Are boat ovens pointless?

[DangerousPirate]

On my current boat I have quite an old stove with oven unit, it is functional still but I'll definitely replace it with a brand new one as it has visible mileage. Now, I could replace it with another oven type. Or I could just get a stove unit, without the oven beneath it.

The thing: That oven is totally useless. Sure, it gets hot, but the few times I tried to make pizza in there, the pizza showed definite hotspots, and it was always done bottom up. If I have to play tricks with dutch ovens and stuff just to get a decent bake, then what's the point. From looking online, this seems to be a common problem.

My thought is to get a stove unit and then build drawers for the space beneath. I have seen that and liked the idea. A good place to put the forks and plates. But I'd definitely like the idea of an oven, if it would work well, better. As it makes cooking not only easier, but also gives you a greater range of things you can make. And I don't see why it's would be so difficult to have two flames inside it, top and bottom. That would ensure an even roast, I think. At least better than just the bottom variation anyway.

So my question is: Are all ovens built like that, or has it improved in the meantime?

 

[neilf39]

Our plastic oven is ok. Tends to be hotter at the back so you need to rotate anything in there. Also don't put anything too big in in terms of footprint or it will overhang the burner and definitely get burnt at the back.

 

[Refueler]

Guy who sold me the 25 ... it has the Calor stove ... Hobs, Grill and Oven. He was proud of the fact that he more than once did a full Sunday Roast with it.
Yes the oven is a bit ancient and the burner has seen better days - the temperature control is low - med - hot ... regardless of its original fineness !

But would I remove it ? No.

My 38 has a Hob + Oven .. no grill .... which annoys me !! Full English takes on a different meaning without a grill !

 

[Refueler]

No Oven ? How to heat up the old Fray Bentos ??

 

[Boathook]

I wouldn't be with an oven or grill and wouldn't attempt a pizza as the temperature is possibly good anough, especially on my old flavel.

They are good for heating up pies, takeaways and doing a tray bake main meal though plus full English breakfast if there is more than 2 of you.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Not all ovens are like that. I have a Force 10, 4 hob, with oven. The oven works well. However, food does need to be managed as it cooks. When making toast with the grill, one edge of a side toasts more than the other, so the bread needs rotated for an even toast. Same in the oven, a dish might heat more at the back, above the plate that covers the burner, so turning the dish every so often works a treat. For small items like stuffed peppers, baked potatoes, no problem, as you place them in the middle. The burning at the back is really for large casserole dishes.

 

[Tranona]

The choice is extremely limited now with only Dometic and Voyager (previously sold under other names such as Plastimo). The 4500 model has a thermostatically controlled oven. Always had success with that model but then I do not like pizzas, preferring proper food.

 

[rib]

Got a taylors... Would not be with out it.. Roasts, baking, etc..

 

[Tranona]

Got a taylors... Would not be with out it.. Roasts, baking, etc..

Agree, but you need to sell a kidney to buy a new one and good used ones are getting rare. If you want to spend lots of money then a GN Espace Levante may be a better bet at similar price

 

[fearmhuir]

I have a SMEV cooker. Cook everything in the oven - roasts, casseroles, bread, rashers/sausages, chicken and pizzas. As previously pointed out, larger items need to be rotated. Decision depends on whether you are into cooking or not? I wouldn't be without an oven.

 

[Bouba]

You do see brand new unused ovens on second hand boats, so I agree that a lot of people don’t use them....we don’t do any elaborate food preparation onboard....but have used the oven and hob a couple of times...but it’s gas and I’d prefer not to have it onboard....I’ve built a cover for the hob to increase my work surface....far better to have room to make sandwiches onboard. A microwave changes everything

 

[Malish]

Got a taylors... Would not be with out it.. Roasts, baking, etc..

how does the grill perform?

 

[Tranona]

how does the grill perform?

It does not do toast if that is what you are after as it only reflects heat down from the burners to the hob - but you can burn bread reasonably well on the hob!

 

[Refueler]

My Calor .. the grill is the typical centre strip burner .. so toast tends to be browned along the centre ! But I cannot imagine life without ..

 

[Refueler]

If I HAD to lose one function of a cooker - it would likely be the Oven ... grill and hobs are too important ..

 

[apogee]

If I HAD to lose one function of a cooker - it would likely be the Oven ... grill and hobs are too important ..

How on earth do you bake bread without an oven?

 

[Refueler]

How on earth do you bake bread without an oven?

I don't .... not being an ocean transit yottie - I don't really have need to bake bread ....

But I do understand and appreciate that fresh baked bread is a delightful luxury !

I can remember trotting along the road to village baker for a morning loaf ... you could walk the aroma to the door !!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The answer is that an oven on a boat is as useful as an oven in the house if you cook meals on the boat. Now we have got that far and assuming the OP wants to cook meals as opposed to snacks then you get what you pay for and a proper useful oven will cost a lot and not many are prepared to pay the cost.

 

[merjan]

Ovens are the best for reheating pre-made food safely during passages. That’s what you’d want to do at sea, not a cook a banquet from scratch. Just put the dish into the oven and forget about it whilst you’re keeping watch. Heating food on the stove requires constant attention, and is more dangerous.

 

[sigma38dave]

I've had success knocking up a chicken casserole and beef stew in our basic Techimpex boat oven. The key to cooking anything in it is a cast iron casserole dish to help distribute the heat as it's either on or off, rather than controllable.

The cast iron dish does create storage issues, you want to make sure that isn't going anywhere if it's bouncy!