I replaced my Wallas stove with an Origo

S

smittypaddler

New member
I just replaced my Wallas stove with an Origo 2-burner alcohol stove.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 2&id=60241

It has two moving parts; levers to move the disks that control the supply of fuel (grain alcohol) to the burners. No circuit boards, no worrying about the charge on my batteries, and I can fix it myself! No shipping it back to the dealer for repairs! The last time I tried to use the Wallas it broke, AGAIN. This time I think it's the fuel pump, because the fan came on if I closed the lid, but the red light on the control didn't light, and I couldn't hear the fuel pump. If you're unfortunate enough to have a Wallas on your C-Dory, and you'd like my old one for salvage, 50 bucks and you pay shipping, it's yours.
 
smittypaddler":1a5hbcac said:
I just replaced my Wallas stove with an Origo 2-burner alcohol stove.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 2&id=60241

It has two moving parts; levers to move the disks that control the supply of fuel (grain alcohol) to the burners. No circuit boards, no worrying about the charge on my batteries, and I can fix it myself! No shipping it back to the dealer for repairs! The last time I tried to use the Wallas it broke, AGAIN. This time I think it's the fuel pump, because the fan came on if I closed the lid, but the red light on the control didn't light, and I couldn't hear the fuel pump. If you're unfortunate enough to have a Wallas on your C-Dory, and you'd like my old one for salvage, 50 bucks and you pay shipping, it's yours.
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PM sent
 
How does the the gas stove perform. I will be doing the same in the near future and want to know how the unit cooks. How much water it can boil and how fast. Could you do some performance number for me??
 
This is kind of ironic!

The original C-Dory Cruisers (1987) came with the Origo alcohol stoves, and the Wallas as an option.

Back to the basics! (Really back to the fundamental, fool proof, system.)

The biggest problem with the simple Origo stove is the water vapor it produces, the combustion gases not being ducted outside.

The original owner of my boat put a crank operated vent above the Origo, but still didn't like the smell of the partially combusted alcohol (said it gave him headaches), so went over to propane, which burns more completely.

More irony: For some, the Wallas is an over-engineered problematic, temperamental, enigma. For others, a reliable, dependable, servant.

Again, each of us will find their own solutions to their own problems!

Joe.! :teeth :thup
 
I like my Origo. Partly long familiarity, partly simplicity. It doesn't heat as hot as a Wallis although the heat is instant. The wallis is not as hot or instant as propane or butane. The alc stove puts out the most water vapor. I mostly singlehand so the slower stove is not as noticable when boiling/cooking smaller quantities. Both burners are equal and fully adjustable. For heat I did add a Wallis 1300. This is a simpler one speed heater with fan, so far reliable. I carry alc fuel in a nalgene bottle, lasts a long time.
 
The oringo is similar to a sterno heater. The older pressurized alcohol stoves were dangerous--if a fire broke out, pressurized alcohol was sprayed, and the alcohol would float on water, and spread. I saw several bad burns from this and boats destroyed.

We have owned a boat with an Oringo stove, and did not like it. Heat was significantly lower than the Wallas. The Wallas is certainly not perfect--and I agree that for cooking propane or LP is better--again with some safety problems (both the alcohol and LP use oxygen and produce carbon monoxide--the Wallas, is vented externally and CO is not a problem in a properly functioning stove)
 
Joe, you can take this one to the bank: there are only two kinds of Wallas owners, those who have had it crap out and those who are going to. We are keeping our fingers crossed, but the NEXT time it craps out, it goes for $50 the same as smittypaddler's.


Sea Wolf":457kpfo1 said:
More irony: For some, the Wallas is an over-engineered problematic, temperamental, enigma. For others, a reliable, dependable, servant.

Joe.! :teeth :thup
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My first Wallas was purchased 13 years ago. The only trouble I had with it was occasional shut off when starting it. Then I stumbled on to the strategy of starting it only when the engine was running. My theory was that it was very sensitive to marginal drops in voltage, and the alternator in the Honda kept the juices flowing. I also "freshened up" the diesel regularly, and had relatively few problems. (another theory is that quality of diesel varies, and sometimes one gets lucky or unlucky) My second Wallas came used with the boat only this time I used Kleen Heat rather than diesel. Using the same starting techniques, I have had no problems. (knock on wood) In a salt water environment, the corrosion in the wiring may create enough resistence to affect voltage - let us hear from the electrical engineers who have C-Dorys on that matter. Nothing really beats being lucky, I guess. In a way the Wallas reminds me of the story about the mad scientist's last invention before he committed suicide. John
 
Pat Anderson":1s450dea said:
Joe, you can take this one to the bank: there are only two kinds of Wallas owners, those who have had it crap out and those who are going to. We are keeping our fingers crossed, but the NEXT time it craps out, it goes for $50 the same as smittypaddler's.


Sea Wolf":1s450dea said:
More irony: For some, the Wallas is an over-engineered problematic, temperamental, enigma. For others, a reliable, dependable, servant.

Joe.! :teeth :thup
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Mine's been trouble free for the 6 or so years I've had it. So Pat, when you do decide to unload yours for $50, give me a call. I'll be there to pick it up!
 
rogerbum":1bkkovb0 said:
Mine's been trouble free for the 6 or so years I've had it. So Pat, when you do decide to unload yours for $50, give me a call. I'll be there to pick it up!
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I'll never forget the group exorcism performed on my Wallas at my second CBGT, Bellingham 07. That said, since then, it has performed almost flawlessly (on Kleen Heat) -- including to Florida and back.

Warren
 
The original owner of Placid C ordered it without a stove. I considered both propane and butane canister type stoves but was concerned about the safety issue. We have used alcohol stoves in the past and understand that they are slow and put out a lot of moisture. After searching the archives here I decided on a portable, two burner alcohol stove. I can stow it in the cabnet when not in use and have the counter top free for other uses.

I went with the Cook Mate which is very similiar to the Origo portable. The company that makes the Cook Mate is said to be comprised of former Origo employees who's objective was to make a better stove that is less expensive than the Origo. Quality does look good and a test burn at home went well and as expected (slow). I used hardware store denatured alcohol rather than the fuel made for stoves, didn't notice any objectional smell, however, my kitchen is somewhat larger than Placid C's galley.

I plan to carry the fuel in Nalgene bottles and will report the results of actual use of the stove later.

Harper
 
This is all great information. I will be replacing the wallas and adding a stand along heater under the sink. The more I read the more I feel that propane will be the way to go. I was really worried about where to install a big bottle but the more i think about I don't need to. A small camp bottle will last just for cooking for a few days at least. I already use these bottle for the bbq on the back deck. Nice thing about these little bottles is that even if they do leak its not a lot of gas. I am thinking of running the gas line from under the sink to the wire Thur hole at the gunnel and in to the storage shelf in the cockpit. As soon as I am done using it I can just unscrew the bottle . I refill my own bottles off of bigger tanks at the house. I have a valve just for that and twenty empty bottles. So there is no need to mount a big bottle any where, the bottle will be out side and not in the way. I really cant see a down side to this except maybe running out on longer trips (two weeks) but you can buy the little bottle almost anywhere and you cant always get a larger bottle refilled.
 
Wow, that Cookmate portable alcohol stove lists for $330 and still runs $250 at Defender...I am wondering why a portable alcohol stove instead of an equally portable (and more efficient) Coleman propane stove? What advantages does the Cookmate have over a Coleman?
 
Carry a Coleman two burner as back up for the Wallas. Came in very handy on our 2007 Alaska cruise when the Wallas quit. It was definitely better then nothing but the dry heat cooking and heating with the Wallas is so far superior it doesn't even come close to the Wallas when its working. For us the Wallas will keep getting repaired and hopefully we have learned like some others ways to keep it working longer between repairs.

Make sure the control card is securely attached on all corners. Ours was not and shorted out when the boat went through some severe pounding. Found they are a very pricey item.

Jay
 
From my perspective, Pat, the alcohol stove is less dangerous than the propane on a small boat. If there is a propane leak, it is heavier than air and is going to pool at the low point... on a CD-22, that is going to be the cabin floor. Light a match to fire up the stove and it's going to spoil your whole day. Without some way to vent the propane overboard, I would not be a big fan of storing/using the canisters in the cabin. We have had several of those small canisters leak when using a propane grill (outside). I have used them on a Black Cat heater, but put the canisters out in the cockpit in a locker that allowed fumes to drain overboard.

Now, regarding the Origo or other non-pressurized stoves: we had a double burner about 3 sailboats ago and used it a lot. It is slow to heat (takes a long time to get water to boil) and puts a lot of condensation in the cabin. But, it is stone simple and it works. We have been using a single burner butane stove on several boats (take it with us on Wild Blue, too) - puts out more heat, faster. Cost about $30 at Cabela's. The canisters are not as readily available as the one pound propane canisters, but our experience is that they are less prone to leak.

We sure like the Wallas; find me some wood to knock on, 'cause... :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I did a little experiment today for comparison. Our CD-22' has the original Origo, 2 burner. Using 53 deg. tap water it took 10:30 min. to bring 1 qt. of water to rolling boil at 3,300' msl. I repeated the process on our Maytag, 220v glass top stove in the kitchen, which took 14:00 min. to do the same rolling boil. I was going to compare a propane burner, but being retired, decided to put that off for another day, as it would have interferred with a mid-day nap.
 
I got a lot of private messages wanting my old Wallas stove for salvage, but Karl from Washington state was the first to reply, so it's only fair to give it to him. So far I've only boiled water and soup on the stove, and yes, I do notice the smell of alcohol, but I think I can live with it. It was a warm day and I had the door and all the windows open, so I don't know yet how much of a problem moisture will be. From your comments, I expect it to be significant, but hope I can live with it. The stove couldn't be simpler, and I'm very confident if it ever breaks I'll be able to repair it myself. Thanks to all that responded to my topic, and I'm sorry I can't give the stove to all that wanted it.
 
:roll: charlie rich, or it may have been charlie pride, once wrote [ sleeping on a table in a roadside park---- a man can wake up dead] so can any boater heating his cabin with any device that does not vent to the outside.. my wallace does that in addition to doing a pretty good job cooking stuff.--just ask my first mate! are any of these alternative stoves also used for cabin heat all nite long? just curious as all know [i have notaclue]
 
We got Journey On with a Wallis stove/heater. It was a no-brainer for Judy after she spent a summer cruising Alaska, without a heater, just an oven for heat. Worked great so far on a diet of either kerosene or kleen heat. Please remember that one of the advantages of a Wallis is that it exhausts combustion products outside. And yes, it's overpriced.

One of the disadvantages of the Wallis is that it takes a long time to start and stop. So for that cup of coffee we got a Portable Push-Button Start Butane Stove for Camping, Emergencies - Rugged & Dependable - Storage Case . The link goes to one on e-bay for $13. Made in Korea, cause it's used for cooking a lot of different Asian foods. Uses standard butane cartridges, so we go to Asian food stores for the butane canisters. Easy to light and you can store the butane outside. We've used ours for 3 years now, and we got it used from one of our daughters.

Just as an aside, this is the same stove as the West Marine Kenyon for $70. All made in Korea. Just priced differently.

We had both the pressurized alcohol stove which was really bad and the Origio which was really slow. Propane or butane is certainly quicker though tricker (to handle.)

Boris
 
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