Spirit Cookers?

moresparks

moresparks

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I am thinking of my next boat and I have a couple in mind, however they seem to have a single Origo Alcohol stove. Now I have vivid memories many years ago of a hard days sail in a Corribee, finally nestled up safe in a creek, trying to light this alcohol stove. After using a full box of matches and what seemed like hours I finally managed to light the darn thing. But it was the worst tomato soup I have ever tasted. The stove used as much spirits whether the cooker was off or on and the whole boat stunk of meths. Although the cooker was new the first thing I did was ditch the cooker and plumbed in a Gaz system and vowed never to go back...
However .. have things moved on?
I have had boats with ovens which never get used. So my general use would only be a single hob or at the most 2 hobs if underway, and if I am in a Marina, possibly a mains kettle and microwave oven.
Have any fellow sailors successfully used Spirit cookers and can you now get odour free spirit?
Maybe the original problem was general dampness in a small boat which occurred after a lively sail but it would be useful for feedback from current “spirit users” as this could be a deal breaker.
 
I had an Origo for many years. Downsides were the smell using UK meths, and evaporation when not used regularly. I found French alcohol cheaper and better smell wise. Lighting it was easy with a long nosed gas lighter and while not as hot as gas, it did the job. No pipes, regulators etc. Overall, I was impressed and would fit another in a small boat.
 
There are nitrile rubber covers you're meant to fit over the top of the fuel canisters when the stove isn't being used in order to deal with the evaporation of the meths. Lighting is taken care of by using a long nosed gas lighter as has been mentioned. The big plus of course is that a spirit stove is safer than gas on a boat.
 
FWIW

I have an Origo 3000 two burner cooker burning ethanol from these people

http://www.bioethanolfires.ie/. (Cheapest I can find !)

The fuel smell is barely perceptible when in use, and certainly nothing like meths, though the main constituent is the same.

Heating efficiency is more than satisfactory, though - obviously - a bit slower than gas.

Structurally it's a good stove, sitting solidly in the gimbals and when locked. Lighting is a doddle, with an easy safety interface. The cans for the burners last about 4 hours and are easily refilled (not hot !). The stainless is easy to clean, and the burner intensity simple to control, so you can simmer if needed.


EDIT

The rubber covers referred to are easy to make from neoprene, and stop any evaporation completely. £7 in the shops, about 4p if you cut up an old wetsuit ! (A couple of quid from a boat sale, and the suit provides all kinds of locker seals, noise stoppers under blocks......)
 
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I have the 3000 burner on a 4-6 berth small yacht. Not a live aboard.

Pro's: Did not have to replace an aging gas system. No bulky heavy sometimes rusty gas bottle on board, no spare gas bottle on board either. No replacement of hoses when they out of date. In fact no Gas system jobs on my maintenance list. I can just take a litre or two of fuel at a time when needed. Excellent pan holders/clamps. Looks to be well made. Gimbles good enough. Pot stands and fiddles come off really easily to clean the top. Easy to use, simmers nicely. With care my British made hob top toaster works on it. In the winter it appears to work better than my previous Camping Gaz/Butane gas stove, which has a very weak flame when below 5 degrees. The fuel can be obtained easily in UK, France and I'll guess Spain and northern Europe as well.

Con's: It probably would not be powerful enough for using a leaky old British pressure cooker to get steam up. It might be slowish and the pan holders not big enough for cooking for a crew of 6-8, but only guessing at that. There is little soot blackening on the bottom of pans, but it is not bothering me and I only notice it on the kettle. No oven or grill. Being picky, the gimbals can rattle when engine is running, if not swung down into a locked position.

I don't use meths because it will probably smell (so I am told) Instead use the Spirit fire fuel from Online or B and Q, or buy the same stuff in France. It is ethanol. When not on yacht use the neoprene seals to stop evaporation of the fuel.

Use a gas lighter fuel ignition thingy from a hardware store. Or only extra long matches as a standby.
 
I have had an Origo 2-burner on my boat for the last 15 years. I made new evaporation seals with a sheet of rubber and a pair of scissors. Smell never bothered me. Easy to light, robust, good gimbals (though I only ever used it on the mooring). Good pan-clamps. The best thing - especially on a small boat - NO GAS. Very happy with mine.
 
Many thanks for your responses and avice.. it’s good to get positive experiences.
I cannot remember the original spirit model and certainly did not have neoprene caps and now I can use spirit fuel it all sounds promising.
 
I have an Origo two burner hob. Lovely. I use B and Q Bioethanol. No smell. It only comes into B and Q stores now and again, so when it is in, buy a few. Its used in their fancy naked flame fires.

My stove has lost its seals, but I don't mind - I keep the fuel outside in the old gas locker, and fill one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trangia-Fu...qid=1488563976&sr=8-1&keywords=1L+fuel+bottle

to bring fuel into the cabin. Then just put enough fuel in to Origo to boil a kettle, heat a can of soup etc. Probably not the best efficiency, but it does what I need.
 
OceanSprint said:
I think you can get toasters that sit on a hob ? I've never tried one though.
Click to expand...

We had one on Erbas that worked well with the Origo once you got the drop on it

It needs to be one of the fine mesh ones and the trick is to whack the flame up full blast and get it hot, then turn the flame down to a lower heat and put the bread on

You need to rotate the bread several times to get a reasonably even toasting

It's a bit of a faff but if you love toast as Jane does it's apparently worth the effort!
 
Just wondering why we can't get gravity fed spirit stoves for boats any more. Or can you? The Origo seems to have cornered the market. Here in Oz the Maxie seems to be available using a spirit tank and gravity feed via a control valve. I have a similar very old single burner which is really good. Seems to me a far better arrangement than the Origo with an open container of fuel.
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?item=82941&search123=Maxie+stove&intAbsolutePage=1
PS about 60 UK pence to Oz dollar and deduct 10%tax. olewill
 
I've just looked up the diablo toaster. Wastes quite a bit of bread to achieve the circular shape.


Any other makes that are squarish ? (I can't see any on ebay) Or do I get the welder out and DIY ?
 
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