Trial Run with Spouce

Donald Tyson · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 6:00 pm Post subject: Trial Run with Spouce

If all goes well tomorrow the Dr will clear me for boating and other forms of life as we know it. If so Kim and I will be taking the boat to the Chesapeake for a cruise over the Fourth of July weekend. A few questions remain but this one about cooking aboard gives me pause. Our stove is a very nice working alcohol stove and it heats water and also fries eggs in no time flat. Carelessly I only ever added a few ounces of fuel at a time during the week I was in Hontoon. Now I'll be cooking two of three times a day, and for two, for four days. I have no Idea how much alcohol fuel to have on board. Does anyone want to offer a guess on that one?

C-Wolfe · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 8:12 pm Post subject:

Denatured alcohol evaporates quite fast, not always worth it to fill it up if it will sit unused for a couple weeks or longer. One quart should be plenty, you can carry an extra one just in case. I had one but it was about 15 years ago, if I remember right, I burned less than a gallon for a summer, that’s going out every other weekend or so for 5 months, but I could be wrong on that. I do remember that I always carried a quarts size container in the boat to add as needed, and I don’t remember ever running out of fuel.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 7:54 am Post subject:

So a quart may make it but two is a great hedge? thanks

"I don’t remember ever running out of fuel.[/quote]"

C-Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 1:46 pm Post subject:

Does your stove as 2 burner?
If so and you think you can get away with just using one, I would put about half a quart and see how long this last. Depending on your cooking style, this might be all you need for your outing.

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 2:30 pm Post subject:

Also remember alcohol is lighter than water, and will "float". This is important if you have a fire--do not put water on it. Fire blanket, Halon type or dry powder (last choice) for suppression. I have seen several boats burn because the owner threw water on an alcohol fire, and the fire then spreads...

Donald Tyson · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:51 pm Post subject:

Yes I agree. It is a two burner and I've been only adding a few ounces at a time and it completes my meal. I like cooking on these stoves.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:53 pm Post subject:

That is great advice. I'll check the extinguishers on board and make sure they're approved and if not I'll add the proper one to the kitchen area. Thanks.

Foggy · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:42 am Post subject:

I've had both good and bad experiences with alcohol on boats.

As a fuel for boat stoves, all bad.

Suggestion: Plan (practice on shore) your burn and burn your plan.

Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "The years teach much that the days never knew."

Donald Tyson · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:55 am Post subject:

Foggy, I had a pressurized alcohol stove and it was cranky. Advised by other boaters not to use it on board I soon sold it. But the stove I have now is non-pressurized, easy and dependable, and cooks like a dream. I just have no Idea how much fuel it consumes.
Thanks for the heads up.

C-Green · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:22 pm Post subject:

I have no experience here but I would choose to have a fire blanket handy and use that first as opposed to the typical fire extinguisher putting white powder over the whole cabin. Halon fire extinguisher a good choice but not sure of their availability and cost.
Jay

Donald Tyson · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:28 pm Post subject:

I have that...

Donald Tyson · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2025 10:00 am Post subject:

Where, how and when do you store or "keep handy" your fire blanket. I am concerned with grease fires as I'm temporarily on the carnivore diet and much meat is cooked daily.

ssobol · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2025 1:20 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:29 pm Post subject:

A fire blanket is difficult to deploy in a C Dory, although you are to be commended if you have one. I prefer the small liquid/gas type of fire extinguisher as used in our kitchen for potential grease fires. I kept two of those by the galley, just outboard of the helm seat. Easy to grab, and use on a galley grease fire. Never use water on an alchohol fire--the alcohol floats on top of the water and fire spreads. I have repsponded to fires on other boats, and always grabbed at least one of the usual CG approved BC extinguisher and one of the galley extinguishers. Fires are one of the most frightening adverse events which can occur on a boat.

When I was about 11 years old My dad's boat was in San Pedro, and the frst Transpacific after WWII was starting the next day. Howard Keel's boat (Sea Hawk) was several hundred feet away, and had a propane leak, wife lit a cigarette at about 2 in the morning, "boom" and fire. They escaped, but the boat burned to the waterline. Fortunately no other boats were badly damaged. I have seen about a dozen fires or explosions on boats during my lifetime...This is often lethal.

One fire I remember was at Catalina, and a rented 30' sailboat. The alchol (under pressure) fitting behind the stove failed. Atomized Alcohol sprayed everywhere--and when I saw it, the flames were comming out of the main hatch as the people tried to escape. Fortunately I was able to shut off the valve at the tank, and supress the fire. The boat was left there for the rental company to take care of. We took the people aboard to the Isthmus where we had radioed ahead and an evacuation chopper had already responded to get them to a burn unit.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:44 pm Post subject:

Scary Stuff Bob. My family didn't serve in the war as we were farmers and were exempt but many of dad's friends went.
The Liquid/Gas extinguisher is something I'm not familiar with.