Today I replaced my 42 year old RV
stove with a New RV
stove. I went with an RV stove for several reasons. First and most importantly cost. The new stove (a scratch and dent model, really just a few scuffs on the door) was less then $290 including
shipping from a seller on ebay.
Marine stoves start at about $1200 and go up from there. Second, being an RV stove
parts when needed will be far less expensive then the equivalent
marine version.
The old Trav'ler RV stove had gimbals and a latch installed. I was able to reuse both the gimbals and the latch ( simple sliding door latch) on the new stove).
Of course it helped that the
boats galley was designed around an RV stove in the first place. My
boat being the yachtcraft kit version of the
Islander 34. But the dimensions for the RV stoves are pretty close to a marine stove, so others can do this too. It was surprisingly ease to do.
I pop riveted the old gimbals plates to the new stove using
steel rivets. The balance point sits a little more toward the front of the stove, but its not bad at all.
Below are photo's of the old stove and new stove. I used the
boom vang to hoist the old stove up and to lower the new stove down, using the boom and main
halyard, much like how an
engine is pulled.
The whole remove and replace only took a few hours too. I still have to rework the fiddles on the new stove. But that will be for another day (real soon)
I am a very happy camper. First for saving a ton of
money and second for having a shiny new stove. Happy Happy.