HunterWanderer
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking of getting a new 2 burner stove and like the idea of gas free boat.
Are they any good?
Are they any good?
Origo Spirit stove?
- Thread starter HunterWanderer
- Start date
Boomshanka
Well-Known Member
Perfectly useable, some folk don't like the smell of burning meths though. I think you can get 5 litre containers of alcohol in France that does away with the smell (and is handy if the fun cupboard runs dry
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ianfr
Well-Known Member
We had one on the previous boat which was fine. It also helps to add a small dash of water if using meths apparently. Or use alcohol brulee from France which is half the price of meths.
We have gas on the current boat, and I for one would swap it out and replace with an Origo, but SWMBO likes the grill and oven, even though its me that does the cooking
My only criticism is the cost of them, but its boaty
Regards
Ian
We have gas on the current boat, and I for one would swap it out and replace with an Origo, but SWMBO likes the grill and oven, even though its me that does the cooking
My only criticism is the cost of them, but its boaty
Regards
Ian
nathanlee
Well-Known Member
I had the Origo 1500, single burner. It was excellent.
I refitted the boat, and upgraded to the twin burner 3000. Can now have rice separate to curry
They are, in my opinion, brilliant, and I liveaboard, so it gets plenty of use.
Next boat, currently under rebuild, will have the 6000, which has an oven... if only they weren't so bloomin' expensive.
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
Whether they are any good or not depends largely on your expectations. They are simple in construction, easy to use, and perfectly good as a burner, if a little slower than gas. They certainly take away any concerns about leaking gas and maintaining a gas system, but they are not risk free and you need to obey simple common sense rules when refilling the flying saucer with meths/spirit to avoid setting you/ the boat on fire.
Most people who have them are more than content with them. A few hate them vehemently as you may yet see from subsequent post. I can't see there is that much to hate personally. I quite like mine without getting over excited about it. Its practical and sensible.
Tim
Most people who have them are more than content with them. A few hate them vehemently as you may yet see from subsequent post. I can't see there is that much to hate personally. I quite like mine without getting over excited about it. Its practical and sensible.
Tim
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Cobra
Well-Known Member
Past three boats I have ripped out the gas system and replaced with the Origo 3000. As has already been alluded to a very simple design that is really quite bullet proof. OK, it will not boil a kettle quite as quickly as gas, but hey! what's the rush? Surely part of the joy of being afloat is taking your time about things?
As for the smell of Meths burning...a simple but true solution is add about 10% water to the Methylated Spirits and the smell when burning all but goes!
I would NEVER have Gas on a boat!
As for the smell of Meths burning...a simple but true solution is add about 10% water to the Methylated Spirits and the smell when burning all but goes!
I would NEVER have Gas on a boat!
Fourbees
Well-Known Member
Origo stove 2 burners
We had one on our last boat and found it very reliable. The only issues were getting a reasonable supply of meths (for example, if you have to buy it at Boots you can only get 500ml bottles, not cheap, because the nanny state is afraid we'll drink it if it's in bigger bottles!) and the smell of meths burning. By the way, I bought some alcool a bruler in France once, and though cheap and plentiful we found it smelt even worse than meths!
We had one on our last boat and found it very reliable. The only issues were getting a reasonable supply of meths (for example, if you have to buy it at Boots you can only get 500ml bottles, not cheap, because the nanny state is afraid we'll drink it if it's in bigger bottles!) and the smell of meths burning. By the way, I bought some alcool a bruler in France once, and though cheap and plentiful we found it smelt even worse than meths!
KINGFISHER 9
Well-Known Member
Had one on a Folkboat back in the mists of time. Twin burner it was ... ok for the kettle and making stews in a saucepan but I do remember it being a bit whiffy. I hadn't heard the add water trick which is worth trying.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Industrial denatured alcohol is available with a free HMRC certificate for £50 for 20litres, that stuff doesn't smell. 20lt lasts us about 18 months and we spend about 100 days a year on board. We have the stove top and now the oven and put an Origo on our last two boats as well. Gas is quicker and a little more controllable but meths is a damned sight safer and very easy to carry. You can also pick it up at almost any chandler, supermarket or DIY store. The biggest issue overall for us is that I have seen some crappy electrical and rigging bodges but nothing compares to the danger of a bodged gas installation. I would want to replace the entire gas installation to make sure it's done properly - that is way too much of a job and there are still inherent risks with it - "one flash and you're ash"
HunterWanderer
Well-Known Member
Does the flame blow out if its windy and does it make the saucepans black?
Also whats best for lighting them?
Also whats best for lighting them?
Spyro
Well-Known Member
Had one in previous boat, very happy with it. Pots get slightly black. never had it blow out. Best lit with a long thin gas lighter get them in Asda or pound shop. You need the flame from the lighter almost on top of the maths container.
I used to buy 5 litre meths containers at the chandlers I've also see alcohal brulee for sale at chandlers in this country.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
Industrial denatured alcohol is available with a free HMRC certificate for £50 for 20litres, that stuff doesn't smell. 20lt lasts us about 18 months and we spend about 100 days a year on board. We have the stove top and now the oven and put an Origo on our last two boats as well. Gas is quicker and a little more controllable but meths is a damned sight safer and very easy to carry. You can also pick it up at almost any chandler, supermarket or DIY store. The biggest issue overall for us is that I have seen some crappy electrical and rigging bodges but nothing compares to the danger of a bodged gas installation. I would want to replace the entire gas installation to make sure it's done properly - that is way too much of a job and there are still inherent risks with it - "one flash and you're ash"
I have never used it in an Origo stove but when I was a Speedway Rider I always had Methanol around. I used it in the fondue pot burner for the same reason- the lack of smell. It seemed to require turning down more so perhaps it burned a bit hotter. I have just re-done the gas lines on our boat, which is 12 years old. The old flexible pipe, of American origin was perfect when I cut it open lenghwise to inspect it internaly. I share your concerns about gas but considering the number of bottled gas installations on boats it is not a serious hazard statisticaly. We have a bubble leak tester, new flexible pipes, heavy wall thickness copper pipe clipped to a bulkhead and sleeved where it passes through and a remote solenoid valve with a manual back up in case the motor valve fails. A simple bypass job and we have a manual valve in the system. I depress the bubble leak test button every time I switch the gas on both with and without the solenoid valve on. Seems pretty foolproof to me.
Cobra
Well-Known Member
I have never had the flame blow out, so I don't reckon that would be an issue. The saucepans do get slightly blackened, but this can be sorted in one of two ways:
1) rub washing up liquid over the base of the pan before using it, any charring will then wash off very easily.
2) get pans with black anodising/enamelling!
Lighting the stove...easy! Just use long matches or if you are really flash get a long nosed gas lighter.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a sorted out gas installation! My concern is that when boats change hands how many of us take out what's there and replace with a system like yours? How long do we rely on the previous owner (or his predecessors') installation? With gas it takes one small leak from a hidden join or a 12v cable shorting near a copper pipe and boom. Just about every marina boat fire is gas related, not all of them, but most. A system like yours is professional and fit for purpose but how many others aren't? Gas is great, just not for us. The Origo is almost as good, I wish it was quicker to boil a kettle but in a marina we use an electric kettle anyway
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
We used one for a week and found it utterly dreadful. Couldn't sit in the saloon due to eyes watering so much from the fumes. Painfully slow to boil even a small kettle. Uncontrollable for any serious cooking. Spend the money on a decent gas installation.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a sorted out gas installation! My concern is that when boats change hands how many of us take out what's there and replace with a system like yours? How long do we rely on the previous owner (or his predecessors') installation? With gas it takes one small leak from a hidden join or a 12v cable shorting near a copper pipe and boom. Just about every marina boat fire is gas related, not all of them, but most. A system like yours is professional and fit for purpose but how many others aren't? Gas is great, just not for us. The Origo is almost as good, I wish it was quicker to boil a kettle but in a marina we use an electric kettle anyway
The installation was from when the boat was built. I needed to change the solenoid valve due to old age and corrosion so I changed the pipes and added the bubble leak tester while I was at it. As a note, all the orange flexible pipe for sale in Gosport was 2 years old before purchase. I used the supplier for the solenoid valve who had September 2011 pipe. My quote about how statisticaly safe it is can be reinforced by your view that many systems are, in fact poor. The "Crash Test Boat" had a bit of trouble getting their gas filled boat to go off.............
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salinia
Well-Known Member
We asked this question over a year ago:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255577
Here is a video with over 2116 views that some thought would be of no interest in seeing how something hots up...the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
We have had gas and prefer the Origo. It suffices our needs. We have a 3 litre pump pot to keep hot water in and we use Cookshop insulated dishes to keep food piping hot until needed. We are limited for space and make best use of what we have in the galley. BTW ther are cheaper alternatives to the Origo that look exactly the same I think Force 4 have them on sale?
Here is the pump pot:
Cookshop insulated bowls:
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graham
Well-Known Member
I have had one for about 13 or 14 years , transferred it when we sold our last boat as new owner didnt want it. Very simple very safe 100 percent reliable, slightly slower than gas.
Only downside is the criminal cost of meths in UK. Over double French prices .
It doesnt blow out in a draught but takes longer to boil a kettle .We allways try to moor head to wind as its more comfortable that way anyway.
PS the cooker wasnt new when we got it, it was new in 1980 well used and still in good condition.
Only downside is the criminal cost of meths in UK. Over double French prices .
It doesnt blow out in a draught but takes longer to boil a kettle .We allways try to moor head to wind as its more comfortable that way anyway.
PS the cooker wasnt new when we got it, it was new in 1980 well used and still in good condition.
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Coaster
Well-Known Member
We like them very much, put Origos into our current and last boats, and can't imagine using anything else. The subject has been discussed before on these forums, such as here and here.
Our experience has been very different to yours. Next time you're in Milford Marina you'd be welcome to sit in our saloon and see whether your eyes still suffer.
