Origo - will it blow out

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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www.keepturningleft.co.uk
So the Origo boiled a pint of water in seven minutes when placed on the KTL products No 1 collapsing galley box

will it blow out if I use it on passage?

will I immolate myself and Katie L?



Dylan

PS - thanks to who-ever suggested that I use a mole grip to reach the gauze when using a std match
 
Don't overfill it, that was the cause of fire number 1. Correct level is so that you stand the can on its side and the meths just reaches the bottom of the hole. More meths than that and it can and will slop out, probably while alight.

Don't use it without gimbals when sailing, (not aimed at Dylan, having watched the film!) that was the cause of fire number 2. The flames reach vertically, and if the stove is at an angle they find a route up the front of the stove (or the back, I suppose) and out the row of little holes, burning off the label, frying the knobs (or catching the cabin side - or its paint - alight at the back).

Do remember that spirit fires are easily & effectively put out with water - and just as well.

And don't expect any of the welds to last.
 
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Two fires plus blowouts! And you still think this rubbish is better than bottled propane!!! :rolleyes:

I've been using bottled gas in cars, caravans, tents, boats & at home for over 43 years without an incident, err other than a teenage daughter putting the gas on & failing to light it when we were ashore :eek:. But that's user error & once we vented the boat it was fine. On the other hand I can recall several "incidents" with primus parafin cookers & blowlamps despite only using them for a few years early on in my "career".

Dylan, you must be bonkers! I reckon you have tripled the risk of fire in your boat!
 
I ditched gas as i just couldn't stretch to paying for the full monty gas safe box, pipes and all that. Instead now have a twin Optimus that I found on eBay brand new for 150quid. I also ditched the gimball setup and opted for a fixed stove plus pan clamps.

One thing though Dylan.... Wood surround for a fire? Hmmm no way would I do that I'd screw some thin stainless steel sheet over bits that may get hot and catch alight to be on the safe side. Not only that it's easier to clean from splashes.
 
Searush said:
Two fires plus blowouts! And you still think this rubbish is better than bottled propane!!! :rolleyes:

I've been using bottled gas in cars, caravans, tents, boats & at home for over 43 years without an incident, err other than a teenage daughter putting the gas on & failing to light it when we were ashore :eek:. But that's user error & once we vented the boat it was fine. On the other hand I can recall several "incidents" with primus parafin cookers & blowlamps despite only using them for a few years early on in my "career".

Dylan, you must be bonkers! I reckon you have tripled the risk of fire in your boat!
Click to expand...

Origo's aren't pressurised like primus and blowlamps, the meths is contained in a absorbent matrix making it "virtually" spill proof. If meths catches fire just pour water on it to put it out. It's almost impossible to get a sufficient concentrations of meths fumes to become explosive. There's no gas canisters to rust, no regulators to fail, no rubber hoses to leak, you don't have to worry if the flame blows out as there's no fumes to fill the boat.... and you think gas is safer? You carry petrol for the outboard and the fumes from that are much more volatile than meths.
 
I had an Origo on my Ben 210 and the smell of burning meths made us all feel sick long before the kettle had boiled for the morning tea. ditched it for a Beaulieu Boat Jumble special "portable stove in a smart plastic box using an aerosol gas cylinder" death trap special. We decided we would rather die quickly in a butane fireball than slowly by excruciating Meths fume poisoning.
 
Industrial meths is a lot cheaper tan the smelly stuff.

I'm impressed with Dylan. We've had Origo's on the last three boats and never had a fire or a blowout. Mind you, we do follow the instructions on the Origo.
 
Meths

I really want to spend a winter filming on the Broads

the Origo will pass all their safety tests

the old installation on the Mirror would not pass the BSS

and the engine also needed a lot of pipes replaced

D
 
How about a nice log burner in there Dylan? I spent an Easter on broads and I have never been so bloody cold. Spent most of it in the pub trying to thaw out which I suppose was an unintended benefit.
 
It still looks to me like the whole unwieldy pile of boxes is going to fall off the bunk the moment the tide lifts our Dylan off the mud. Hopefully without the burner lit, or the resulting heap of 3 mil ply kindling might just go up with it.

Damned unseaworthy the whole thing, as my Grandad would have said :)

Pete
 
we shall see

prv said:
It still looks to me like the whole unwieldy pile of boxes is going to fall off the bunk the moment the tide lifts our Dylan off the mud. Hopefully without the burner lit, or the resulting heap of 3 mil ply kindling might just go up with it.

Damned unseaworthy the whole thing, as my Grandad would have said :)

Pete
Click to expand...

I intend to tie it back to the side of the hull

the mark 2 will be much better designed

I am learned all sorts of things

and I have a fire extinguisher on-board
 
Jill and prototypes

prv said:
Ah, so this is merely a prototype for test purposes? In which case carry on - like reconnaissance, time spent in prototyping is seldom wasted.

Pete
Click to expand...

However, Jill has first hand experience of my prototypes

sadly the mark 1 sometimes becomes the final production model

not in this case though I hope

D
 
dylanwinter said:
So the Origo boiled a pint of water in seven minutes when placed on the KTL products No 1 collapsing galley box

will it blow out if I use it on passage?

will I immolate myself and Katie L?



Dylan

PS - thanks to who-ever suggested that I use a mole grip to reach the gauze when using a std match
Click to expand...

Mine has never blown out or produced fireballs, the welds haven't broken.

Not worth putting a pint of meths in. Just give it a splash.

What on earth is all that faffing with molegrips?

Stick one of these down the hole and give it a couple of clicks:

plastic-kitchen-lighter-26-416.jpg


They are about 2 quid.
 
johnalison said:
Ours lasted many years without trouble
Click to expand...

Well I'm still sticking with Origo, despite my experiences - it does seem an awful lot safer than pressurised gas to me. I want to replace my twin burner with no room for gimbals to a gimballed single.

However, the pan-holders both fell apart, the pan-holders' rail fell off at both ends, the gizmos that stop you opening it unless the control is at off both fell off (that's 6 separate welds / brazes) and one of the knobs has disintegrated (though this last was probably as a delayed result of fire number 2).

Tear inducing fumes were bad the first couple of times of usage, but not now, and I don't know why, though it may be brand of meths - we use Bird Brand now.

The long-nosed lighters are essential, IMHO, and offer the additional advantage of a wind-proof way of lighting a pipe.
 
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