Reading by paraffin lamp

[nathanlee]

I've owed a few boats to date, and whilst I've always fancied the idea of a paraffin lamp I've just never bothered for one reason or another. Perhaps space constraints, or other more misguided uses for the bulkhead like a television, but on my latest ship I inherited one. After much searching for a local-ish shop that sold wick - apparently a rare request these days - I'm spending my very first evening, ever, reading by paraffin lamp.

The light has some life to it with a gentle but not at all distracting flicker of the flame, and the sweet aroma reminds me of AVCAT.

I'm definitely sold on these things, but given the burn rate thus far I think my purchase of 4m of wick was probably a little excessive.

What's the CO risk with these things?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Minimal, because they use so little fuel, about the same as a couple of candles.

 

[ctva]

I love a paraffin lamp in the cabin of an evening but our companion way is always open so no shortage fresh air.

 

[LadyInBed]

Paraffin lamp for atmosphere / anchor, led head torch for reading.
You will save a fortune on glasses and eye tests in the long run.

 

[TQA]

Never found a non pressurized paraffin lamp good enough to read by.

A Tilley lamp on the other hand :encouragement:

 

[nathanlee]

I must admit, I was going to post earlier to say its not really bothering me, but I've since resorted to adding some extra light with the cabin leds.

 

[sipsiwn]

Putting a shaving mirror behind the lamp helps, I find. The magnified side seems to throw more light than the plain side, at least the cabin appears lighter to me with the mirror trick..

 

[Iliade]

I once fell asleep with a paraffin lamp burning and woke to find the top 2' of the saloon was blackened with a thick layer of soot. Likewise my face and nostrils.

Clearly I didn't die of CO poisoning (though the particulates might get me in the long run) but maybe that was contributory to my falling asleep in the first place...

 

[ronsurf]

I have a paraffin lamp on board and use it quite a lot. The wick lasts for a long time if you trim it right. After all, it's the fuel that's burning not the wick. I've used one to read OK, but you probably need good eyes to start with.

The drawback is they rust out pretty quick. I've never had one lasts more than a couple of years, and they seem to be harder (and thus more expensive) to find. Useful to have on board if your power ever goes down. It's better than nothing and smaller than a Tilley lamp.

 

[RAI]

Despite being on gymbals, mine throws its glass off in every storm. Its between glasses at the moment.

 

[Gerry]

I've owed a few boats to date, and whilst I've always fancied the idea of a paraffin lamp I've just never bothered for one reason or another. Perhaps space constraints, or other more misguided uses for the bulkhead like a television, but on my latest ship I inherited one. After much searching for a local-ish shop that sold wick - apparently a rare request these days - I'm spending my very first evening, ever, reading by paraffin lamp.

The light has some life to it with a gentle but not at all distracting flicker of the flame, and the sweet aroma reminds me of AVCAT.

I'm definitely sold on these things, but given the burn rate thus far I think my purchase of 4m of wick was probably a little excessive.

What's the CO risk with these things?

I love oil lamps, when on the hook these are our main form of lighting. I find their light sufficient to cook and generally live by but not sufficient for reading-old age creeps on!
I tend my lamps like well loved plants, every morning they are refilled, their wicks trimmed and the glasses wiped clean.x
Never lost a glass at sea, even in some pretty severe weather, the most common breakage is caused when using the sea berths and a wayward foot smashes one. I carry far too many spares, but on the other hand have never run out of essential bits. And yes I too sucumbed to the excessive wick buying!
And of course the heat they throw off is very welcome on a chilly evening.

 

[ctva]

I once fell asleep with a paraffin lamp burning and woke to find the top 2' of the saloon was blackened with a thick layer of soot. Likewise my face and nostrils.

Clearly I didn't die of CO poisoning (though the particulates might get me in the long run) but maybe that was contributory to my falling asleep in the first place...

The soot deposits only happen when the wick is too long and flame too big. As long as you start with the flame at the correct size, when you run out of parafin, the flame should just self extinguish and no soot.

No scientific knowledge, just my personal experience.

 

[ronsurf]

Just been looking to replace mine and found this site: http://www.parafinalia.biz/paraffin-lamps-hurricane-lamps-c-136_224.html

You have to set up an account to find shipping costs which is a real PIA, but delivery costs are £3 or £3.50 first class, so a 10 inch lamp is £6.50. A half inch wick is 22p. Not bad, considering the prices I've seen them for in other shops. Does anyone know if these exist in stainless?!! Lots of spares there, and stuff for Tilley lamps.

Anyway, thought I'd share the site, no affiliation.

 

[GrahamM376]

Never found a non pressurized paraffin lamp good enough to read by.:

We bought one in France. Has a circular wick with a sort of inverted top hat over it which spreads the flame. Very bright but also very hot.

 

[Gordonmc]

I don't rate hurricane lamps much. The cheap pressed steel ones rust badly and the wick mechanism is generally first to go.
They leak fuel if the bowl is any more than half full. They also blow out in anything more than a breeze.
Some years ago I came across a Brazilian made equivalent. Much heavier stove-enameled steel and the wicks are more like rods than tape. That is used as an anchor lamp and I now use a Trawler oil lamp for the saloon, bought from Classic Marine.
For reading, though, I discovered the Aladdin.
Not a pressurised lamp ... the noise would drive me to distraction.
The Aladdin uses an incandescent mantle which is as bright as a 60w electric bulb, silently. As an added bonus it quickly heats the aft cabin.
Mine was built in the '20s although I believe they are still built in the States. Spares for mine, including mantles and glass chimneys are still available.

 

[jwilson]

Before my boats had new-fangled electricity (battery taken out of car at start of cruise, put back near flat afterwards and car bump-started) I used a Tilley lamp for reading, to supplement the gimballed brass oil lamp. On going ashore in the evening the Tilley hung in the rigging, could always spot my boat in the anchorage as it was by far the brightest light......

 

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

My 3-Tonner Sanderling was lit by three oil lamps -- but I confess to reading by a battery-operated booklamp.

Mike

 

[sarabande]

I'm definitely sold on these things, but given the burn rate thus far I think my purchase of 4m of wick was probably a little excessive.

What's the CO risk with these things?

Not so much the CO2 as the nanoparticles of carbon you inhale involuntarily....

 

[ffiill]

I have a paraffin lamp on board and use it quite a lot. The wick lasts for a long time if you trim it right. After all, it's the fuel that's burning not the wick. I've used one to read OK, but you probably need good eyes to start with.

The drawback is they rust out pretty quick. I've never had one lasts more than a couple of years, and they seem to be harder (and thus more expensive) to find. Useful to have on board if your power ever goes down. It's better than nothing and smaller than a Tilley lamp.

Rust out?
My two brass lamps will be 37 years young.
I use them if Im moored up for a few days to save on the electrics

 

[BrianH]

My 3-Tonner Sanderling was lit by three oil lamps -- but I confess to reading by a battery-operated booklamp.

Mike

My present boat came with exactly such a brass lamp but in the ten years I have owned her never has it been used. I remember too well those years when I had to resort to paraffin for cabin and anchor lights and tried all varieties - even a genuine miner's lamp, plus a solid brass replica, all were unsuitable for one reason or another. But the major problem was the accumulated soot that coated all internal surfaces over time, especially above the lamp, no matter how often the wick was trimmed. There were different grades of purity for the paraffin, if I remember, searching for the better quality, but none was truly clean burning.

Filthy things. There is no excuse for turning back the clock in these days of LED lights and solar panels. I would be mad to add to the summer cabin temperature, already often in the upper 30°s C, but then I don't sail in the UK.