force 10 different on west marine vs the force 10 site

[boatsail]

how important do you think gimballed is vs fixes?



West marine shows the photo with a wooden handle
FORCE 10 Two-Burner Gourmet Galley Gimbaled Propane Ranges at West Marine


force 10 shows a metal handle and a different looking stove
FORCE 10 - Cooking Without Compromise - Products

I found what It was looking for....Defender has the stove with the metal handle.

Force 10 2-Burner North American Standard Propane Gas Stove With Oven

Anyone got any thoughts or opinions, I'm ordering the gimballed, but just wanted opinions regarding gimballed vs fixed

[skipmac]

If you will never use the stove while underway and always anchor in a totally calm harbor with no wakes then the fixed version is fine.

Otherwise get the gimbaled version.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by boatsail

how important do you think gimballed is vs fixes?
......
Anyone got any thoughts or opinions, I'm ordering the gimballed, but just wanted opinions regarding gimballed vs fixed

I think it is essential not only underway if you want to heat anything, but it is also important occasionally in rough anchorages or when exposed to wakes.

It only makes a difference though if your stove is fitted in a fore-aft orientation .

[Cheechako]

Rarely used the gimbal. Never was into cooking a complicated meal at sea though. If you are making major crossings then probably should have it. Deep pans and good retainers will do it. The stove swinging has problems of it's own at times.
The theory seems to be that you just stay on a nice stable heel at sea, of course the water is mostly flat... haha. The reality is the boat is rolling, swinging and bashing through waves.... and the gimbaled stove that is not latched securely is swinging wildly.

[Capt Phil]

Fixed mounts are for 'dock queens', gimballed if you want to leave the dock, cruise or are in a rolly anchorage IMO. Phil

[boatsail]

My bail out date is in october this year. Don't want to be at my dock after that. If I am still at my dock, it means I'm still working! And I don't want to be working when I can be sailing with a gimballed stove flying about all over the place;-)

[Capt Phil]

Not sure the stove, if properly installed, will be flying about but the kettle sitting on it heating a cup of tea will securely be boiling away regardless of the tack you happen to be on. I worked on commercial vessels with a fixed cast iron stove as well as gimballed stoves on 1000's of miles of cruising... I'd take the gimballed stove on any vessel under 60 feet. Phil

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

The theory seems to be that you just stay on a nice stable heel at sea, of course the water is mostly flat... haha. The reality is the boat is rolling, swinging and bashing through waves.... and the gimbaled stove that is not latched securely is swinging wildly.

The gimballing compensates beautifully for the rolling and swinging. Unless going directly to windward there is little bashing. And the stove is not actually swinging, the boat is . So the items on the stove top stay relatively stable .

The only problem is if the oven door is opened the system is suddenly unbalanced and anything in the oven and on the stove top will tip. A LOT of care needs to be taken if the oven door is opened while the stove is gimballed.

[Capt Phil]

Great point, Seaworthy'... I'd forgotten about the oven door. You're dead right, it throws the whole balance off and compromises the effect of gimballing. I believe Force 10 has a latch or locking mechanism on it, does it not? I know they used to. They had a really impressive fabrication facility in Richmond, BC I toured years ago... not sure it is still there but the guys and women working there took a real pride in their work and product. Phil

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Great point, Seaworthy'... I'd forgotten about the oven door. You're dead right, it throws the whole balance off and compromises the effect of gimballing. I believe Force 10 has a latch or locking mechanism on it, does it not? I know they used to. They had a really impressive fabrication facility in Richmond, BC I toured years ago... not sure it is still there but the guys and women working there took a real pride in their work and product. Phil

I would think most ovens would have a mechanism to lock them when the gimballing is not needed (ours does).

I had hot scones in my lap once opening the oven door while underway with the stove gimballed in my early days cruising. You don't make the same mistake twice LOL .

[Capt Phil]

Good reason not wear a bikini when cooking underway! Cheers, Phil

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Good reason not wear a bikini when cooking underway! Cheers, Phil

Was I supposed to be wearing something? Now you tell me!

[Capt Phil]

+1! Phil

[Paul Elliott]

I agree with those who like the gimbals. We've cooked a lot of meals in some pretty wild seas, and the Force 10 stove balances really well. The stove comes with pot-clamps, which also help. There is a locking pin for when you want the stove to be secured.

One thing I've discovered, is that the stove becomes top-heavy if you have (for example) a big pot of spaghetti boiling over a burner. For a while I would throw a hammer and my bag of wrenches in the oven as a counterweight, but eventually I found some heavy scrap steel bars that I secured to the bottom of the stove. No more spilled spaghetti!

[bobconnie]

Ya beat me to it ! an added weight on the bottom of a gimbled stove really helps in the rough stuff! For the reason Paul Elliot above speaks about !! As far as a stove Flinging about on it's gimbles. most of us have a stop on the gimble set up, to lock it in place when not in use. Im suprised your stove don't have something!! I sapose if your not into cooking at sea, then an ungimbled stove would work, but we try to eat at least one hot meal aday, no matter what the weather! and as Capt Phil said, after years of oil fired stationary stoves, we would never have a sailing mono hull without a gimbled stove!! we like to eat !! But then we do have a gimbeld single burner stove for those REALLY BAD Days Just our 2 cents