Gas cooker

[sailoppopotamus]

My boat came with a household gas cooker installed by the previous owner, not stainless, no safety gas cut-off, no gimballing. I'm looking to replace this with something more suited to a monohull -- the lack of safety cut-offs has me permanently worried, and cooking at anchor can be dangerous with the slightest of swells.

The boat is a 1988 Jeanneau SunLight 30, with a frustrating absolute max width 50.5cm available for any future oven. The overall space available to fit the oven (i.e. where the gimballs will go) is 52.5cm, but the oven itself will have to clear a 50.5cm gap when it rotates on the gimbals. Most of the cheaper marine ovens do not promise an all-stainless construction. I struggle to make sense of this, and I'm quite reluctant to spend a large amount of money on something that may rust in short order. I'm also worried that cheaper non-stainless ovens might have internal gas pipes that are likely to corrode, and the prospect of a gas leak onboard terrifies me.

So I'm looking at all-stainless ovens, preferably with 2 hobs. So far, the only oven that seems to fit my requirements is the two-burner Force10 'EU Compact' (63258). This however is quite steeply priced (EUR1600 or so), and has mixed reviews in the various forums as to its build quality in recent years.

Does anybody have a suitable alternative to recommend? Techimpex TOP2 seems too wide, same for all the cookers in the ENO line. The Dickinson ovens seem to be significantly more expensive, and the GN Escape even more so. Is there any brand I've overlooked?

 

[XDC]

Neptune 4500 Cooker

?

 

[sailoppopotamus]

I have considered this. Apparently the design has some history, built by either Plastimo, Nelson, Spinflo and maybe others in the meantime. But, while it would fit, it isn't fully stainless so it seems like it's bound to rust sooner or later. Admittedly, I may be placing overdue emphasis on an all-stainless construction, but it seems absurd to spend boat bucks on a cooker that may well be a rusted mess within a couple of years.

 

[Boater Sam]

I have considered this. Apparently the design has some history, built by either Plastimo, Nelson, Spinflo and maybe others in the meantime. But, while it would fit, it isn't fully stainless so it seems like it's bound to rust sooner or later. Admittedly, I may be placing overdue emphasis on an all-stainless construction, but it seems absurd to spend boat bucks on a cooker that may well be a rusted mess within a couple of years.

Much of Spinflo's products is aluminium.

 

[coopec]

What about the Lido Junior at $A450?
(I have a microwave oven)

Lido Junior

 

[Pete7]

Neptune 4500 Cooker ?

Until recently Leisure Products in Bolton who make the Plastimo or re-badged Aqua Chef / Aqua Marine range had 3 models. The basic had some stainless steel but painted sides. The standard mostly stainless and the delux completely stainless. Sadly it looks like they have reduced the model range down to two options and the difference is just the colour of the door.

Pacific 4500

If the OP doesn't need a grill which I have always found disappointing, there is a 450mm wide Pacific model which doesn't have the grill.

Marine Scene have a Pacific 4500 with a discount on the RRP price:

Plastimo Pacific 4500 - 2 Burner Hob Cooker - Oven - Marine Scene

Admittedly, I may be placing overdue emphasis on an all-stainless construction, but it seems absurd to spend boat bucks on a cooker that may well be a rusted mess within a couple of years.

Our Plastimo Atlantic, predecessor to the Neptune was stove enamelled or something similar and lasted 34 years before we replaced it due to a rusty grill burner and no flame failure devices. Replaced with just an Aqua Marine hob and grill as we have gone for a mix of gas and electric cooking using a Remoska instead of a traditional oven.

 

[Neeves]

We were replacing our fibreglass sink and drainer (we constantly chipped it). We found some identically dimensioned stainless sinks at a bargain price. We soon found out why the bargain price - prone to corrosion. Cheap stainless. The solution was simple, in use it does not rust (or the rust film is easily wiped away). leaving unloved for a week would result in brown staining (like a film, wiped off easily but would be a problem long term). It was easy to arrest the staining - dry the sink - corrosion, rust, needs water.

Or buy a cheap cooker - treat it as a consumable - you may get lucky and are worrying too much.

But don't give up - the delights of a roast leg of lamb at anchor after a long passage cannot be beaten - not quite true, roast duck is at least the equal (and both match with a decent shiraz - from either Georgia or Oz ).

Jonathan

 

[Tranona]

Have a look here force4.co.uk/department/chandlery-below-deck/cookers-barbecues/cookers The choice of sub 50cm cookers is now very limited because they were mostly UK and now there is no boatbuilding here demand has dropped to just replacements. However the Dometic is probably the best value, although if they still have them the old Techimpex at under £500 is a good deal (but probably not for you in Greece!)

The downside of Techimpex is the burners are unique to them and when rusted are difficult to remove. Rust of the body is really not an issue for cookers in general, it is the burners and the top grid that are bad.

 

[jwfrary]

Dometic make some narrow ovens, starlight or sunlight i think they are called and they are a bit more budget friendly.

 

[Pete7]

But don't give up - the delights of a roast leg of lamb at anchor after a long passage cannot be beaten - not quite true, roast duck is at least the equal (and both match with a decent shiraz - from either Georgia or Oz ). Jonathan

True.

Pete

 

[Jim@sea]

I had a 1980's boat with a gas cooker presumably the gas fittings were what boat builders used the,
It was a motor boat 26 ft long which could do Holyhead to Dun Learie (Sorry Spelling) in 3 hours.
So the hull would be subject to a lot of ,bash, bash through the waves.
On a trip back I lit the gas stove to boil water, When I lit it there was an explosion and there were flames coming from the back of the stove,
I rushed up the ladder into the cockpit passing the lad who was steering. He thought I was jumping over.
I was rushing to switch the Calor Gas Bottle off.
It appeared that in those days the boat builder had a fixed gas pipe coming up behind the cooker and just tightened with a 13mm (?) spanner,
I believe today that would not be allowed and perhaps felxibel rubber pipe would be used, which also needs replacing every 10 years.
So if you have a 1980's or earlier or later its worth the checking the pipework.

 

[Wansworth]

Does it really need to gimbal?……deep pans with good pot grips

 

[sailoppopotamus]

Much of Spinflo's products is aluminium.

The Spinflo Nelson was generally well reviewed, but I think it's been discontinued.

What about the Lido Junior at $A450?
(I have a microwave oven)

Lido Junior

Thanks, but I'm looking for an oven as well, not just the hobs, apologies if that wasn't clear.

Plastimo Pacific 4500 - 2 Burner Hob Cooker - Oven - Marine Scene

Thanks, this is interesting. It promises an "overall stainless steel construction", though I doubt this really means everything is stainless. I probably don't need a grill, I rarely use it even at home. I'll try e-mailing them to see if I can find out exactly what is stainless.

Dometic make some narrow ovens, starlight or sunlight i think they are called and they are a bit more budget friendly.

I had originally overlooked Dometic as apparently they are riveted rather than bolted together, but on further reflection maybe it doesn't matter that much given the price differential to the Force10. They claim their burner caps and pan supports are stainless, which presumably means that the actual burner itself isn't.

The downside of Techimpex is the burners are unique to them and when rusted are difficult to remove. Rust of the body is really not an issue for cookers in general, it is the burners and the top grid that are bad.

You're right, perhaps I'm too fixated on having an all-stainless construction. But I would really like the assurance that pipework, burners and anything related to gas is not going to corrode and leak.

I had a 1980's boat with a gas cooker presumably the gas fittings were what boat builders used the,
It was a motor boat 26 ft long which could do Holyhead to Dun Learie (Sorry Spelling) in 3 hours.
So the hull would be subject to a lot of ,bash, bash through the waves.
On a trip back I lit the gas stove to boil water, When I lit it there was an explosion and there were flames coming from the back of the stove,
I rushed up the ladder into the cockpit passing the lad who was steering. He thought I was jumping over.
I was rushing to switch the Calor Gas Bottle off.
It appeared that in those days the boat builder had a fixed gas pipe coming up behind the cooker and just tightened with a 13mm (?) spanner,
I believe today that would not be allowed and perhaps felxibel rubber pipe would be used, which also needs replacing every 10 years.
So if you have a 1980's or earlier or later its worth the checking the pipework.

That is an absolutely horrifying story. I will definitely take the opportunity to check the pipework.

 

[jdc]

My previous boat was a Saddler 29 (an amateur fit-out one) which had an un-gimballed cocker. 'Deep fiddles' bollocks, it needed gimbals, so we made them from scratch. Really not hard and we didn't have to change the width of the gap it went into. The cooker was a Flavel Venessa btw (one on 'For Sale' as we speak..).

St steel backing plates and couple of 8mm bolts was all it took. No special tools but a hack-saw and a hand drill, and buying a flexible hose was the biggest expense.

 

[sailoppopotamus]

If I find a cheap stainless oven for domestic/camper van use (with safety cutoff valves) I might go down the DIY route myself.

 

[jwfrary]

Dometic use an aluminium burner I belive with a steel enameled top plate. The actual unit itself is all stainless, mines 7 years old and still looks great

 

[Neeves]

My previous boat was a Saddler 29 (an amateur fit-out one) which had an un-gimballed cocker. 'Deep fiddles' bollocks, it needed gimbals, so we made them from scratch. Really not hard and we didn't have to change the width of the gap it went into. The cooker was a Flavel Venessa btw (one on 'For Sale' as we speak..).

St steel backing plates and couple of 8mm bolts was all it took. No special tools but a hack-saw and a hand drill, and buying a flexible hose was the biggest expense.

This would have been my suggestion. It might open up the sources as motor homes etc use small compact units and adding gimbals is hardly rocket science. So I'd look at what might be involved in adding gimbals and with that knowledge as background go and look at stoves for caravans and motor homes.

Here in Oz we have a whole section of retail devoted to caravans and mobile homes - with huge showrooms, much more impressive than any chandler. This suggests the market for terrestrial leisure is bigger than aquatic (but this is just a guess) and that there maybe a much bigger range and keener prices.

Oddly for our cat we have a marine stove, with oven, and the gimbals removed (its fixed) and we removed the pan 'locks' as unnecessary.


It was clear at the outset you wanted an oven

Jonathan

 

[sailoppopotamus]

Dometic use an aluminium burner I belive with a steel enameled top plate. The actual unit itself is all stainless, mines 7 years old and still looks great

By top plate do you mean the burner caps? These are specifically advertised as stainless, maybe they've been upgraded. I presume that the SunLight and StarLight are the same oven apart from the grill, yet the former is advertised with "Stainless steel burner caps and pan supports" while the latter with " chromed pan supports. Stainless steel pot holders". So perhaps an e-mail to clarify the situation is in order here. Apart from the rivets, the weaknesses I've seen mentioned on the internet are 1) Metal knobs for the pot holders that get hot 2) Non-stainless pot holders and 3) Lack of door locking mechanism. The current model appears to address all of these issues, so it looks like they've taken on user feedback.

All in all it seems I seem to be leaning towards the Dometic. Not fully stainless, but bigger oven than the Force 10 and half the price.

PS: Re the images of succulent ducks and lamb posted here, I must inform you that I'm a pescatarian. Which means that I'll have to sharpen my fishing skills or settle for roast potatoes and vegetables

 

[jwfrary]

By top plate do you mean the burner caps? These are specifically advertised as stainless, maybe they've been upgraded. I presume that the SunLight and StarLight are the same oven apart from the grill, yet the former is advertised with "Stainless steel burner caps and pan supports" while the latter with " chromed pan supports. Stainless steel pot holders". So perhaps an e-mail to clarify the situation is in order here. Apart from the rivets, the weaknesses I've seen mentioned on the internet are 1) Metal knobs for the pot holders that get hot 2) Non-stainless pot holders and 3) Lack of door locking mechanism. The current model appears to address all of these issues, so it looks like they've taken on user feedback.

All in all it seems I seem to be leaning towards the Dometic. Not fully stainless, but bigger oven than the Force 10 and half the price.

PS: Re the images of succulent ducks and lamb posted here, I must inform you that I'm a pescatarian. Which means that I'll have to sharpen my fishing skills or settle for roast potatoes and vegetables

Its likely things have changed a little since I bought mine, but it's lasted quite well and the price is competitive, you get what you pay for of course, but you don't always need a Rolls Royce (though I'm not sure they are what they were but now we are getting sidetracked!)

 

[sailoppopotamus]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not expecting £3000 GN Escape quality, just want something decent that does the job and won't need to be chucked out in a couple of years. I've e-mailed Dometic asking them to clarify which parts are stainless, waiting to hear back from them.