What Butane Stove?

[hardee]

What Butane Stove?

Hey, don’t get your hopes up, I am not cooking on the boat - - - yet. But, I may have company on the boat with me for a few days and would like the option of at least making hot coffee, and hot water for bath and shampoo time. So . . .

I am looking at the butane stoves, and there are at least a couple dozen available. So, not really being much of an internet buyer, (I’m thinking REI not amazion), what brands are reliable, how’s your luck with them, and what brands are not.

REI has 2 that look pretty much the same, (some small differences), Eureka, Iwatani.

Yes, I know there are all those reviews, but I trust them about as far as I can throw them. I trust this place way more than 100 reviews from amaizion.


Harvey
SleepyC

[Peter & Judy]

In addition to the Wallace stove that we use most mornings I carry two butane stoves with me. I carry a butane Jet Boil with a pot combo for that quick cup of coffee. The second stove that I carry is a Korean butane table stove that I bought at an Asian Supermarket. They sell for $20-30, have their own case and the butane when purchased at the supermarket is much cheaper than at the camping store. They work very well, and are cost effective. I do most of my cooking in the cockpit with the stove on top of the picnic cooler, but sometimes it comes inside. I like to cook outside since the excess humidity and cooking smells do not accumulate in the cabin. I use the Wallace in the mornings because it warms the cabin and I tend to have more time to make coffee, cook breakfast and fill a couple of thermos bottles with boiled water. The Wallace is not the stove for a quick cup of coffee, hence the thermos bottles and the Jet Boil.

[colbysmith]

I think my one burner butane is a cheap coleman. Yep, this one to be exact:

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Portable-Butane-Stove-Carrying/dp/B00FGPXVSM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1I4HAV8FJ844U&keywords=butane+stove+coleman&qid=1643837079&sprefix=butane+stove+coleman%2Caps%2C448&sr=8-3

Works great. Unless you drop it. Then the lid over the butane canister can bend and not close very well. Don't ask me how I know... Colby

[starcrafttom]

REI Really expensive Items? buy the same thing online for half the price.

[ssobol]

When my Kenyon stove gave up (bad seals), I got two butane stoves, a large one and a smaller one. I can use them in the galley or in the cockpit (have a table that can be installed across the splashwell for cooking). I can use the big one, the small one, or both as the cooking situation demands. They can also be used on shore if needed (e.g. on the beach).

There are no shortage of stoves to choose from, but you want one (IMO) that is wind resistant so you can cook at low settings.

The bigger one I have is Iwatani and cost about $85 (at the time). The smaller one was about half that, but I don't recall the brand.

One thing to keep in mind is that the boiling point of butane is around 38 deg F. If you want to cook with butane in low temps you may have problems keeping the stove lit. On cold mornings I've had to put the butane canister under my shirt to get it warm enough to light the stove. As you pull fuel from it, it will cool off. On occasion I've had to alternate canisters until the stove is warm enough to keep the butane boiling.

If you want to cook in colder temps, a propane stove of some sort might be a better choice. Coleman makes a number of portable propane camping stoves.

[robhwa]

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

[ssobol]

[TyBoo]

If you have a US Chef's Store close to you (originally United Grocers, then Cash & Carry, then Smart Foodservice, now US Chef's Store) they have the things for around thirty bucks along with fuel canisters. I have two of them and they always work. The flame gets lower as the can empties and freezes on the outside and by the time it is half empty it won't boil water, but for the first fifteen minutes or so it heats really good.

Or, and I hate to say it, Walmart has them for 20 bucks.

Better still, if you have to go a ways to find one just drive on down here and I will give you two of the things and a bunch of fuel cans. Or, if you only need one I will keep one and a couple cans of butane and you can have the rest. Might even throw in some jars of smoke/canned sturgeon and canned salmon.

[hardee]

WOW Mike, your the best! And it might just fit in a saddlebag.

Tom, REI Yes, but if you are careful not so much, and they stand behind their products.

I'm looking at Colman or Eureka probably. Not up to electric cooking yet.

Thanks all for the tips. Glad to hear from experience.

Harvey
SleepyC

[TyBoo]

Coleman is in stock at Sequim Walmart for $19.72, Aisle 118. I ain't posting a link.

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

[TyBoo]

Thanks for bringing this up, Harvey. I am redoing some of the drip irrigation in my little greenhouse and it is easier to shove the little plastic fittings into the little plastic tubes if I dip the tube end in almost boiling water. I usually use the propane torch and a metal can and have to stop to reheat the water pretty often. But using the little butane stove instead works great!

Thanks for the inspiration and I will be keeping one of them along with a couple of the fuel cans. You can still have the others.

[robhwa]

[smckean (Tosca)]

Harvey,

Get a simple Asian butane stove for $30 or so and be done with it (they come with a very effective storage case too). They work great and don't fail. Note that they can only handle 1 pot at a time. The "freezing problem" is a non-issue if you are cooking inside the cabin at normal temperatures. They come in stainless steel for a somewhat higher price. If I were you, I'd get the SS one (they clean up great). Note the butane cylinders (look like paint spray cans) can be purchased anywhere from ~$3 per can to $9 per can depending on where you go (not so long ago they could be had for $1.50). Amazon is almost as cheap as a hole-in-the-wall Asian supermarket, and these days they will ship them. You'll need a lot since 1 cylinder lasts maybe 3 days cooking all meals for 2 people. (P.S. For boiling lots of water for pasta or crab etc, I cook in the cockpit and use another small stove that takes the far more economical propane 1 pound cylinders.)