Meths cookers.

[tonywar]

I,ve acquired a boat with a meths cooker. I haven't the slightest idea how it works. There are no markings to identify manufacturer. It has no pump so it isn't pressurised. You open the tap and meths trickles into a small tray. There is a small pipe in the tray that leads to the burner, but no wick. How does the fuel get to the burner? I tried to use it the once, and nearly set the boat on fire. Any ideas anybody?

[boatbuilder]

Before you burn out your boat please follow this safety notice.
THROW IT IN THE NEAREST SKIP, apologies for shouting [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[kds]

Turn on until small tray has some meths in. turn off. light meths until it nearly burns out. turn on and a clean, pressurised jet of meths will appear, a bit like a gas flame.
Unfortunately, the delivery pipe cantaining fibre can become blocked and removing it often damages joints..,
Not the most reliable of stoves - so do practise with it in the open air until you perfect it.
Ken

[tritonofnor]

have a look here Classic camp stoves check out their forums. What they don't know about liquid fuelled cookers ain't worth knowing... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[wooslehunter]

If you don't have gas then it can be expensive to install. If you want to stick with meths & want to take boatbuilder's advice then get an Origo unit. They make 1 & 2 "ring" units and also a cooker. The meths is held in a flat container packed with an absorbant material so there's no chance of spillage. They're very safe but can pong a bit.

[steve_cronin]

..(sorry, couldn't resist that!)

I had one of those on a Newbridge Venturer several years ago. It was the most frightening of beasts and could be relied upon to flare up just as we were tacking making a preparation of a cuppa a bit of an act of faith. Incidentally, it works best with surgical alcohol (which you should be able to obtain) or Alcool a Bruler freely available in french supermarkets. The dye in meths not only corrodes the little pans but also clogs up the tiny jets and smells disgusting. Should you wish to persist with it, I think I still have a service kit in my garage for it to which you are more than welcome.

However, my advice would be either to buy an Origo or convert to gas but with Gaz 907s refilling at around £18 a time nowadays, you may consider the first option to be best.

Others have described the starting procedure correctly but have omitted the "keeping of one's fingers crossed" and desireability of the close proximity of a fire blanket!

Steve Cronin

[sighmoon]

I haven't got a clue, but we've just got an Origo strove, and it works a treat - well we've only used it on flat water, but it seems fine.

Steve, does what you're saying about meths apply to origo stoves too - are we best off trying to get surgical alcohol?

[charles_reed]

Seconded boatbuilder, and the Origo is only slightly less horrid.

Meths cookers, like chastity belts and the Iron maiden should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

IMHO of course.

[tonywar]

Thanks everybody, I think I might just bin it. By the way , I am a nurse, but the joke wore a bit thin about 1988.

[jezjez]

i've got one of the double ring meths burners. They do pong, it;s true, but they are so much less worrisome than gas and work brilliantly on my boat. I have sworn to instal them if i ever swap boats.