Cooking with a non-gimbling stove

[Tony B]

I recently bought a 1986 Mainship 36 DC motoryacht. This is my first powerboat experience so please don't laugh. I am used to sailing with gimbaled stove/oven combo's. This boat has a non-gimballed stopvetop.
My question is, does this present a major safety hazard while cooking?
I haven't tried it yet but some powerboats around here pass closely and throw big wakes. I have the clamps to hold pots relatively securely to the stove so they dont slide off, but spilling may be a problem.
Am I over thinking this or is this a real problem?

[Nemo55]

Locking lids,,and wire clamps, you got it covered.

[bobconnie]

Tony, it can be a problem, till ya learn how much liquid to put in your pots !! Really ya have see how much it takes till it starts slopin out !! after having gimbled stoves for years we gat our first no gimbled one on the de fever we had for a while! really made some messes till we got the Idea !! your get it down !!

[Tony B]

Yeah, thanks. I was thinking that when I take the boat out next time, maybe just put water in the pots 3/4 full - no heat - and see how that fairs out. If it don't work out, do it again with pots 1/2 full. Cleaning up clean cold water will be a lot easier than cleaning up hot soup or a stew - and cheaper too.

BOB: is your boat still in Waterford Harbor?

[FSMike]

I don't understand the problem - oh, wait, I get it! You folks are on monohulls. Sorry.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I don't understand the problem - oh, wait, I get it! You folks are on monohulls. Sorry.

Begrudging I do have to agree…..NOT!

Lagoon 440 in storm top speed 18 kn 2800 sm - YouTube

You guys normally only like to show downwind photos, not beam seas and above
Downwind in heavy seas, admittedly far superior to mono hull.

[FSMike]

Pelagic -

I love that pic! Was the cameraman on his way overboard?

Actually, after 10 years on a 45' Chris White cat and the past year on a Cross trimaran, I've never felt the need for gimbals. Don't know about production cats though.

[Amapola]

We've had a non-gimbled stove for over 5 years and cooking has never been a problem. However, we always try to find protected anchorages away from the wakemakers.

[zeehag]

is only a major hazard in a rough seaway while 30 ft seas are on beam.
as yours is a power boat, it may not be as much of a problem as one may think---as you willnot be caught dead on those seas....good luck. btw--stoves are able to become gimballed with a lil help from their friends....

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Pelagic -

I love that pic! Was the cameraman on his way overboard?

Actually, after 10 years on a 45' Chris White cat and the past year on a Cross trimaran, I've never felt the need for gimbals. Don't know about production cats though.

Perhaps you could one day go out from the marina

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Perhaps you could one day go out from the marina

An amusing bit of wisdom from somebody whose boat is "under construction".

[TeddyDiver]

You are welcome :-) Thou the fact my boat is under construction doesn't mean I don't sail. Got a couple of smaller vessels and crewing others on my vacations. I know you tought your comment was funny but it reviels that you either have not sailed much or there's someone else doing the cooking
BR Teddy

[GrowleyMonster]

Amazing what a few artfully bent welding rods, big rusty old shackles, and coathangers will do for you. And always go with a high sided pan. Dutch oven instead of skillet. Stock pot instead of saucepan. You get the picture I'm sure. When your pot is big enough to do what you gotta do with it only 1/3 full, you are in da zone.

I don't have a gimballed stove. I intend to make a gimballed holder for my Butterfly kero/diesel pressure stove... some day. Meanwhile I just tie and wedge stuff or wait and cook when I am in protected water, or just eat out of a can. When I am singlehanding I do that a lot on a passage. I highly recommend the following when it is too rough to cook and manage the boat at the same time... take flour tortilla, spread a quantity of Wolf Chili straight from the can, and sprinkle with crushed Doritos and a little Pace. Roll and eat. No heat necessary. I can survive for a couple of weeks on them if I have a cool beer to wash it down with.