Gas cooker upgrade

[Anchorite]

The ability of certain gas cookers (Flavel Vanessa) to cremate a chicken on one side and leave it deepfrozen on the other is well known. There was a thread at Christmas where mention was made of the use of a stainless steel plate to even out the heat distribution. Has anyone the details of the plate, dimensions, how positioned, what holes drilled in it, any drawbacks or problems.

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[Talbot]

Best thing to do to improve the flavel vanessa is to unbolt it and throw it away. Very few of them ever sealed properly in the oven, and this causes the cooking problems, furthermore, they dont have a flame failure device on anything other than the oven.

I changed mine for a techimpex. a cheap cooker, but made of stainless, and with flame failure on all burners, and a proper sealing oven with a thermometer to see how hot it is. Nice cooker, but you really have to inspect them carefully before taking delivery, cause quality control seems to be a word they have trouble translating.

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[Joe]

Why not get rid of it and the gas and fit a Taylors parrafin cooker.
Best thing i ever did.
You can leave it on all day for virtually nothing.
Hot coffee on tap whenever you want it.


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[pragmatist]

Don't malign all Vanessas - we have had 2 on different boats, including one which was approaching its majority when it did finally have to retire. Both were excellent, in fact the lack of a thermostat was beneficial in producing good roast potatoes.

Could the chicken problem be caused by pushing the tray too far back into the oven so it's directly over the flame ? I always put the tray at the front and make sure I turn it round once or twice. Never had a problem and find current Flavel s/steel with all the bells & whistles is more difficult to manage to good effect - especially the roasties !

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[charles_reed]

Gas cookers

I fitted a Leisure Products (badged as Plastimo neptune).

The thermosatically controlled oven is a masterpiece, all burners have a flame-failure device and the door seal is perfect even after 9 years of hard use.

As you're unlikely to be able to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse I'd suggest dispensing with the Flavel.

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[jerryat]

Hi Pragmatist!

Yep! I agree, I've also had two Vanessas (on different boats) and they've done me proud. When you consider you can buy at least two of them for the cost of one 'superior' stainless' variety, the economics speak for themselves and we seldom 'roast' anyway! Too damned hot where we sail!

Having said that, the current one, which came with the boat and is in spotless condition, will need a few bits and pieces replaced within the next couple of years, so I think I may take the opportunity to change to the stainless type (not sure which yet) when I conclude the refit next Spring and head off for a few more years cruising again.

It'll be for the reasons of saving on maintenance though, not 'cos you can't roast a chicken - something I can stagger through life without, or go ashore and get!

Enjoy your 'roasties'!!

Good sailing!



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