The Case for an Alcool Stove

The Origo 3000
The Origo 3000.

Jean-du-Sud‘s former stove ran on propane. It worked very well, but as any stove with that fuel, required a propane tank. To comply with ABYC standards, propane tanks must be stored in a lazarette with a hole at its base, allowing the propane to drain out of the boat if the event of a leak. Otherwise, propane may accumulate at the bottom of the tank (or worse, the boat) and becomes an explosion hazard.

On a 30-foot boat, built in 1967, there is no dedicated space for storing propane. Nor is there tons of space to make a custom compartment. It would be possible to leave the propane tank on deck, having an impact on the aesthetics. Historically, Jean-du-Sud‘s propane tank was stowed in the aft trunk, next to the gas tank, or on deck. At the time of purchase, the risk of propane storage was at the top of the inspection report list.

Rather than close some part of the rear lazarette, lose space, and drill another hole in the hull, a simpler alternative came to be really quick, which is getting rid of the propane.

The Alcool Stove

An alcohol stove is extremely simple. If you’ve ever eaten Chinese fondue, you’ll already know how it works. You pour alcohol into a tank, light it and adjust the opening to control combustion. No connections, no stern tanks, no holes in the hull. What’s more, it’s very easy to get alcohol that’s compatible with stoves in many countries… whereas propane tanks generally have different adapters and cylinders from one country to another. Obviously, the construction of alcohol stoves designed for sailboats is a little more robust than those found under a fondue pot!

There are two inherent risks with alcohol stoves: you must not spill alcohol next to the burner when filling it… and if alcohol is colorless, you must not confuse it with water. The former can cause a fire and, if confused with water and ingested, it can cause blindness. It is therefore preferable to fill the tank in calm seas (or at dockside), and to store the alcohol in a different place from the water reserves (or even to color it).

Lighting an Origo 3000.

Alcohol also has a lower calorific value than propane. In other words, it takes slightly longer than propane to heat or cook food. Finally, California legislation has banned the use of alcohol stoves on boats. This means that there are plenty of low-cost California stoves for sale on sites like eBay.

An « Old School » Burner Stove

The Origo 3000 is the default heater for Halberg Rassy Rasmus. They were installed 50 years ago. Like the Halberg Rassy, these stoves are Swedish-made. Like the Halberg Rassy, these stoves won’t die.

An Halberg-Rassy Rasmus tour.

You may have heard the story that household appliances of yesteryear were built to last, unlike more modern products built with programmed obsolescence? The Origo 3000 certainly feeds into this conception of old products. Fifty years on, they’re still going strong where they are installed.

Domestic Origo 3000 Stove.

I became aware of this stove model during my YachtMaster exam, which took place on a Halberg Rassy Rasmus. In terms of use, the stove is very simple, and the tanks included last about a week. I bought the stove on eBay (from California) and installed it on Jean-du-Sud.