A close thing!

[Achillesheel]

On my Achilles 24 we have (had!) one of those portable gas stoves with the aerosol-like butane container. On Sunday night it caught fire. Flames licked around the gas canister as I grabbed it and chucked it over the side. Fortunately it wasn't screwed down. The more I think about it, the luckier I feel.

So a warning for anyone who uses one!

But also, what to replace it with? We only use it for boiling a kettle, as SWMBO only agrees to sleep on the boat if we eat out every night (very fair). We took out a perfectly servicable double gas burner because the surveyor said it needed a separate locker for the bottle.

Any ideas welcomed.

 

[Evadne]

You can get calor gas in quite small containers, why not go for a "conventional" stove and a tiny, easily contained bottle?
I've no experience of using other fuels, such as paraffin, since I was in the Scouts (an awful long time ago) but there are still little pump-up single burners that would be no more dangerous than gas.

 

[Das_Boot]

Those pump up single burners are a real problem. I dont mean to contradict you but they are one of the main means of cooking in SA and there are literley thousands of casualtys in SA because of them. It is the subject of much Soul Searching out there. They are trying to re-design them the fault lies with the tank being under the flame and overheating. I believe you are better off with the butane it is unlikely to explode as evidenced by the tank being on fire but still allowing you time to get rid of it.

 

[jhr]

I've got a single burner Origo spirit stove. Boils up a kettle in reasonable time, though some have issues with the smell, which can be a bit unhelpful on a queasy stomach.

Main downside is the purchase cost, which is substantial. However, it will last you a long time.

 

[tcm]

was it quite old? I reckon the rubber seals aren't much kop and perish over time, eventually allowing air in and/or (worse) gas out. Mostly, they are ok but of course normally wd watch one. Spose tyou aren't too keen on another, ahem.....

 

[Achillesheel]

It was only a year and a half old, this was the second time I used it this year, and on the first occasion, it didn't light first time; I tried it again, and as gas had been leaking out there was a bit of a woosh of flame as it caught.

So no, I don't want another like it!!

Admittedly, it was cheap; £10 from the North Cornwall Show - theres a moral there....

 

[cindersailor]

I've got one of those which I screwed down to the work top. I think I will unscrew it now I have heard of your experience!

 

[Das_Boot]

Maybe it had a dodgy fitting however the positive preasure from the gas inside will blow the flame away from the cannister therefore the risk of explosion is low. I have one on my boat for a quick cuppa but dont let it out of my sight while it is boiling the water. It is also a cheap camping one if the seal was dodgy it is better to throw the whole lot overboard and buy another.

 

[Das_Boot]

By the way they are sold by the million and I have not heard of any accidents with them. However that is not to say that they dont happen.

 

[duncan]

I had a similar thing, but the flame was slight enogh to give a seconds thought - enough to see that the canister lock wasn't locked (sealed). Pushing down on the button made the seal and flames reverted to the correct jets!
Issue seems to be twofold - (1) the gas valve can be opened without the units seal being complete (2) the spark thingy is situated to close to the canister's valve - mounting the piezo on the other side of the burner would at least help with the later.

 

[Cobra25]

That was close and everybody's nightmare.

But SWMBO only agrees to sleep on the boat if we eat out every night (very fair).

Why does she insist on spoiling a nice day by eating out at some grotty pub/restaurant where the staff don't wash their hands, pick their noses, the tables are sticky (feel under the edges) the food is poorly cooked, the waitresses are surly and the owner even moreso and that's only the start. Take pasties/sandwiches get a locker and boil some rice and add a tin of curried chicken halfway through cooking - as good as restaurant/pub fare but without the bacteria and attitude, have BBq's she'll let u play chef (they always do) light a fire in the sand, anything but you do the cooking she'll love you even more for it.

 

[Cornishman]

Although I have no personal experience I have met several who swear by Taylors paraffin stoves. Do they still make them?
The Primus stove is the single burner, and if made in Sweden is ideal and perfectly safe, although lighting can be a bit of a problem until you are experienced at it. Beware cheap imitations, though.

 

[Achillesheel]

To Cobra 25; I would say you are choosing the wrong places to eat. Last year we had a mooring at Helford, where the sailing club has a French chef whose steaks are to die for. After a hard days sail, seeking and finding a decent meal is a great way to relax, before curling up in our tiny forepeak!

SWMBO says you have no romance!! (sorry!)

 

[LadyInBed]

The expensive option

You could always put in an extra domestic battery then use an inverter and a small (lower wattage) mains kettle.

 

[davidwf]

question re disconnecting cylinder

I have one of these hobs and only got about 5 partially filled kettles boiled out of the first cylinder. I suspect it was because it leaked, question is should you diconnect cylinder after use or leave it connected. The isstructions are vaugue on this point I suspect the cylinder leaked after being disconnected.

 

[aitchw]

I use one of the picnic stoves made by Greens which is housed in a carry case and has a gas cylinder which is loaded into working position by a lever at the front of the stove.

Is this the type you were using?

I have used mine extensively on and off the boat for boiling kettles and it is proving very frugal on gas and free of worrying incident. However, if this is the same type as yours I will be even more cautious than I normally am in the light of your mishap. Glad you were able to react in time.

Thank you for bringing the incident to our attention.

 

[Achillesheel]

Yes, mine sounds the same type as you describe. I think the canister wasn't seated properly in its thingy so leaked liquid butane all over the shop, which naturally ignited when I sparked it.

I may have been unlucky, but certainly won't be buying another!

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: The expensive option

Or even one of these:

Only £120 /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Re: The expensive option

But then you have to deal with petrol, also not particularly safe.

From what I can see, there is no completely safe means of cooking on a boat. All methods require a fuel with lots of contained energy somewhere.

 

[duncan]

Re: The expensive option

more like 90 (inc) in Makro right now