Spinflo Nelson/Plastimo Neptune 4500. Opinions please.

G

G12

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Jun 2010
Messages
956
Location
West Cornwall
Visit site
It would appear that it's time to replace my ageing Flavel Vanessa cooker which has had an incurable sooty flame for about two years now. I intend to replace the pipework and valves at the same time.
It would seem that I have two similarly sized options. A) Spinflo Nelson and B) Plastimo Neptune 4500.
On paper the Plastimo seems to be just the ticket with one 2kw and one 3kw burner followed with respectable grill and oven.
The Spinflo seems to be slightly bigger than the Flavel Vanessa it would be replacing and only has 1.75kw burners.
Above burner output in my priorities is quality/reliability. I have a deep suspicion of anything with Plastimo written on it. I have never seen a decent non flimsy product from them.
As both cookers are similarly priced, I'm interested to find out from people who own them what they think and how easy they were to install.
Is the Plastimo flimsy rubbish that'll only last a few years or do you think it'll hold out?

All ideas/opinions gratefully received whatever they may be.
 
I replaced my Flavel Vanessa with a Spinflo 2 years ago. It was a straight drop in replacement. Much better performance, especially the oven which is very controllable. I can't comment on quality but the fitter who installed it along with replacement valves, regulator etc told me a lot about quality of burners and things, none of which I can remember!
 
I have just replaced the Plastimo cooker on my 1998 boat. It was past it about 3 years ago ( very rusty and corroded)so only lasted about 10 or 11 years of light use. I would have replaced it with a Spinflo but was tempted by a nearly new Plastimo on ebay which saved me £250!
 
I doubt there is a meaningful answer to your question. Too many variables depending on usage, attitude of people using it, and willingness/ability to maintain/repair as necessary..... and available cash.

Don't just dismiss Plastimo on name grounds: my Atlantic 2-burner/oven/grill is still going strong at 27years. I've replaced the grill burner once (which is still available) and repaired the oven door hinge mechanism several times. Cosmetically it hardly looks any different from when new
 
G12 said:
It would appear that it's time to replace my ageing Flavel Vanessa cooker which has had an incurable sooty flame for about two years now. I intend to replace the pipework and valves at the same time.
It would seem that I have two similarly sized options. A) Spinflo Nelson and B) Plastimo Neptune 4500.
On paper the Plastimo seems to be just the ticket with one 2kw and one 3kw burner followed with respectable grill and oven.
The Spinflo seems to be slightly bigger than the Flavel Vanessa it would be replacing and only has 1.75kw burners.
Above burner output in my priorities is quality/reliability. I have a deep suspicion of anything with Plastimo written on it. I have never seen a decent non flimsy product from them.
As both cookers are similarly priced, I'm interested to find out from people who own them what they think and how easy they were to install.
Is the Plastimo flimsy rubbish that'll only last a few years or do you think it'll hold out?

All ideas/opinions gratefully received whatever they may be.
Click to expand...

I posted a simular post on here 3 months ago and the recommendation was for the Nelson spinflow 1500.

I installed it no problem as a 'fixed' unit with a SS flexible connection to the cooker itself and used 8mm copper tubing for the rest, but had to rebuild the housing area due to slightly larger size.

Very pleased with it and works and cooks fine with good controls over heating, but had to get one Gimbal replaced (no problem) due to early signs of rusty mark.

Paid £470 for the cooker.

Run mine on Camping GAZ bottle installation.

Mike
New oven housing area
Newovenhousingbay.jpg

Oven installation
NewNelsonSpinflowgasoven.jpg

Gas locker and controls (bubble detector), note: Certified completly sealed gas locker is vented to outside with 19mm dia pipe.
Gasmonitorandlocker.jpg

All closed up
Sidelockerafterwithnewgaslockera.jpg
 
Little to choose between them. Both made in the UK to comparable specs, except think the Nelson has a bit more stainless panelling. Same style burners and controls. Nelson arguably a bit more stylish, but the new Plastimo fittings look good too. I chose a Plastimo because you can get it without the grill making in a direct replacement for the techimpex fitted before. If I had room (height) for a grill, probably would have chosen a Spinflo.
 
I've had all three cookers and the Nelson is the best, particulary in control of oven temperature.
Also great service; faulty flame failure was fixed by Thetford engineer travelling from afar to visit the boat. They didn't have to do this but said that as we lived aboard we shouldn't be without a cooker.
 
We have the Spinflo

We were very pleased with our Spinflo but noticed that after a while although you could regulate the oven temperature the flame did not seem to be very even. We had it looked at to be told it was okay but frankly anything on the top shelf now ends up black and burnt on one side and nicely done on the other. The plastic trays that often oven food comes in also seem to melt quite readily.

Chris
 
Wow, thanks for all the information. I think I will go for the Spinflo despite it being slightly less powerful than the Plastimo. I've just booked the gas guy to come and replace all the pipework through to the galley so hopefully it won't be long till I can cook something without turning all the pots and pans black!
Marine Superstore have them in at £450 with free delivery :-) (Marine Megastore being the place to avoid).
 
The extra depth front-back of the Spinflo avoids the main problem of the Plastimo - the tendency of things towards the back of the oven to get burned because they are directly over the burner jets.
 
I did the same replacement (Spinflo Nelson for Flavel Vanessa) a few years ago and I'm generally very pleased with the new cooker. A couple of things to note:-

Overall size is very similar but the hinge axis is higher up on the Spinflor so swinging arcs will be different (bigger at the bottom). I had to mount the new cooker further forward than the old one get enough swinging room on one tack.

The pivot locking system is inadequate I had to fit a conventional bolt to stop it swinging.
 
I found this courtesy of another old thread on the forum.... Info for anyone reading this in the future. Sounds like a good idea:-


We did this on our Fulmar last winter. It wasn't a simple drop in change. But someone on this forum or the WOA one gave me a very good tip:

USE the existing Vanessa gimbals and supports - then it is almost a drop in replacement. In fact it is then a 1.5cms too wide and needs the lugs on the old vanessa support cut down a little to make it fit - or at least it did on my Fulmar.

To explain a bit more, simply remove old vanessa from boat. Then remove the gimbals from the Vanessa and use them on the Nelson. A couple of self tappers at the bottom of each side ( note s/steel is hard to drill !) plus a new hole drilled in the old gimbal support through which you put a bolt into the hole where the new gimbal arm bit is attched to The Nelson.

Obviously you can clean up aand repaint the old gimbals to look like new with silver Hammerite.

I know this may sound complicated but once you have both cookers standing side by side in your garage it will be pretty obvious. It is much easier and you get a much better result this way then trying to mount blocks to use the Nelson gimbals. As I said earlier it is a tightish fit
 
I'm replacing my plastimo atlantic, its been on the boat for years, its used daily, does excellent roasts, xmas and new year meals. I'm changing it as the door on the oven is starting to get loose. I'll stick with Plastimo as this one has been excellent, no problems at all.
 
If I were buying another cooker I would be try to avoid Plastimo-I have had a Plastimo Cooker for 10 years and although the trim is stainless there is some mild steel at the bottom and I am getting rust streaks from condensation on the GRP that it sits on. Also the burner to the grill gets a lot of rust blocking the jets resulting in an uneven grill flame, even after lots of poking with bits of wire. The flame failure devices have never failed but some of the knobs are getting stiff to use now. the oven also has a big temperature difference front to back as others have mentioned. Not rubbish by any means IMO but could be better in many respects.
 
Well I bought the Spinflo from Marine Superstore and it turned up in West Cornwall the next day.
I fitted it the following day. It's about 20mm wider than the Vanessa was but I had room for it and used the Vanessa gimbals with a bit of modification.
Seems to be a very nice piece of kit.
Gas man is coming next week to replace all the pipework - should keep the insurance company happy.
 
Sorry to resurrect this old thread of 2012, but I now also find myself in the same position with my old Flavel Vanessa which has burnt its last piece of toast. I wondered if the favoured replacement cooker was still the Nelson Spinflo??. Or is there a new better cooker out there which is similar in cost that I should be considering? Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top