How Long Does It Take You To Boil Water?

[KISS]

I'm comparing possible cookers, and I need a baseline for what a marine stove "should" do. So, if you please, tell us how long it takes you to a boil a given amount of water and what type of cooker you use.

Thanks

[Snore]

Are these times when I am watching? Or not watching the pot?

[robert sailor]

It has nothing to do with the stove and everything to do with the size of burners which are rated in BTU's. Small burners are around 5000 btu and the larger ones are around 8000btu

[KISS]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

It has nothing to do with the stove and everything to do with the size of burners which are rated in BTU's. Small burners are around 5000 btu and the larger ones are around 8000btu

BTU ratings aren't very reliable, since they're often based on fuel consumed, not actual heat output. That is, they're measuring the BTUs which you would get if the burner were 100% efficient (which none of them are). That's why time to boil a given quantity of water is a better measure; it reflects actual heat output. Two cookers both rated at 8000btu can have very different actual heat outputs.

[StuM]

It also depends on the shape, size and material of the container and lid; how efficiently the actual BTUs are transferred to the water as opposed to the surrounding atmosphere and how much is lost to radiation and evaporation during the heating process.

How long is a piece of string?

[KISS]

Yes yes Stu, that's true.

But wouldn't it have been easier to just post how long it takes you to boil your water?

If the data's useless, that's my problem.

And, of course, nobody has to respond to this thread at all if they don't want to...

[monte]

It also depends on the knob setting. Having the blue flame just touch the pot is more efficient than having it fully on. We take about 5 minutes to boil 1/2 litre from 22 degrees C if that helps..

[robert sailor]

One of the British sailing mags did a major write up on stoves sometime back and included the time to boil a cup of water on each stove but there are much more important features on a stove including how well the oven works,ie; hot spots and the broiler as well as cleaning it, etc. etc.

[UNCIVILIZED]

I've never even considered measuring such a thing. Probably because, for me at least, probably the most key feature to a Marine Stove/Oven, is the thermocouple. A handy little feature which, if memory serves correctly, lets the stove shut down gas flow to a burner, on it's own, if the flame on said burner goes out.
That way, if you have to unexpectedly run up on deck, or tend to something else while in the midst of some galley duties, (knock on wood) the stove can babysit itself.

I'm not in the habit of walking away from the stove while it's on. However, sometimes it happens... due to unforeseen events, etc. Though even then I endeavor to turn off the burners/oven I'm using as I'm scampering up the companionway.
Thus, aside from the perk of the stove's being stainless, that's "the why" behind marine stoves.
If you can find a stove/oven which has reliable thermocouples, but isn't "marine" or stainless. I'd say go ahead and snag it, along with a set or two of a few key parts.
I can happily pass on the stainless part, & given a bit of time, can likely figure out how to best gimbal a stove. Ditto on fitting it with pot holders on the burners.


PS: If anyone does happen to know of some brands of stoves & ovens which have thermocouples, but which don't come with the "marine" price tag. Please be kind enough to post your findings.
As while my boat came with a Force 10, 3 burner with over, it still seems loco to me to have such items costing well in excess of $1k. And it'd be nice to know of other proven options. (I know... get off my heine & go look/do some digging).

[carstenb]

Never bothered to measure it. Too many variables. If you're only boiling water - use a tea kettle. They are completely closed (except the whistle) meaning no heat is lost through steam escape.

Take Monte's advice - set the flame so the blue is just touching the bottom of the kettle.

KISS- I know you are thinking extremely minimalistic boat - but this is digging around in an area where you will probably waste a lot of time and get no good answer. There are just too many variables here.

- is there a chance of a breeze blowing through you galley (loss of heat)
-what type of pot/kettle are you using?
- Butane or propane?
-how tightly does the lid fit on the pot?
- Have you cleaned the burners lately?

Plus probably 10 other variables that I can't think of off hand.

[witchcraft]

So I pretty much never boil a single cup of water. I can tell you that my average sized kettle ( same one I used in a house) take 5 to 8 minutes to boil...fuel alcohol, stove an origo non pressurized unit with an oven. Time difference is related to fuel quality and water temp...

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Plus probably 10 other variables that I can't think of off hand.

Apart from the breeze/draft you mentioned, I think the biggest variable is initial water temperature and air temperature. I notice a huge difference summer to winter in the time it takes to boil the kettle (seems like close to double, although I have never timed it).

[barnakiel]

5 to 10 minutes in an alloy pot (0.5 liter) with a lid, over a plain LPG galley stove (two burner model). We boil on the smaller burner, at its low setting.

As others said, draft, air pressure, humidity, temperature, boat rolling, LPG type, etc. all factor in.

b.

[zeehag]

fill kettle, light fire. less than 4 min i am already making coffee with boiled water. time it?? doubtful i would ever do that..... but i know how long it takes me to make my coffee.
propane. force 10.

[Kenomac]

Dumb initial question. Many variables.

What's the initial water temp? How much water? Flame size? How big is the pot? What's the pot made of? Etc.

We use an induction cooktop... Takes about a minute.