The Kenyon Electric/Alcohol Cooktop

[JBfishon]

New 2022 Cutwater C24 owner. The wife and I are long-term sailors (37 years, with our last boat an Island Packet 31), who crossed over to power (Nordic Tug 34) for the last 20 years. We're still active and turn 82 this year, but we decided it was time to downsize. After looking at smaller, outboard cruisers, we purchased a low-hours (94) C24, which will serve our needs for short term cruising (Southern New England, Long Island), and more appropriate for my active fishing addiction.

Regarding the Kenyon cooktop, since we spend the majority of our time on the hook, and before I even closed on the boat, I knew the electric cooktop would be replaced. I removed the cockpit grill, replaced it with a starboard fish fillet board, and will use the live well. I also removed the forward cabin TV. Not big TV users, but if we need to, we both have tablets connect to our home streaming cable service (Youtube TV).

I had tested the Keyon cooktop by boiling 2 cups of water in a small SS tea pot, first on the electric coil (5.5 minutes), and then on the alcohol burner (6 minutes). OK, it works, but I'm still going propane. Until my new single burner propane "hob" (cooktop) arrives from Italy, I decided to give the Keyon a shot for breakfast last weekend. Put on an aluminum skillet, and cooked up a bunch of eggs and asparagus spears. When done, turned off the electric coil burner, and started to eat breakfast. The skillet was still on the coil, and noticed smoke coming off the skillet. Removed the skillet, and the alcohol burner was aflame. The alcohol primer cup was covered (dial at "0"), and the electric dial was also at "0". Blew out the flame. The alcohol cover and surrounding stainless plate was discolored from the heat, and the electric dial was melted to the stove. The attached pic shows both dials are OFF. It took me less than 5 minutes to remove the cooktop and throw it in the marina dumpster. I'm using a Coleman butane camping stove until the propane hob is installed.

I'm not interested in contacting Kenyon since I had intended to remove the unit, and the most Kenyon would have done is send me a new cooktop. As I mentioned, this C24 was lightly used, and I don't even think the Kenyon cooktop was ever used. Was it a defective unit? I don't know, my purpose here is just a heads up.

I purchased the boat through a dealer/broker, never had any contact with the previous owner, so there are several questions that I have on the Cutwater systems, but as I go through the boat, and issues come up, I'll post them separately. Since launching the Cutwater in April, I haven't even used the boat, since I'm prepping my Nordic Tug for sale.

But, but... what about the 5 batteries installed on this boat? User manual just shows 4. On the starboard side, 2 Continental AGMs, one wired to THRUSTER ANL fuse and switch, and one heading back to Yamaha outboard, and assumed the START battery. On the port side, 2 AGMs in parallel for the HOUSE, and a third unknown wet-cell battery to aft. Disconnect that wet-cell and engine will not start. Haven't had the time to do the diagnostics. Also, you need to remove the 2 house batteries to access and remove the aft battery to service the wet-cell. But that's a story for another time...

 

[scross]

I had one in my 1998 Monterey 242 Cruiser and it scared me to death. After watching the alcohol flame sloshing around while using it at anchor I swore never to use one again. In my opinion they are worse than junk - they are serious fire hazard.
That said, with all alcohol removed and on shore power and if I was desperate to cook, maybe I would use the electric burner if I was constantly watching it.
Much prefer a butane camp stove. Inexpensive, small and reliable.

 

[jschutzler]

What type of propane stove fits in this space? Are they only available from Italy?

 

[Martin610]

I was nineteen, using an alcohol stove on my Father's boat. Alcohol spilled, caught fire. Very scary.
You might consider an induction cooktop. I keep one on my boat for use when I don't want to run the generator. Works well, very safe. Here's one example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08Y...d_r=59de192b-6dfe-4c44-84cd-76c8b696ccde&th=1

Runs off the inverter. I usually set this one at 900 watts so its easier on the batteries.

-martin610

 

[JMarshallR25]

Has anyone actually removed this arguably obsolete cooktop and replaced it with another piece of equipment, or is everyone just using a portable cooktop?

 

[JBfishon]

Update... I purchased a one burner propane Navy Load "hob" (cooktop) model NL 21001 (glass top). Nice unit, but 2 problems. The cooktop is Italian and comes over with a 8mm X 30mm steel tube without any connections. I was able to get a flare done on the tube with a 1/4" NPT connector. From there I connected the unit to a 1 pound propane tank, and it worked fine. My intent was to eventually run a propane hose from the cockpit cooler into the galley counter. Second problem, the stove has a glass lid, and it restricts the size of the pan to about 5". Not going to work. I'm currently using a Coleman butane camp stove, and that's working fine. I was going to fill in the Kenyon cutout, and attach a 18" X 24" Formica panel, and go from there. While shopping at a regional discount store, they had white 3/8" high-density polyethylene cutting boards that were 18" X 24", so with a some double sided contact tape, I taped the board down, and I'm good to go. The butane stove is stored when not in use, we have more counter space for meal prep, and cooking is done either inside or in the cockpit on the live well cutting board. I do a lot of fishing and use the live well, so I dumped the Kenyon grill and filled the space with a 1/2" poly cutting board). At some point, I may fill in the cutout and cover the original counter, but for this season, the cutting board is fine. I will also cut out an opening in the front of the counter, and add a teak door to access the fiberglass box under the cutout for utensils and other stuff.

Oh, and I found out the fifth battery is for the downriggers that were never installed. Disconnect the battery and the cockpit plugs for downriggers are dead. The battery is being charged so I need to check wiring paths. I'll eventually add that 5th battery in parallel to the house pair for additional amps.