solid fuel stove

[William_H]

OP might want to consider a larger box which might be big enough on top to take a small kettle or pot. Connect the chimney to the back or side to leave flat top. As said stainless steel is much worse heat conductor (better insulator) that Ali but a layer of fibreglass mat might also protect cabin top at chimney exit. A gauze of some sort might reduce sparks escaping from the chimney. (really bad for sail material or GRP) If OP has a cooker on board a better idea might be to fit an attachable chimney and cone to above the flame to remove CO Co2 so that longer use and more sealed cabin is safer. A small computer fan might be usable in a long chimney to suck fumes out. I imagine a chimney that went horizontal back to the aft bulkhead made of ali might ensure gas is cooler at exit. Another option might be a venturi type extraction vent with fin to align it to wind. Only good if there is wind.
A ventrui has a large opening into the wind which tapers down (converges) then opens up to a large exit. The area just after the constriction gets a low pressure that will suck exhaust out.
As an example old aircraft had a venturi about3 inch diameter opening converging to 1 inch then out to 3 inches again over about 12inches long. At 80 knots this would produce enough suction to drive gyros etc with 3 or 4 inches (mercury) of vaccuum. consider good luck olewill

 

[BSSOffice]

Hi,
I would like to put a solid fuel stove on my 17 ft boat, (pedro 17) , I plan to use mild steel box section creating a 4''X 4"X 8" fire box and then obviously having a chimney. I would cut away part of the deck and replace in with aluminum to prevent the GRP melting. Has anyone done this on such a small boat or heard of it?
many thanks Jack

Hello Jack,
Solid fuel stoves on boats are one of the biggest causes of accidental fires and carbon monoxide incidents on our records. So I would recommend you ensure your stove installation takes account of the various risks. I would say you have to think about the size of the boat in looking at the potential hazards, being so small, if something starts to go wrong like fire or carbon monoxide fumes, it will get very serious, very quickly. So 'keeping a tight ship' as they say, could be key to keeping out of harms way.

A good installation will not alone deal with any potential problems, keeping on top of the maintenance regime and using the stove properly are also important. our incident data for solid fuel stoves indicate that about a third are due to the installation and the remaining two thirds are split evenly between poor maintenance and inappropriate use.

Regarding the installation, we have a link on our website to a diagram and tip sheet from Soliftec for installing stoves on boats. You can find it on this page www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe/solid-fuel-stoves/new-stove-new-chimney/

Naturally I'd also promote taking a look around our website at the other solid fuel stove and carbon monoxide advice we have gathered from various industry and expert sources.

I hope the project goes well
Regards
Rob

 

[Gordonmc]

How's the dog?

I used to wonder what the the atmosphere on your old boat must have been like. A fragrant, but not unpleasing, combination of wet dog, peat, bilge water, tobacco smoke and a good whisky!

The dog is fine, but a bit aged and decrepit for winter boating now.
I concur about the astmosphere with some amendments.... it was wet dog, peat, bilge water, whisky. (don't smoke)

 

[Sidedrum]

Warmer than tealights or candles - inverted terracotta flowerpot over a burner on the cooker. Has to be terracotta though!

 

[Greenheart]

Glad to see this seasonal question has risen again.

When, oh when, will someone mass-produce a small, mobile, piezo-electric-start propane heater which can sit in the cockpit, burning safely outdoors, while using an amp or two of electricity to fan the heated clean air through temporary ducting, into the cabin? Like this...I'd buy one:

View attachment 35372

Called a Zodi-heater, I believe... http://www.zodi.com/Consumer/zodihotvent.html Brilliantly simple invention, but not available at the moment.