Marco Flamingo
Guru
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,177
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- CHiTON
- Vessel Make
- Tung Hwa Clipper 30
Nobody is saying that electricity isn't also dangerous. I've been working my way through the Pacific Yacht Specialty videos on YouTube. Good stuff and lots of "shocking" lessons. I've been re-doing a lot of my old electrical. I've gotten a shock once (unmarked 120V AC terminal touched with a socket wrench) and made more than a few 12V sparks. But sparks can't result in a propane explosion if there is no propane onboard. I think of getting propane off as just another layer of safety. Some see an electric stove as inconvenient, like wearing a block foam PFD. But the new induction stoves, like the new PFDs, have addressed many of the old complaints.
My present propane stove doesn't have thermocouples on the burners. They are available ($35 ea), but I haven't found info on retrofitting them. It would be nice to upgrade 1820's gas stove technology to include this safety feature (and probably required by the ABYC). A new stove/oven that has thermocouples is $1,000 to $1,500. Thankfully, there are other choices.
My common routine is to start dinner before anchoring for the evening if it will involve a long cooking time (e.g. a pot roast in the pressure cooker is 45 minutes). That means basically zero battery usage for cooking once anchored. Mornings are usually espresso (3-4 minutes and negligible amps). Sometimes two cups. I don't usually cook for breakfast in the morning. So for me, a little house battery and a solar panel is sufficient.
Propane requires me to try to adjust the flame down low enough (almost impossible) and making sure that the window by the stove isn't open enough to blow out the flame. I need something open for fresh air and to try to limit condensation. Propane is a crude system, and I've had them all. My first boat had a wood cook stove (which I preferred to propane). Where I cruise, scrap wood was more readily available than propane. I haven't looked lately.
Making the decision as to which stove/oven obviously depends on where and how you boat. If I used the oven twice a day every time I was aboard, that feature becomes really important. If I bake three times a year, I would forego the oven and come up with a work around. Same with having three burners. Personally, although cooking on board is one of my favorite activities, I've never needed three at once. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary.
My present propane stove doesn't have thermocouples on the burners. They are available ($35 ea), but I haven't found info on retrofitting them. It would be nice to upgrade 1820's gas stove technology to include this safety feature (and probably required by the ABYC). A new stove/oven that has thermocouples is $1,000 to $1,500. Thankfully, there are other choices.
My common routine is to start dinner before anchoring for the evening if it will involve a long cooking time (e.g. a pot roast in the pressure cooker is 45 minutes). That means basically zero battery usage for cooking once anchored. Mornings are usually espresso (3-4 minutes and negligible amps). Sometimes two cups. I don't usually cook for breakfast in the morning. So for me, a little house battery and a solar panel is sufficient.
Propane requires me to try to adjust the flame down low enough (almost impossible) and making sure that the window by the stove isn't open enough to blow out the flame. I need something open for fresh air and to try to limit condensation. Propane is a crude system, and I've had them all. My first boat had a wood cook stove (which I preferred to propane). Where I cruise, scrap wood was more readily available than propane. I haven't looked lately.
Making the decision as to which stove/oven obviously depends on where and how you boat. If I used the oven twice a day every time I was aboard, that feature becomes really important. If I bake three times a year, I would forego the oven and come up with a work around. Same with having three burners. Personally, although cooking on board is one of my favorite activities, I've never needed three at once. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary.