Stove Selection Advice
Marine stoves use one of several combustible fuels or electricity to produce heat for cooking onboard. They are generally compact to fit in the confines of boat galleys and have special modifications for use underway.
Here are some distinguishing features of galley stoves:
Galley stoves are different from household ranges: They have to operate normally at angles up to 30° without cookware sliding off. Oven doors are latched securely so they can’t be forced open by the weight of baking containers inside if the boat heels. The controls are located on the front or along the side, so the cook does not have to reach over hot cookware on a moving boat. There are no continuous pilot lights that could cause a fuel explosion.
Stoves on boats use a variety of fuels. Most rely on combustible fuels: either methylated spirit, , kerosene or LPG (liquefied petroleum gaspropane). Some powerboats and larger sailboats rely on electrical appliances in their galleys, which run off the engine’s alternator and an inverter, shore power at the dock or a generator onboard that can produce 110V AC electricity.
Sailboat stoves are usually gimbaled, meaning the stove can swing back and forth on two pivot points so it tilts and remains level even when the boat is not. This helps keep pots and pans from sliding around while the boat is heeling or moving. Powerboat stoves are generally not gimbaled.
Stoves are made from non-corroding materials, like stainless steel. Most will have two or more burners on the top to heat pots, and many have a burner in the oven for baking. Some have a broiler, with a flat burner on top of a broiler compartment so sandwiches, steaks and other foods can be broiled. Both power and sailboat stoves have potholders, which are bracket/clamps that encircle the base of the pot or pan to keep it from sliding.
Types of Stoves
Methylated Spirit (alcohol) stoves have been common on production sailboats and powerboats for decades. Alcohol is a relatively safe fuel that, when liquid, does not explode. Its fires can be put out with water, but it has low heat content, burns with a sort of offensive odor and gives off a lot of water when it burns.
Old-style alcohol stoves, generally use pressurized tanks feeding burners that must be pre-heated with liquid alcohol to make them hot enough to vaporize the fuel so it can burn effectively. This process, although not difficult, must be done correctly or the stove will tend to flare up and send flames high above the surface of the stove. This can also lead to an overflow of liquid fuel, which can leak around the stove causing a large, low intensity fire when it ignites. Many boat fires are caused by alcohol stove flare-ups. For these reasons, the number of alcohol stoves using pressurized burners has declined dramatically.
Modern alcohol stoves use non-pressurized burners, which store the liquid fuel in an absorbent material, rather than a pressurized tank. A special burner that looks like a small chimney creates a draft and intensifies the relatively gentle flame. There is no priming, no flare-ups and much less danger of fire on board. Although any fuel can be dangerous in an enclosed space, modern alcohol stoves that do not use fuel under pressure are much safer.
LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas, or propane) stoves have largely replaced alcohol and kerosene stoves on most new boats. LPG is compact, since it is stored as a liquid and burned as a gas. LPG remains in liquid form when stored under pressure at room temperature (177psi at 100°F), and the pressure remains constant until the cylinder is almost empty. It has a high heat content, so there is lots of thermal energy in each pound. It lights instantly without pre-heating.
Ah, but then there is safety. LPG is heavier than air and can settle as a gas in low areas of the hull. In sufficient concentrations, it can ignite and blow the deck off the boat. Since there is an explosion danger from propane in enclosed spaces like boat hulls, propane stoves must have safety devices to shut off the flow of propane if the burner is extinguished.
Butane stoves are portable, economical alternatives to permanent stoves on boats where food is cooked onboard only occasionally. Butane is the fuel of choice for most disposable cigarette lighters, and is available in small canisters (approx. 8oz.) to refill other small appliances lighters, soldering irons, etc.
Butane, like propane, is a liquid at relatively low pressure (37psi at 100°F) so it stores compactly. Both fuels come from the same family of hydrocarbons, but the main difference between butane and propane is that butane liquefies at a higher relative temperature and lower relative pressure. Butane does not work well in extremely cold weather because the liquid butane fails to evaporate quickly enough, which causes appliances to work poorly.
Heat Content
Heat Content of a particular fuel is a measurement of its heat output in thermal energy (Btu) per pound, gallon or cubic foot. Fuels with high heat content cook quickly and more efficiently, compared to low heat content fuels.
Here is a comparison of the heat content of several common stove fuels:
Fuel Btu Per Gallon
Alcohol 64,600
LPG (Propane) 91,000
Butane 102,000
Kerosine (Paraffin) 129,350
