The
fuel isn't advertised in yachting stores, its found in the
paint aisle at the
hardware store. Its kept with the thinners and strippers. Its just alcohol, its not some fancy
fuel product. Do you doubt availability of alcohol in
remote parts of the world?
Because I've been able to
purchase moonshine on the side of the trail in the Himalayas at 14000 ft above sea level from a man with a yack. I didn't ask, but I doubt he had a
propane filling station.
I think the reason alcohol stoves of the 70's and 80's had a terrible and well earned reputation for being hard to use and dangerous.
This is an entirely different type of
stove, but its lumped in with the bad old alcohol stoves.
The other down side is the fuel is expensive. Where i am from about $30 for a gallon of grain alcohol or $12 for a gallon of
wood alcohol, both of which are purchased at my local automotive
parts store. A gallon will last me several months, unless I'm
heating with it.
But its $200 to buy the
stove instead of $1200+ for a proper
propane install. The $1000 difference leaves me enough
money to
purchase 30 gallons of fuel.
I think alcohol stoves are more suitable to smaller boats and simpler boats because there is one less entire system to take up place and maintain.
I think the ops
boat would be a perfect candidate. He doesn't want to retrofit a 29'
boat with a propane locker, gas detectors and solenoid shut offs. An
origo stove you take out of the box, pour a litre of fuel into it, light it and 10 minutes later you have a pot of coffee- easy.
My boat was originally fitted with a kerosene, retrofitted with propane in 1989. It was time for a new
cooking and heat system. I did the math, found out the
Origo would cost me next to nothing in
money or effort, so I bought it and absolutely love it. To the point a few weeks ago I ripped out the remnants of the old propane system, not going back.
If you like propane, cool, I know a lot of people do. But I also know a lot of people who own propane systems that were scared or hurt in an
accident or incident with a propane stove fireball and wished they had a safer fuel option. Alcohol is a safer easier option.
I'm not saying its better, its just the option that works best for me and would likely be a good option for the op.
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