[Public-List] stoves

Gordon Laco mainstay at csolve.net
Fri Mar 12 06:59:53 PST 2010 

We had an alcohol fire once aboard TOUCH WOOD... The flames were invisible
and the first I knew of the situation was when I reached over the stove and
noticed the hair on my arms suddenly curling - then I felt the heat.  TW's
stove had a box-like lid that hinged over it.  I slammed the lid shut and
the fire quickly snuffed itself out.

In post mortem it was learned that the fire was caused by a guest pouring
alcohol into the Almatic stove with the resevoir/burners still in place.
The fuel ran right through the discs and pooled in the bottom of the stove
compartment.

This should never have happened - it has never happened again.  In the case
of the fire described above, I had told my guest how to refuel the stove but
he thought I was being 'over cautious' and figured he knew better.  Oh well,
we are still friends.

Gord  #426 Surprise


On 12/03/10 9:52 AM, "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Absolutely agree with George
> 
> Out first week with Sunstone back in 92 the whole stove top caught fire due
> to a leaky valve o ring.
> 
> This wasn't one of your standard alcohol fires with a low blue almost
> invisible flame - the flames were about 6 inches to a foot. A wet towel
> solved the problem in about 10 seconds.
> 
> Letting a fire extinguisher off would have meant a month of cleaning.
> 
> As long as you keep yer cool in those types of situations they usually work
> out well.
> 
> Often it helps to run various crisis scenarios through your head and figure
> out what the solution is well in advance. Good exercise on those sleepless
> nights. Even with all those bad sectors in the hard drive on top of my
> shoulders, its amazing how fast recollection of a solution can be.
> 
> Yea, I know, I need to get out more ; )
> 
> Best
> 
> John
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Dinwiddie" <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 9:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] stoves
> 
> 
>> WRT putting out alcohol fires with water: better practice that.  Just
>> pouring water often results in burning alcohol floating on
>> water--spreading the fire.  Better to use a wet towel and smother it.
>> (This tip came from my marine insurance agent.)
>> 
>> We use the butane cannister stove.  It would be a little expensive for a
>> liveaboard, but isn't bad for casual use.  You can get the fuel at
>> oriental grocers much cheaper than at boat stores.  (The AllGreen Market
>> near us has them 4 for $5.)  Store them abovedecks, as the fuel is heavier
>> than air.
>> 
>>  - George
>> 
>> C.B. Currier wrote:
>>> I grew up on Alcohol - it takes forever to boil water - I mean like 1/2
>>> hour. Though it is safe and you can put out fires with water. You must
>>> regularly maintain the rubber parts as they deteriorate with the
>>> alcohol.
>>> 
>>> Much better I believe is the Origo - lighter fluid type. The challenge
>>> is finding the fuel. I can get it at True Value or Ace hardware usually
>>> or last resort - West Marine. But on an A30 you can get hot coffee in a
>>> few minutes instead of hours. And it stores easily and safely.
>>> 
>>> I cannot believe that lighter fluid is Illegal in Canada as a fuel for
>>> these stoves. They are quite easy an safe to use... oh well. C.B. Currier
>>> Infinity #57
>>> 
>>> On Fri, 2010-03-12 at 09:11 -0500, Meinhold, Michael J. wrote:
>>>> I like alcohol for the following reasons
>>>>   safe storage and use-  evaporates readily into a lighter-than-air gas
>>>>   multi-use - fuel, charcoal starter, antiseptic, solvent (sadly
>>>> denatured removing another use)
>>>>   quirky - takes skill and practice to use properly (still developing
>>>> myself)
>>>>   readily available - any hardware store, home store, marine store
>>>>   Mike
>>>> Rinn Duin #272
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org
>>>> [mailto:public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> mahseer at kos.net
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:20 PM
>>>> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
>>>> Subject: Re: [Public-List] stoves
>>>> 
>>>> I have used the pressurized alcohol, a butane, a non pressurized
>>>> alcohol, and  portable propane.  I stopped using the butane because of
>>>> the cost of fuel, limited burn time and in Canada it is not legal to use
>>>> as the only source for cooking.  My pressurized alcohol was difficult to
>>>> start and keep burning plus it disintergrated.  The propane portable as
>>>> a cook top again is not legal and the gas is heavier that air.
>>>> Currently I am using the non pressurized alcohol installed cook top that
>>>> works well burns for a long time, cheap fuel but does not have the BTU's
>>>> that other types have. I would not recomend the pressurized alcohol
>>>> 
>>>> John Boor
>>>> MAHSEER #380
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> In the past I have used an Origo 3000, but someone snitched it.
>>>>> Has anyone ever used or recommend a pressurerized alcohol stove? I have
>>>>> been offered a three burner, oven one.
>>>>> Alternatives are the Origo 3000 with an oven , a propane stove or even
>>>>> a butane one.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Opiniions?
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>> 
>> -- 
>>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>   When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
>>   I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
>>   So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
>>   So many I love were not yet born.                          also see:
>>                'The Middle' by Ogden Nash     http://idiacomputing.com
>>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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