Alcohol Stove

[RAYDAVIS54]

I would like to purchase an alcohol stove for my 2010 R21-EC. The boat came with a Kenyon butane (not common propane) stove and although it works well it is irritating trying to find fuel canisters for it. Please PM me if anyone has something of interest. I live in the Seattle area.
Thanks in advance,
Ray

 

[bob daily]

Ray, I too have the butane stove in my 2009 R-21, I get my refills at Wal-Mart or order then on Amazon. Butane canisters are less expensive than propane and gets hotter than alcohol. I have not found them to be hard to purchase, I think I have about a dozen full ones in my shop. I do most of my cooking on board using a small Webber BBQ so a bottle usually last me a full year. If you are having trouble getting them the next time your on this side of the mountains let me know and ill give you a new pack of four. Bob

 

[BradOwens]

I had an alcohol stove on my Bayliner many years ago, and they do not get hot enough for efficient cooking. I would keep the butane stove and try to find a good source for the butane canisters.

 

[lproulx]

I will swap my alcohol (in 21EC, hardly used) for your butane. I will ship mine to you at my expense, you do same to me? Let me know if this works for you.

Larry

 

[NorthernFocus]

If you've never cooked on an alcohol stove I'd recommend you try one before making the switch.

 

[Chimo]

I’m thinking the opposite, sort of. Our 2017 RT25SC came with the Kenyon alcohol/electric stove. Great on shore power but with alcohol it’s useless. I even got it replaced by Kenyon under warranty but it’s only marginally better. That stove is now discontinued and I don’t think Kenyon now offers alcohol. I have a stand alone butane single burner that I use out in the cockpit and have no trouble with finding fuel. I’m actually thinking of a Wallas diesel replacement. It’s expensive but my experience with Wallas on CD a was great.

 

[scross]

I too am an alcohol+electric stove hater. Had one in a 24’ cabin cruiser for 11 years before buying Our Journey. Ok on electric shore power but useless for cooking on alcohol. Since we are off shore power most nights, it’s horrible performance on alcohol was a really big deal for us.
Just like I would never again own a boat without radar, I will never again own a boat with an alcohol+electric cooktop. That said, if someone gave me a boat with an alcohol+electric stove I’d buy a butane camping stove in a minute to replace it!

PS: We LOVE our Wallas kerosene dual burner cooktop!

 

[NorthernFocus]

Alcohol stoves are a throwback from the past. They are useful in that they don't require any power, the stove is relatively impervious to water contamination, they have few/no moving parts, and they are arguably safer than propane or pressurized diesel stoves(neither of which need a source of power). Historically due to the lack of power requirement they were very popular on blue water sail boats. Even in that service solar panels and wind generators have largely solved that issue. And of course on power boats it's somewhat moot. The fuel benefit is offset by the hassle of having yet another fuel source to manage. The simplicity is certainly still a valid benefit though propane stoves are/can be pretty simple/bullet proof. The safety benefit is still valid though there are many ways to make that argument for/against.

 

[RAYDAVIS54]

I want to thank everyone who has offered their opinions about alcohol stoves. I have been effectively talked out of the alcohol stove idea! now that I know where to get the butane fuel canisters (without resorting to Amazon) I will live with that for now.
Ray Davis
M/V Quarky

 

[Hamster]

I love my alcohol stove. The glass top serves as a great base for my portable butane stove! Anyhow, REI sells butane stoves so you can find canisters there, too.