Gas Stove replacement?

[Darwining]

Having recently purchased a Hurley 24/70 (1973) with a friend for cruising and living aboard, we've been combing over the survey to see as much information as we can before visiting the boat to have the final pertinents signed.

One of the only snags is that the (presumably original) Calor Gas cooker has some elements in need of attention. Although I wish I could give more specific information about the model of cooker itself, the problems seem damning: Old hoses, corrosion on the burners and regulators, the storage of the gas cylinders not suitably safe... etc. etc. My fellow sailor and I are of the mind to simply replace the thing with a self contained spirit or paraffin model.

Being new to the whole 'Owning a Boat' business, I have some questions:
1) How does one go about removing the gas system? Is this something a committed owner could do, or should we pay a professional?
2) After removing the unit, how... do we get rid of it? Is there any value in possibly selling it, or is it simply rubbish?
3)Any recommendations on a cheap, safe replacement model - emphasis on the cheap? Although an oven/grill would be swell, two hobs minimum are all we really need. Still deciding between meths and kerosene

 

[coopec]

 

[MarkCX]

Once the gas is turned off and disconnected, removing everything is a job you can do yourself. If it’s as bad as you say, it probably has no value - scrap man or tip.

 

[andsarkit]

Some information here on gas safety on boats: BSS gas safety. It only applies to inland waterways but is used as a guide for insurance requirements for all boat installations .
Your current cooker is probably scrap and will not have flame failure devices which are now considered essential.
Removing the old parts is easy. Note that if you have a Calor Gas cylinder it will have a left hand thread when you unscrew the pipe union after turning off the valve.
The usual 'cheap' hob is the Plastimo one (Neptune4500) which like most boat things is expensive for what it is.
You will need a fiddle to stop the pans sliding off and gimbals (unless you can reuse existing ones).

 

[jamie N]

I'm a fan of the Origo cookers, and have a 6000 with the oven, but are difficult to find now, and were always 'way' expensive!!
For fiddles, I fabricated a a pair from metal coat hangers, which have lasted perfectly well for years, and give me satisfaction of not having paid £70.00 for them, each time I use them!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Are there scorch marks on the cabin roof or other signs of previous gas explosions? If not, replace the hoses, buy a gas detector and take reasonable care.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I made a meths stove out of 2 ally soft drinks cans. It boils a kettle (eventually) like an origo and costs nothing. See penny stove on YouTube.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

I just use a camping stove, cheap and can buy bottles from Amazon in parks of 4

 

[Praxinoscope]

I would thoroughly recommend the Origo type spirit stove for small boat use, although discontinued it looks as if Compas24 are still supplying the two burner stove under their own name, at about £199. Looks exactly like an Origo but without the Origo name.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Have you tested the cooker? It looks like a Flavel Vanessa cooker. Do both burners, grill & oven work? Hoses & regulators are easily replaced but spares for cooker parts may be impossible. Ask to see it working before purchase, don't just scrap it because it does not look good. To replace it with a replacement will be £600 plus...

 

[PetiteFleur]

3 on Ebay at the moment...

 

[Darwining]

Some information here on gas safety on boats: BSS gas safety. It only applies to inland waterways but is used as a guide for insurance requirements for all boat installations .
Your current cooker is probably scrap and will not have flame failure devices which are now considered essential.
Removing the old parts is easy. Note that if you have a Calor Gas cylinder it will have a left hand thread when you unscrew the pipe union after turning off the valve.
The usual 'cheap' hob is the Plastimo one (Neptune4500) which like most boat things is expensive for what it is.
You will need a fiddle to stop the pans sliding off and gimbals (unless you can reuse existing ones).

Ack! That price! it hurts! But thanks for the advice, we're no handymen but knowing we don't need a qualified engineer to do it safely takes a load off of my mind.

I would thoroughly recommend the Origo type spirit stove for small boat use, although discontinued it looks as if Compas24 are still supplying the two burner stove under their own name, at about £199. Looks exactly like an Origo but without the Origo name.

Interesting... I do like the look of the Compass24 model, (and the Neptune4500, but Andarskit is right... Expensive for what it is...). Is there a benefit to getting a proper marine-purposed liquid fuel stove over rigging something up from cheaper camping spirit hobs? Is there something I'm not seeing in the value of getting the more expensive option?

£200 isn't too steep, as its a joint venture, but I'm curious what the argument is. My partner-in-maritime is has a mind for frugality. We are definitely going with spirit stoves over paraffin/gas.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Interesting... I do like the look of the Compass24 model, (and the Neptune4500, but Andarskit is right... Expensive for what it is...). Is there a benefit to getting a proper marine-purposed liquid fuel stove over rigging something up from cheaper camping spirit hobs? Is there something I'm not seeing in the value of getting the more expensive option?

£200 isn't too steep, as its a joint venture, but I'm curious what the argument is. My partner-in-maritime is has a mind for frugality. We are definitely going with spirit stoves over paraffin/gas.
[/QUOTE]

The advantage with the 'Origo' is it's stainless steel, most camping stoves ain't so they rust pretty quickly in the salt water atmosphere of a boat. The Origo type is the safest spirit stove as the alcohol is in a 'rock wool' type of filling so you don't have liquid sloshing about.

 

[coveman]

Interesting... I do like the look of the Compass24 model, (and the Neptune4500, but Andarskit is right... Expensive for what it is...). Is there a benefit to getting a proper marine-purposed liquid fuel stove over rigging something up from cheaper camping spirit hobs? Is there something I'm not seeing in the value of getting the more expensive option?

£200 isn't too steep, as its a joint venture, but I'm curious what the argument is. My partner-in-maritime is has a mind for frugality. We are definitely going with spirit stoves over paraffin/gas.

The advantage with the 'Origo' is it's stainless steel, most camping stoves ain't so they rust pretty quickly in the salt water atmosphere of a boat. The Origo type is the safest spirit stove as the alcohol is in a 'rock wool' type of filling so you don't have liquid sloshing about.
[/QUOTE]
The Compass24 looks reasonable value - secondhand Origo's seem to sell for ridiculous amounts on Ebay. Spirit stove 3000

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I just use a camping stove, cheap and can buy bottles from Amazon in parks of 4

Not a great idea unless you always change the bottle outside.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I just use a camping stove, cheap and can buy bottles from Amazon in parks of 4

Due to the fact that the gas cylinder is actually contained within the unit itself, it's probably unsafe to have it within the cabin. The cylinder could work loose and leak at the seal.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Have you tested the cooker? It looks like a Flavel Vanessa cooker. Do both burners, grill & oven work? Hoses & regulators are easily replaced but spares for cooker parts may be impossible. Ask to see it working before purchase, don't just scrap it because it does not look good. To replace it with a replacement will be £600 plus...

+1. Surveyors are well known for "bigging up" small faults in order to justify their fee. Hoses are a regular maintenance item, which must be replaced when time-expired, and while the cooker may not be cosmetically perfect it may be usable with care, which is always the way to use gas cookers on boats.

 

[pvb]

+1. Surveyors are well known for "bigging up" small faults in order to justify their fee. Hoses are a regular maintenance item, which must be replaced when time-expired, and while the cooker may not be cosmetically perfect it may be usable with care, which is always the way to use gas cookers on boats.

And probably a lot cheaper than replacing it.

 

[neil_s]

I would test it yourself before condemning the cooker. The burners on the Calor Gas cooker are substantial and do not rust away quickly. You might find though, that rust flakes have been building up inside the burner and are causing a poor flame. If so, just dismantle the burner and 'knock out' the rust down the inlet tube. Rubber pipes are an easy fix - any caravan shop has them. Safe stores for the bottles is a bit more problematic - it might be an easy fix - it was for me, I just needed to fit a drain and a gas tight locker door. As far as the lack of flame fail devices goes - just stay with the cooker when it's alight!

 

[Darwining]

I would test it yourself before condemning the cooker. The burners on the Calor Gas cooker are substantial and do not rust away quickly. You might find though, that rust flakes have been building up inside the burner and are causing a poor flame. If so, just dismantle the burner and 'knock out' the rust down the inlet tube. Rubber pipes are an easy fix - any caravan shop has them. Safe stores for the bottles is a bit more problematic - it might be an easy fix - it was for me, I just needed to fit a drain and a gas tight locker door. As far as the lack of flame fail devices goes - just stay with the cooker when it's alight!

Storing the bottles is (one of) the biggest reason for the switch: The gas locker is too far below the waterline of the vessel to fit a drain to, and frankly I'd just be more comfortable with meths/bioethanol than butane/propane. Although we could probably rig something up/ secure the cylinders to the pushpit, I'd prefer to just seek out another option.