Hi all, Recently I learned you can get an alcohol burner for an optimus 45. Would anyone like to share their opinions of the pro and cons of using alcohol or kerosene in an optimus 45 (with the appropriate silent burner) in a Sea Swing for use in a sailboat? The possible issues I can think of between the two would be smell, safety and heat output. Are there others I should consider? Thanks, Christine
Hi Christine It'll be a version of the type of burner used in the Homestrand Mariner Homestrand I don't have a boat, but I gather alcohol is preferred by some to kerosene or LPG from a safety point of view - I'd have thought kerosene was as safe myself, and LPG's safe provided there's no leakage! Smell? Properly serviced, kero stoves burn cleanly and without odour, so I can't see the benefit of alcohol there. Indeed, the methylated spirits I'm getting in the UK at the moment is dreadful in terms of the smell when burning, almost eye-watering stuff. Alcohol burners don't put out as much heat as kero or LPG ones, and that's certainly the case with that Homestrand Mariner I featured. Well, my thoughts for starters. I expect more knowledgeable folk who mess with boats will be along soon. John
Hi Christine, you and John have identified the main points. A litre of kerosene contains approx 10kw of energy, alcohol just over half that amount. The flame of an alcohol flame (on a burner or from a spillage) is almost invisible in daylight and this can be a safety issue. Alcohol however is miscible with water and water can be used to extinguish an alcohol fire. You should not do this with a kerosene fire. Alcohol can be more expensive than kerosene and is not available in some countries because of human consumption concerns. IMO kero is the best fuel for boat applications, with alcohol being reserved for priming the stove and the skipper. Best Regards, Kerophile
Hi, Christine, Personally, I rather like Meths in brassie stoves! As I've mentioned before, the Optimus 45A (Meths version of the venerable and reliable Optimus 45 kero stove) rated very high in efficiency in a very well done series of tests done by Backpacker Magazine, back in the late 1970's. That was back when that magazine did real testing, without being tainted by advertising considerations. In that test BPM stated that the 45A was surprisingly efficient, and much more so than many of the Coleman fueled stoves that were tested. I can quote the actual line, if you need it, but suffice it to say, BPM was impressed with how the 45A worked in their testing. For what it's worth.... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. By the way, the Meths we get in the US is absolutely clean as a whistle, and burns with a wonderful and very clean aroma, which I dearly love!! No eye watering, nor any other foul problems with our Meths, thank God!!
Hello Christine. I have an Optimus No.5 that has been converted to use Alcohol only, using the specialised Optimus 209N alcohol burner. I find those burners thirsty if you use them at full power for boiling alot but the fuel consumption is quiet acceptable with normal cooking. Very controlable for light simmering also. Those burners are very clean burning with very little odour, but I choose my methylated spirit brand so I don't get the car exaust smelling type. John
Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds like I can't really go wrong with either fuel. Just one question, what needs to be done to modify an Optimus 45 that was orginally equiped with a kerosene roarer burner to burn alcohol? It appears that all that is needed is to install the proper burner. Is that correct? Thanks! Christine
Hi, Christine, If you have the SVEA #1915 burner, or one of the later Optimus kero models, you can switch the jets from kero to Meths, and change the cleaning needle. If you add a proper air restrictor, as mentioned in many posts here on CCS, you will be all set to burn Meths in a kero burner. BUT, the Optimus 209N Meths burner is a wonderful bit of kit, and if you switch out the entire burner, you will probably be better prepared to burn Meths, rather than kerosene. Efficiency might be better, too. Which burner do you currently have installed in your 45? Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Ever tried putting out a meths fire with water??? It takes a lot more than you think if the surrounds are hot as well. Think of a bucket instead of a cup. Just something Iv'e noticed. Barra
