Electric Cooking

[DownWest]

A few years back, the company yacht was off to the US. The boss would not have gas on it, or in their big place on land. Boat arrives with the 6kva Onan spluttering, so I replaced it with a 'Sailer Silent Set' Assorted other work and wave goodbye. About halfway to the Canaries some bolt inside the alternator came adrift and lunched it.
So rough raw rations until arrival ( galley was all 230v) and a wait while a new one was flown (under guarantee..) I actually met the outfit for the same reason, their big gensets at the house had both quit , just as they arrived with a bunch of guests. No mains power, that arrived some years later.

So, as above, I would have at least two ways of heating.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Unless you're talking about a largeish motor yacht why would anyone want to swap a nice lightweight and cheap (despite your statement) gas system for a stonking great noisy, heavy, smelly and very expensive generator, or why there is a time factor involved. Generators are't going to get any cheaper or smaller.

It set me thinking talking to an acquittance who works in the higher end yacht market. They have an upward trend of going totally electric specified by buyers. As you mention, they would all have diesel generators as well. I think though that modern generators are much less nosier and smelly now . I suppose availability of diesel worldwide and safety are also factors. Personally, I am comfortable with gas but some people aren't .

 

[LONG_KEELER]

We too have ditched the gas (already 'condemned' on our 2019 survey and so hasn't been in commission throughout our subsequent refit) and are planning to give electric a go - initially - on quite a modest setup: 1989 41' AWB (desperately in need of a re-wire), 4 x 105AH LAs, 400W of solar, 32A 240V.

So far we're aiming for a 'proof of concept' with the following upgrades: 3kw charger-inverter, Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ combi oven, and a 'camping' style 2-zone induction hob on top. The cooker is an almost perfect/direct fit for our boat and (with some fettling) should accept spare parts for 500mm gimbals/pan-holders on the market.

I appreciate some upgrades will be required. With an arch we might be able to push 1kw solar. When the (new-ish) batteries are done, we hope we'll be able to take the plunge for LiFePO4. We don't have a generator, nor space for an inboard, but our Beta 50 can take a second alternator.

It's good to hear positive first-hand experiences from @Trident, @rotrax, @Mistroma, @Robin, an others.

First Mate and I are both keen cooks (I worked in a few pro kitchens to pay my way in me yoof) and are prepared for a few compromises. We have electric at home anyway (top floor flat in a city centre block with 'Grenfell cladding'!) and have learned to work with/around it.

The Panasonic has some clever features to speed up cooking my combining microwave and combi fan/grill. While that idea isn't naturally appealing to my gastronomic instincts (don't have a microwave at home) - it could make sense on the boat. It should be 'clever', it's one of the most expensive microwaves on the market!

So far we can't find better than the 'Vango'-type dual zone portable/'camping' induction hob - that will fit between 500mm gimbal mounts/pan rail.

So far we've only got the inverter, so any suggestions/improvements still welcome.

Hope you report back at the end of next season to see how you got on.

As I have only myself to please, I have done away with the gas system and only use a cartridge gas , stand alone ,hob.

One cartridge (227g), lasts me for about 10 hot drinks and 2 very simple dinners. It would be nice to know how many Amps that is. I'm guessing a lot more that my solar can produce.

I am planning to buy and install a simple 240v hob for use in marinas using shore power.

 

[Pete7]

Hope you report back at the end of next season to see how you got on.

As I have only myself to please, I have done away with the gas system and only use a cartridge gas , stand alone ,hob.

One cartridge (227g), lasts me for about 10 hot drinks and 2 very simple dinners. It would be nice to know how many Amps that is. I'm guessing a lot more that my solar can produce.

I am planning to buy and install a simple 240v hob for use in marinas using shore power.

Well our 0.8L kettle from Argos with 0.5 litres of water with power via an inverter takes 4m 12s to boil at 75A. This is the night time draw without solar contributing. Lets call that 45m and another 45m for an induction hob to cook two simple dinners say 90 minutes at 75A. (75Ah is about 1kw). So you need 1500wh a day, say 350w of solar in good sunny conditions or two 100A batteries and some way of charging them ready for the following day.

 

[dankilb]

Hope you report back at the end of next season to see how you got on.

Will do!

As I have only myself to please, I have done away with the gas system and only use a cartridge gas , stand alone ,hob.

One cartridge (227g), lasts me for about 10 hot drinks and 2 very simple dinners. It would be nice to know how many Amps that is. I'm guessing a lot more that my solar can produce.

We still have a serviceable sealed/draining gas locker, so were thinking to have either/both a portable gas stove and/or a rail-mount gas bbq (running off small bottles) and store the gas in there. I know those bottles are safe enough - but my point rather being that our old gas locker suddenly offers handy storage for fuel, gas canisters, other nasties, etc.

 

[Elessar]

Just wondering how soon do you think yachts can do away with gas completely and install electric hobs ?

Gas is getting rather expensive and quite a performance install/maintain/safety/certificate.

I’ve not had gas for 8 years. In fact only boat number 3 of the 5 I’ve had had gas.

I’ve tried a few other things.

On 1 and 2 I had electric cookers with meths burners in for when away from shore.
These worked fine as a small boat solution to heating stuff up. But not for cooking. Condensation bad if it’s cold out too.

Boat 3 had the gas. A pain in the winter when it fails to evaporate. And expensive. If you haven’t space for a spare bottle it would be a nightmare.

Boat 4 was reliant on shore power when I bought it which was a pain. I fitted a diesel hob which was OK. Slow to heat up so I fitted an inverter for kettle boiling. And there is only one temperature control so one ring is always cooler than the other whatever you set it to.
Then I saw a small 3kW generator on eBay. An installed diesel seawater cooled model. The diesel hob was swapped for a ceramic and it was much better.

Latest boat came with a 9kW generator and has a domestic hob. It’s fabulous. And no gas hassle. I like not having to have gas alarms in the bilge

Conclusion. I’d rather do without gas but I’d only do so if I had a generator.

 

[Arcady]

Just wondering how soon do you think yachts can do away with gas completely and install electric hobs ?

Gas is getting rather expensive and quite a performance install/maintain/safety/certificate.

I have just specified an induction hob and microwave oven on our new-build. No gas, no generator, two alternators, solar (not sure how much yet) and 1320 A/Hr battery capacity @ 12v. Ask me at the end of next season and I will tell you whether or not it was a good decision for us!

Undoubtedly cheaper to do as a new installation than a retro-fit. For example: batteries are 6 x conventional lead acid, but weight is calculated as part of the internal ballast and not much more expensive than just buying lead ballast. Construction and installation of a gas-tight locker is avoided, and the microwave and induction hob considerably cheaper than a Force 10 type cooker.

Yes - there’s an extra alternator, but for long distance cruising we’d probably have carried a spare anyway. I was determined not to rely on a generator, and for that the big battery capacity is probably crucial.

Time will tell ….!

 

[jdc]

I'm with Roberto on this issue. We cruise, and cook, almost never being in a marina with shore power. I love gas, and cook with it at home (Propane, not on piped gas) and aboard. We cruise - and a damn site more than 1600 miles p.a. too - but always cook starting with raw ingredients, bake our own bread etc.

Possibly handy numbers on gas usage:

Lots of cooking plus toast and coffee etc at breakfast, plus baking bread 2 or 3 times a week, never eating out: 200g /day
Cruising but buying stores from town, eating out a couple of times a week: 85g/day

 

[dslittle]

Just wondering how soon do you think yachts can do away with gas completely and install electric hobs ?

Gas is getting rather expensive and quite a performance install/maintain/safety/certificate.

We’ve got two 4.5kg bottles of gas that we’ve had for over five years now…

Most cooking is done on the induction hob (only one ring works with the inverter so simple one pot meals when not connected to shore power). The only downside is the flat top without fiddles so it’s back to basics when under way. Other cooking/heating is done with the microwave combination oven, which is quick and clean.

Electricity is definitely the way forwards (It does help in that electricity is ‘included’ in French Marinas!!!)

 

[Ningaloo]

Love my induction in my land based home, but just needs too much power for my DC only boat.
On the subject of gas prices, I was routinely paying £35 for a refill in the Solent over the last couple of seasons. This year I paid as little as €14 in Portugal, about €18 in Spain and €20 in Italy.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I have just specified an induction hob and microwave oven on our new-build. No gas, no generator, two alternators, solar (not sure how much yet) and 1320 A/Hr battery capacity @ 12v. Ask me at the end of next season and I will tell you whether or not it was a good decision for us!

Undoubtedly cheaper to do as a new installation than a retro-fit. For example: batteries are 6 x conventional lead acid, but weight is calculated as part of the internal ballast and not much more expensive than just buying lead ballast. Construction and installation of a gas-tight locker is avoided, and the microwave and induction hob considerably cheaper than a Force 10 type cooker.

Yes - there’s an extra alternator, but for long distance cruising we’d probably have carried a spare anyway. I was determined not to rely on a generator, and for that the big battery capacity is probably crucial.

Time will tell ….!

Brilliant. Definitely a true yachting pathfinder.

Let us know how much solar you eventually go for. Watching with interest.

 

[Arcady]

Brilliant. Definitely a true yachting pathfinder.

Let us know how much solar you eventually go for. Watching with interest.

Will do! ???

 

[Daydream believer]

We (Yachtsnet) sold a boat a couple of years ago with all-electric cooking, but it was a big motor-sailer with a big genset in the engine room that just got a button pressed to turn on when you wanted power for aircon, heating, cooking, bowthruster or anchor windlass. The genset was virtually silent, you struggled to hear if it was running. The actual battery capacity was minimal, just two starter batteries. No way all that power could be provided by solar or wind or stored without a monstrously large battery bank.

So was it effectively a diesel powered cooker ?

 

[Jemima Puddleduck]

I have just specified an induction hob and microwave oven on our new-build. No gas, no generator, two alternators, solar (not sure how much yet) and 1320 A/Hr battery capacity @ 12v. Ask me at the end of next season and I will tell you whether or not it was a good decision for us!


Time will tell ….!

How’s it going..???

 

[Arcady]

How’s it going..???

Ha! If only I could tell you ??‍

For reasons well beyond the boredom threshold of this fine community, my plans to be aboard this summer have gone awry. I hope - finally - to be aboard in a couple of weeks time, although with autumn approaching, my solar installation may not be at it’s best! I will let you know …

 

[Aleksandrs Nibler]

I have just specified an induction hob and microwave oven on our new-build. No gas, no generator, two alternators, solar (not sure how much yet) and 1320 A/Hr battery capacity @ 12v. Ask me at the end of next season and I will tell you whether or not it was a good decision for us!

Undoubtedly cheaper to do as a new installation than a retro-fit. For example: batteries are 6 x conventional lead acid, but weight is calculated as part of the internal ballast and not much more expensive than just buying lead ballast. Construction and installation of a gas-tight locker is avoided, and the microwave and induction hob considerably cheaper than a Force 10 type cooker.

Yes - there’s an extra alternator, but for long distance cruising we’d probably have carried a spare anyway. I was determined not to rely on a generator, and for that the big battery capacity is probably crucial.

Time will tell ….!

This is a great alternative. I will check if I can do the same.

 

[yachtie_dad]

We too have ditched the gas (already 'condemned' on our 2019 survey and so hasn't been in commission throughout our subsequent refit) and are planning to give electric a go - initially - on quite a modest setup: 1989 41' AWB (desperately in need of a re-wire), 4 x 105AH LAs, 400W of solar, 32A 240V.

So far we're aiming for a 'proof of concept' with the following upgrades: 3kw charger-inverter, Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ combi oven, and a 'camping' style 2-zone induction hob on top. The cooker is an almost perfect/direct fit for our boat and (with some fettling) should accept spare parts for 500mm gimbals/pan-holders on the market.

I appreciate some upgrades will be required. With an arch we might be able to push 1kw solar. When the (new-ish) batteries are done, we hope we'll be able to take the plunge for LiFePO4. We don't have a generator, nor space for an inboard, but our Beta 50 can take a second alternator.

It's good to hear positive first-hand experiences from @Trident, @rotrax, @Mistroma, @Robin, an others.

First Mate and I are both keen cooks (I worked in a few pro kitchens to pay my way in me yoof) and are prepared for a few compromises. We have electric at home anyway (top floor flat in a city centre block with 'Grenfell cladding'!) and have learned to work with/around it.

The Panasonic has some clever features to speed up cooking my combining microwave and combi fan/grill. While that idea isn't naturally appealing to my gastronomic instincts (don't have a microwave at home) - it could make sense on the boat. It should be 'clever', it's one of the most expensive microwaves on the market!

So far we can't find better than the 'Vango'-type dual zone portable/'camping' induction hob - that will fit between 500mm gimbal mounts/pan rail.

So far we've only got the inverter, so any suggestions/improvements still welcome.

Dankilb

im looking at those appliances for our set up, do you have any images of yours in situ or any info on the gimbals you used etc, very interested to hear your thoughts on the microwave too.

 

[dankilb]

Dankilb

im looking at those appliances for our set up, do you have any images of yours in situ or any info on the gimbals you used etc, very interested to hear your thoughts on the microwave too.

@yachtie_dad - sorry for the delayed reply, I must've missed this post...

I'm afraid to say that we haven't got any further with the installation. We have the oven sitting in our lockup (no bad thing as it's now nearly £100 more than we paid!) but that's as far as we've got! We're still doing some quite messy work ('drill-fill-drill' rebedding of deck fittings right above the galley, etc.) and aren't quite at the point of reinstating systems yet (3.5 years into our refit!).

I do know which gimbals I will use - as the oven is the exact same width as the '5000' series/style marine hobs:
Pacific 5000
Searails and gimbals

The only remaining question is how easy it is to fasten the gimbal to the side of the Panasonic. All I can say to this is that there are fasteners to disassemble the oven and it must come apart/go together somehow! I'm hoping there will be space inside the casing to comfortably accommodate fasteners for the gimbal brackets (you wouldn't need much room). Monel rivets could be another option. When we had to oven out of its box etc. it certainly didn't look like it would be a problem!

I reckon we should be test fitting it around late spring/summer and I will update then.

The induction hob options (for 500mm) proved a bit of a pain and in the end I stopped looking. There are plenty of domestic worktop mount options that would fit, but I'd need to fabricate some sort of trim/surround/frame to accommodate it atop the oven. The camping-style standalone ones are all a bit smaller (or much too wide). So that aspect is still TBC!

 

[Pete7]

Dankilb. I'm looking at those appliances for our set up, do you have any images of yours in situ or any info on the gimbals you used etc, very interested to hear your thoughts on the microwave too.

If you go for a hob only option regardless of whether its gas or electric, the gimbal point is higher than a standard cooker because you don't have 18kgs of oven hanging below. This isn't made obvious when buying pan and gimbals, however, Sheridan Marine do explain this:

Neptune Marine Hob and Grill Pan Clamps & Gimbals

I did buy the set they have, but didn't like them. They don't slide smoothly and the flat metal had sharp edges so took it back to Force 4 and swopped it for the more traditional rod type that lift up. These and the original gimbals from our cooker gave me enough parts with a bit of bench fitting to work together so the gimbal point is now much higher above the hob surface. The final test was a large pan full of water swung back and forth. If you Google Origo stoves you see they also have high gimbals.

The induction Vango Double Sizzle shown in Dankilb's post is tempting, but we are not quite ready to give up the option of some gas cooking just in case. To replace the oven we now use a Remoska, brilliant bit of kit, wish I had seen them years ago.

Pete

 

[roaringgirl]

We too have ditched the gas (already 'condemned' on our 2019 survey and so hasn't been in commission throughout our subsequent refit) and are planning to give electric a go - initially - on quite a modest setup: 1989 41' AWB (desperately in need of a re-wire), 4 x 105AH LAs, 400W of solar, 32A 240V.

So far we're aiming for a 'proof of concept' with the following upgrades: 3kw charger-inverter, Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ combi oven, and a 'camping' style 2-zone induction hob on top. The cooker is an almost perfect/direct fit for our boat and (with some fettling) should accept spare parts for 500mm gimbals/pan-holders on the market.

I appreciate some upgrades will be required. With an arch we might be able to push 1kw solar. When the (new-ish) batteries are done, we hope we'll be able to take the plunge for LiFePO4. We don't have a generator, nor space for an inboard, but our Beta 50 can take a second alternator.

It's good to hear positive first-hand experiences from @Trident, @rotrax, @Mistroma, @Robin, an others.

First Mate and I are both keen cooks (I worked in a few pro kitchens to pay my way in me yoof) and are prepared for a few compromises. We have electric at home anyway (top floor flat in a city centre block with 'Grenfell cladding'!) and have learned to work with/around it.

The Panasonic has some clever features to speed up cooking my combining microwave and combi fan/grill. While that idea isn't naturally appealing to my gastronomic instincts (don't have a microwave at home) - it could make sense on the boat. It should be 'clever', it's one of the most expensive microwaves on the market!

So far we can't find better than the 'Vango'-type dual zone portable/'camping' induction hob - that will fit between 500mm gimbal mounts/pan rail.

So far we've only got the inverter, so any suggestions/improvements still welcome.

We're back to the boat in NZ in a week. I'm replacing our diesel hob with 2 single vangos as above. I decided that 2 singles would be better than 1 double as, if one gets broken, the other will still work.

I did the calculations and I think we'll be fine living aboard and cooking on induction full-time. We normally have one cooked meal a day (sometimes some soup for lunch) plus a few cups of coffee.

We have 700W of solar, a wind-generator that makes about 120W in 15kts of wind and a Watt and Sea 600 towed generator and 400Ah of LFP and a 3kW inverter

We don't have a diesel generator, but our batteries are always full due to wind and solar, even when we use the water-heater and 12v water maker. I haven't plugged in for 2 years.

We'll see how it goes...