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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Alcohol Stove Problems

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Bill Sloane
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/23/2002 : 18:01:23

Does anyone have advice on pumping up the pressure in an original issue alcohol stove (1978 vintage). Stove was working fine and plunger has new rubber gasket on end. But this past weekend, I could not get any pressure at all in stove despite repeated pumping. Alcohol does not come out at burn ring at all.

Bill Sloane
Shelton, Washington
Suede Shoes
No. 496, SR, SK

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2002 : 18:35:13

I have never lit, nor intend ti light, the alcohol stove (original( on Orion, '81. PO never used stove. We have, over the last fifty years, used alcohol, both pressure and non, kerosens, LnG, butane,and propane, in camp stoves, fixed ovens, boat stoves, etc. When I taught seamanship for USPS used to tell class "the Coast Guard says use alcohol, because you can put the fire out with water." At the time, 85% of boat fires were being caused by alcohol flareups igniting the curtains--- I'm NOT making this up. My advice is--buy a propans camp stove, ALWAYS turn the gas off at the bottle when through, Then at the stove valves, then disconnect the bottle and stow outside. Same advice for butane single burners, which are VERY effective if you are not oput for a long cruise. Fair winds, Ron Orion sk sr swfl

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2002 : 19:30:16

Ron, I can't disagree... But I'll put in another plug (people will soon think I'm a stockholder) for the non-pressurized Origo stove. No flare-ups, easy to fill and operate, no danger from leaks, and while it doesn't cook like LP, it works great for us for scrambling some eggs, making coffee, etc. After reading about them for a year, we removed the pressurized unit right after buying the boat. (No, we don't have it--a Canadian sailor on this forum snatched it up.)

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 10:27:21

Bill,

I didn't want to shell out for a new alcohol stove, and I don't like the unfinished look of a camp stove sitting in my boat.

When I bought my boat, the stove had would not produce alcohol out of the burners, no matter how much I pressurized it. I took the burner apart, and took a needle and pressed it through the center of the diaphram inside (mine looked like a fine wire screen all rolled up). Then I soaked it in grease solvent for a couple of hours, then cleaned it with alcohol. I did this to both sides and now it works like a charm.

P.S. curtains are hard to catch on fire if you move them away from the stove before using it.

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

Edited by - on

Bill Sloane
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 11:29:05

Thanks Brian, I think I will try that. I am too cheap to spring for a new stove. In fact, I do not even have any curtains to burn in 'Shoes'. Do you mean that the diaphragm on the stove is a wire screen? If you pierced it with a needle, doesn't that ruin the diaphragm? Sounds like I better take it apart to see.

Bill
'Suede Shoes' C25 SR SK #496
South Puget Sound

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n/a
deleted

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 12:53:13

Can you pressurize the tank? If there is pressure in the tank and nothing at the burner, disassemble the burner and clean the orifice. If not, then you may need to replace the cup washer and packing gland on the pump. If you twist the perforated metal burner screen, it comes off, exposing the internal parts. Seaward supplied a very fine wire with my unit when I bought the boat new in 86. The wire reams out the fine hole that the alcohol comes through. I've removed, disassembled and cleaned both burners and they work fine. If you're not used to pumping, priming and pre-heating you may want to avoid the situatiion by retrofitting a Seaward propane stove or one of the Origo units. If you're used to using white gas coleman stoves or backpacking stoves, it's really pretty simple.

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 14:07:19

Bill,
I think I still have the paper work that came with my stove, and since our two boats are near same vintage it may be of help to you. If I can find it, I'll make a copy and drop it thru your hatch boards on your boat. I got parts for mine years ago from an outfit up in Ballard, but I don't know if they are still in business, or if parts are still available. Call me at 360-748-0705 and I let you know what I did to get mine working.

Steve Kostanich on Equinox, moored across from you at Swantown Marina

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 14:07:33

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 14:07:53

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 14:08:17

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 15:22:09

Bill:

I have a copy of the original maintanence manual -- let me know and I can e-mail it to you.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

Bill Sloane
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 15:55:22

Thanks Richard, Steve is going to drop it off at my boat since he is moored across the dock from me. But I like e-mail too. My address is:
bills@msgsarch.com

I am totally amazed at how responsive this forum is.

Thanks.

Bill
'Suede Shoes' 78 C25 SR/SK #496

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Bill Sloane
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 15:55:24

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2002 : 16:01:50

Bill,

I also have an original curtain burner...wouldn't use anything else...sometimes when the pump wont built up pressure it's a sign that the leather seal at the end of the pump piston has dried out...a little oil (neatsfoot I think the factory recommends) rubbed into the seal does the trick...vasoline also works. It's like the piston on the old Coleman stoves, same problem, same solution.

Val on "CALISTA" #3936

Val Bisagni

Edited by - on

Kirk McKay
Navigator

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USA
111 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2002 : 20:13:36

I've never even braved using the stove yet. If anybody would care to e-mail me any paperwork you've got, you might save a life!
sheriffbart@comcast.net
Thanks!

Kirk

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2002 : 00:15:20

You all would have less problems if you converted the old stove to propane. Cooking takes 1/10th as long. I dont want to hear about how dangerous propane is. You DONT keep it inside the boat. Besides insurance claim stats show most fires related to stoves are caused by alcohol type.

Doug&Ruth
Boatless in Seattle
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2002 : 17:15:48

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
and I don't like the unfinished look of a camp stove sitting in my boat.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

You can easily convert the current burners from alcohol to propane - maintaining the overall original appearance of the stove.

I'm convinced that putzing with alcohol stoves is a gene thing <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> .

Edited by - on

10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2002 : 21:12:45

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
You can easily convert the current burners from alcohol to propane - maintaining the overall original appearance of the stove.

I'm convinced that putzing with alcohol stoves is a gene thing <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> .
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Ok. You got me on the genetic thing...so how do you convert to propane? Me and my curtains are dying to know.

Thanks,

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2002 : 22:15:59

Brian,

This is how Adam Fishman did it,...

Catalina Stove Conversion - Alcohol to Propane
Submitted by Adam Fishman

Parts Lists

2 Scout Century stoves
2 Brass Hipressure M Throwaway - M X 1/4 Male Pipe
3 1/4 inch street elbows
2 Flare union 3/8 inch X 1/4 female pipe
3 Flare union 3/8 inch X 1/4 male pipe
Swivel Nut 3/8
2 Flare Nuts 3/8
3/8 copper pipe
2 brass Elbows
1 Brass 3/8 T female
6 foot hose
Pipe dope, all the joints except the flare
Assorted brass washesrs as spacers

Remove the old guts of the Alcohol Stove, keeping the Nobs and Extenders with hairpins. Go to a sheet metal shop that works with stainless steel, and grind the 1/4 inch holes to aproximately 1 ", (Enough room for just 2 Brass Hipressure M Throwaway - M X 1/4 Male Pipe but not too large so to keep the hex end from going through -have them hand while it is ground to fit well) where the old alochol burers were, to the size required for the fittings to screw in to the regulator. I added 2 washers below, to tighten regulator to the Hipressure M Throwaway Pipe

<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010097.jpg" border=0>

Remove the plastic nobs off the century stove (I used a pliers to hold valve and wiggle them off), and then file the end an 1/8 inch smaller to allow the old extenders to slip on tightly, then drill the hole through for the hairpin.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010100.jpg" border=0>

Go to a propane parts store, that does tubing, and they should have most of the other parts. Show them the picture and have them make the connectors to fit, and the copper tubing, with correct fittings, so it can be tested for no leaks.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010098.jpg" border=0>

I added a hose that can come out below the stove (the front plate comes off) and I can put a bottle on the floor. In the future I am looking to add a tank off the back of the boat, but want to be sure that I can have a sniffer installed for safety.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/Underneath.close.jpg" border=0>

And this is how Douglass did it,...

I did the stove upgrade today. A few trips to the hardware store and Im done. Two hours tops. I used a dremel tool and a stone bit to open up the burner mount holes. Did it diferently than the previous post and it was easy.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2db38b3127cce9d89f8b538120000003410" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2db38b3127cce9d89f9fcf9f30000003410" border=0>

Don Lucier, North Star
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2002 : 19:28:41

Brian,
I also used the Scout burners manufactured by Century. Finding the propane specific fittings manufactured by Paulin (which I acquired from BP Products in Cleveland) was the most difficult part of the project! I'm using a 5 lb propane tank as opposed to the 20lb or the 1lb throw-aways.
Not shown above was a presssure regulator which I mounted inside the stove housing - connected to the tee fitting that joins the two burners.

Edited by - OJ on 09/30/2002 20:45:44

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frich
Captain

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USA
418 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 07:38:32

Bill
As I have mentioned on past threads, if it helps I have the owners manual for the original Seaward stoves. you can e-mail me at frich1230@aol.com include your address or fax and I will get a copy out to you.

Frank Rich
84 C-25 SK

Thanks Brian, I think I will try that. I am too cheap to spring for a new stove. In fact, I do not even have any curtains to burn in 'Shoes'. Do you mean that the diaphragm on the stove is a wire screen? If you pierced it with a needle, doesn't that ruin the diaphragm? Sounds like I better take it apart to see.

Bill
'Suede Shoes' C25 SR SK #496
South Puget Sound

[/quote]

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10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 20:22:39

Thanks a lot Don. I have yet another item on my todo list. Thanks to Adam for the pics also.

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

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