it easier to fill the pre-heating cups under the burners. Lighting the meths is best done with a piezo igniter (the type used to light domestic gas cookers). Finally, you have some extra space (probably in the forepeak or the stern locker) where the gas bottle used to go, and you don't have that nagging doubt over having switched the gas valve off.

www.corribee.org.uk - stoves