Most efficient way to boil water on a boat

[Cotemar]

Most efficient way to boil water on a boat

1) Electric Kettle, .....81% efficient
2) Microwave Oven, ..47% efficient
3) Gas Stove, ............31% efficient

Electric Kettles typically shut off automatically when water is boiling enhancing their efficiency.

Microwave Oven and Gas Stoves boiling methods require a watchful eye to stop the power or shut off the gas when the water has boiled.

Regardless of your method for boiling water you can ensure maximum efficiency by boiling only what you need. Use your mug to measure the proper amount you need. Heating small batches of water is quicker than heating one big batch.

What even better is that we have 500 watts of solar at the moment, so we boil water for free from sun power.

We use a Hamilton Beach 1 Liter (4cup) Stainless Steel Electric Kettle (40998) $20

2 X Faster than a Microwave and Gas or Electric Stove top
Safer than a stovetop kettle
Cord-free serving
Auto shutoff with boil-dry protection
Easy-pour spout
Concealed heating element
Water-level window
Push-button lid
Illuminated on/off switch
Removable mesh filter
Dimensions (inches): 7.8 H x 8 W x 5.5 D

Here is the water boiling time results: Electric Kettle / Stove Top in minutes and seconds.

Cup size - Electric Kettle / Stove Top time
8oz ....- 1.21 / 2.22
16oz ..- 2.14 / 5.05
20oz ..- 2.44 / 6.44
1Liter .- 4.55 / 9.15

[Three Sisters]

2 minutes and 22 seconds to boil 8oz of water on Your gas stove. Something's wrong with Your stove.

[Tayana42]

Whistling tea kettle on propane stove.


S/V B'Shert

[zeehag]

depends on how much money you have and generator status and ......
those of us too broke to buy fancy water heating devices use propane and a kettle. those with built in 6.5 kw onans etc, or 50 amp circuits on boats in marinas use shore power so it doesnt matter... h aha ha h ah a

[Cotemar]

One of the reasons that a gas stove is so inefficient is that is also heating up your saloon at the same time its heating your water.

At least the microwave is designed to only heat water not the whole boat.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

One of the reasons that a gas stove is so inefficient is that is also heating up your saloon at the same time its heating your water.

So what's wrong with that?

Disclaimer: from a newly arrived sailor from California to British Columbia!!!

[jwing]

How are you measuring "efficiency?" What are the units, and where are the units measured?

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

So what's wrong with that?

Disclaimer: from a newly arrived sailor from California to British Columbia!!!

Heating the saloon on a cold day is a good thing, but you also get a lot of condensation with the propane which is not a good thing on a boat.

In the heat of summer is when stove top heating just makes hot, just so much hotter.

[a64pilot]

I would assume most efficient would be a Solar collector? Big parabolic mirror?
But maybe what is more important than efficiency is cost per BTU? I bet then propane or Diesel will come out the clear winner.

Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by jwing

How are you measuring "efficiency?" What are the units, and where are the units measured?

These efficiency numbers are from a few labs doing this kind of testing.
Just google it and you will see these same efficiency numbers.

I was most surprised with the electric kettle 2 X faster speed over the Stove and Microwave water boiling.

Who wants to wait for water to boil. Not me.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I would assume most efficient would be a Solar collector? Big parabolic mirror?
But maybe what is more important than efficiency is cost per BTU? I bet then propane or Diesel will come out the clear winner.

We are never at a dock, so all our power is from that Big Solar Fusion Reactor in the sky.

Scientist have spent billion trying to make Fusion Reactors and it falls on my boat for free in such a timely and predicable fashion every day.

We run a fridge & freezer 24/7, electronics, lights and electric kettle from solar.
It all runs for FREE.

The less propane we use the lower our expenses and less time wasted re-filling tanks.

[zeehag]

aaaahh i see the spin here--you want me to put out my dough for some cumbersome electricity consuming thing unaffordable to most cruisers. and then get a pricy thing to suck up all the sun so i can make it go... ohkaaayyyy.
gotcha.
have fun with that.

[Tayana42]

It can get expensive to get and use all that fee energy.😉


S/V B'Shert

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by zeehag

aaaahh i see the spin here--you want me to put out my dough for some cumbersome electricity consuming thing unaffordable to most cruisers. and then get a pricy thing to suck up all the sun so i can make it go... ohkaaayyyy.
gotcha.
have fun with that.

While Cotemar was a little heavy-handed with the braggadocio, the truth is that a nice solar power system can be assembled pretty cheap with Chinese parts, and that over the course of 20 years it can supply some pretty cheap power. I installed some panels because it saves on marinas and propane. So while a system can be pricey, and you can load up the boat with gagets, it can also pass the frugality test. The electric pot passes that test. The microwave I have a hard time loving, on principle.

Another big energy saver is retained heat cooking. Google it. I do it all the time, generally using nothing but a big fleece blanket.

[Lake-Effect]

For efficiency, the Kelly Kettle.

Ok, we don't use one on the boat (yet)... not that many twigs and pinecones scattered about the saloon, usually. But a marine-friendly version of these, that burn boat-friendly fuels, could be interesting.

Currently we use a $6 whistling kettle on a butane burner.