cookers/ovens which are the best value??

[clyst]

Hi all

As live aboards we are in the market for a new cooker. Have looked at the range from Plastimo to Force 10. some are flimsy construction and some are expensive but which cook the best ?? user comments/recomendations would be appreciated .

Cheers

Terry

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Our first boat had a Neptune spinflo I think. Hob ok, but terrible oven. Wasted too much heat out the back. Also, both hob and oven very difficult to clean and seemed to have lots of rather sharp edges.

We now have a force 10. I am very impressed with the burners, oven and structure. Best of all is the way the top lifts up to make it all easy to clean. From an oven standpoint, it seems ok, better than the spinflo, but I cannot compare it to anything else.

 

[Tranona]

Do a search on PBO. They have reviewed all the popular cookers fairly regularly.

The two that usually come out "best" are the Nelson Spinflow at the budget end and Force 10 if you are rich.

From personal experience avoid Techimpex, but don't think any of the others are "bad". Spec is clearly important. If you need an effective grill or more than two burners you are limited. Personally I have never been able to reconcile with the higher price of most against a Spinflow or a Plastimo (Both UK made BTW). If I do replace my Techimpex then it will be with a Spinflow.

On the other hand if you want a reeally good cooker to last a lifeime or more then a Taylors 030L paraffin cooker is the one to go for!

 

[pvb]

A mate has an ENO, which he rates very highly. Interestingly, prices for ENO cookers are much cheaper in France - around 40% below UK prices.

 

[Poignard]

Thumbs down for Plastimo

I have a Plastimo 2-burner and grill cooker and I honestly can't recommend it.

Problems with it are :

Poor flame causing soot on pan bases

Flame failure device faults making it need several attempts at lighting it

Burner taps get more stiff to turn when grill has been on for a few minutes and eventually they can't be turned at all.


Before getting the Plastimo we had a rusty old Vanessa which never gave any trouble at all. I only got rid of it because it had no flame-failure device and looked shabby. I wish I had kept it.

 

[richardm47]

We replaced the Plastimo 2 burner on our boat with a Smev 3 burner + oven/grill. Had to remove locker space to do it but that's another story. The Smev is good, I'd get another one. Look for deals on the distributors website - http://www.alde.co.uk/itemdetails.php?itemId=113

 

[Ubergeekian]

From personal experience avoid Techimpex...

What problems have you had with yours? Jumblie came with one and it seems fine. The only two issues have been that the control knobs get very hot when the oven is on, and it is easy to displace the oven injector pipe, leading to interesting whooshing and banging noises.

 

[FullCircle]

A mate has an ENO, which he rates very highly. Interestingly, prices for ENO cookers are much cheaper in France - around 40% below UK prices.

And I have an ENO which I would happily trade for a bag of donkey poo. The oven is rubbish, and the grill will only cook 1/2 slice of bread every 10 minutes.

 

[michael_w]

Replaced my Plastimo, because the oven was pants. Took over an hour to do oven chips. Even then, they looked pretty anaemic.

The new Spinflo Nelson a delight. Plus the oven gets hot enough to do Yorkshire Puds.

 

[Vara]

Spinflo Nelson.

Good oven and grill, a little agricultural in style but works well.

Apparently easy to obtain and fit spares but haven't needed to yet.

 

[Tranona]

What problems have you had with yours? Jumblie came with one and it seems fine. The only two issues have been that the control knobs get very hot when the oven is on, and it is easy to displace the oven injector pipe, leading to interesting whooshing and banging noises.

The grid on the top is plated mild steel and twists and corrodes. There is no thermostat on the oven, which is pretty useless anyway - although once you recognise how slow it is you can do a decent roast. The burners are unique and difficult to obtain - as are other spares. Other than that the top (when you have managed to get the grid off) is easy to clean!

I am just annoyed that it sort of works as I can't justify replacing it - yet!

 

[Ubergeekian]

The grid on the top is plated mild steel and twists and corrodes. There is no thermostat on the oven, which is pretty useless anyway - although once you recognise how slow it is you can do a decent roast. The burners are unique and difficult to obtain - as are other spares. Other than that the top (when you have managed to get the grid off) is easy to clean!

Ah. We clearly have different Techimpexes: mine is all stainless and has a thermostat on its very effective wee oven.

 

[Simes]

Depends . . .

When refitting Talisman we wanted to have a galley that we would use and see as the central "Heart" of the vessel (we live-aboard) all year round. The instant heat of gas is its only attraction. Its dangers and mainly poor stoves are a major down side. Eleckie does not work, Paraffin and Meths are not really suitable for us as we also want hot water and heating.
We ended up with a Dickinson Diesel Stove. It is almost a sea-going AGA. It is on and running 24/7 turned down to 1 or 2 in the summer with the radiators off and turned up to 3 or 4 in the winter with the radiators on. The stove is fantastic. It warms the whole boat, runs the Calorifier (40 Ltr as it is always being heated so we do not need a bigger one), the 4 radiators each give 1/2 a kilowatt so we are warm and comfortable all year round.
The Diesel stave cooks wonderfully, bread and cakes are fantastic, perhaps a little slow when frying but the benefit of a kettle all ways simmering and constant hot water more than make up for it. Down side? Cost a lot to buy and install (but worth every penny), uses 5 Ltr of diesel a day in summer and 7 Ltrs a day in winter, it needs to be de coked every couple of months in the winter and once in the summer, quality of Diesel is variable.
Try www.kuranda.co.uk for more info.

Simes

 

[Tranona]

Ah. We clearly have different Techimpexes: mine is all stainless and has a thermostat on its very effective wee oven.

Well, mine is in my Bavaria, so I guess they have a special cheapo version!

I would have thought your boat would have justified the luxury of a Taylors to go with the retro look. But I know they are an acquired taste - well worth acquiring.

 

[Mariner69]

Are the ovens used in caravans much different to those used on boats?

I ask because I have begun to find some items from the caravanning shops, such as batteries, seem to be cheaper than those from chandlers.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

You can buy a SMEV through the Calor Gas Depot. Good 4 burner cooker and an oven with a light and rotisserie(?) for roasting quails

 

[island163]

Been very happy with our Force 10, it is expensive but seems built to last. Oven seems to work pretty well too.

 

[nedmin]

We have a Nelson Spinflo. Well pleased with it.Only prob. is it only has 2 rings but we have a steamer to get over the prob. My daughter bought a new caravan and that had a Nelson Spinflo with 3 rings and it was the same dimensions as the 2 ring.Never seen one advertised but worth Googling the makers as they are made in the UK.