Meths cookers.

[tonywar]

I,ve acquired a boat with a meths cooker. I haven't the slightest idea how it works. There are no markings to identify manufacturer. It has no pump so it isn't pressurised. You open the tap and meths trickles into a small tray. There is a small pipe in the tray that leads to the burner, but no wick. How does the fuel get to the burner? I tried to use it the once, and nearly set the boat on fire. Any ideas anybody?

 

[boatbuilder]

Before you burn out your boat please follow this safety notice.
THROW IT IN THE NEAREST SKIP, apologies for shouting /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kds]

Turn on until small tray has some meths in. turn off. light meths until it nearly burns out. turn on and a clean, pressurised jet of meths will appear, a bit like a gas flame.
Unfortunately, the delivery pipe cantaining fibre can become blocked and removing it often damages joints..,
Not the most reliable of stoves - so do practise with it in the open air until you perfect it.
Ken

 

[tritonofnor]

have a look here Classic camp stoves check out their forums. What they don't know about liquid fuelled cookers ain't worth knowing... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[wooslehunter]

If you don't have gas then it can be expensive to install. If you want to stick with meths & want to take boatbuilder's advice then get an Origo unit. They make 1 & 2 "ring" units and also a cooker. The meths is held in a flat container packed with an absorbant material so there's no chance of spillage. They're very safe but can pong a bit.

 

[steve_cronin]

Dear Ward Nurse Ward.....

..(sorry, couldn't resist that!)

I had one of those on a Newbridge Venturer several years ago. It was the most frightening of beasts and could be relied upon to flare up just as we were tacking making a preparation of a cuppa a bit of an act of faith. Incidentally, it works best with surgical alcohol (which you should be able to obtain) or Alcool a Bruler freely available in french supermarkets. The dye in meths not only corrodes the little pans but also clogs up the tiny jets and smells disgusting. Should you wish to persist with it, I think I still have a service kit in my garage for it to which you are more than welcome.

However, my advice would be either to buy an Origo or convert to gas but with Gaz 907s refilling at around £18 a time nowadays, you may consider the first option to be best.

Others have described the starting procedure correctly but have omitted the "keeping of one's fingers crossed" and desireability of the close proximity of a fire blanket!

Steve Cronin

 

[sighmoon]

Re: Dear Ward Nurse Ward.....

I haven't got a clue, but we've just got an Origo strove, and it works a treat - well we've only used it on flat water, but it seems fine.

Steve, does what you're saying about meths apply to origo stoves too - are we best off trying to get surgical alcohol?

 

[charles_reed]

Seconded boatbuilder, and the Origo is only slightly less horrid.

Meths cookers, like chastity belts and the Iron maiden should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

IMHO of course.

 

[tonywar]

Thanks everybody, I think I might just bin it. By the way , I am a nurse, but the joke wore a bit thin about 1988.

 

[jezjez]

i've got one of the double ring meths burners. They do pong, it;s true, but they are so much less worrisome than gas and work brilliantly on my boat. I have sworn to instal them if i ever swap boats.

 

[duncanmack]

Tony, if you decide to bin it, I'll give you a tenner for it instead!!

 

[kds]

"Meths cookers, ....... should be consigned to the dustbin of history."

As opposed to gas cookers, which have consigned many a boat (and occupant) to Davey Jones ?
Ken

 

[tritonofnor]

From my liveaboard perspective -
Gas Cooker

Looked horrible on a 70 year old boat
Used a 4.5kg bottle of gas each month at 12 quid
Had the potential to blow my home to bits if it ever leaked /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Paraffin cooker

Looks right - all brass and stainless
Oven far more controllable than gas with practice
Uses about a gallon a month at £5
No explosion potential from a leak. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

You pays your money and takes your choice, but I'd rather have a liquid fuelled stove any day...

 

[trouville]

Im still useing an "origo" with alcohol made in France which dosent really smell much? It boils a kettel almost as fast as my gas cooker did,though with gas you can opt for a bigger burner.

Im happy i swaped as i havent got room for even the "cube" gas bottle really,and during summer 5 liters lasts about one month!! Is easier to carry back and 1 liter bottles can be found at even the very smallest shop!

With the gas stove i had two regulators one for the "cube" and a camping gas one together with a 750grm gas bottle as reserve.

As for parrafin! Thats more expensive than alcohol always blackens the pan bottems baddly.And at sometime one burner just wont work however long its pre heated

Id rather have a double burner Petrol cooker than a parrafin one!But since the Origo works so well id recomend that, but second hand as to buy new yould need a morgage on it!!!!

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: Dear Ward Nurse Ward.....

Certainly as regards corrosion & odours I would use as pure a source as possible. If you cruise to france, most local shops have a whole range of household liquids for sale which aren't available here. Alcool a bruler is one such.

Steve Cronin

 

[ossiealf]

Re: Dear Ward Nurse Ward.....

To prevent sullying of the pots and pans by meths add about 5-6% water(distilled if possible).This addition will not affect the burning rate enough to notice but will stop the sullying and also makes the fuel go further- Some say 10% but that is perhaps too much water-but they swear it is okay!!