Hello to all, new member here, very glad to have found this forum. I have the same trusty SVEA 123R I bought over 40 years ago for cycling and backpacking trips. It is a great little stove that has stood me well. In the last several years I have done more and more dinghy cruising and built a compact onboard galley box system designed in large part around the 123R. It works well in this role, I have attached some pictures. So far so good. I have renewed the gaskets and packing recently with parts I found on EBAY and the system works well but I do get a lot of dire warnings from other dinghy cruisers about the danger of white gas stoves on board. I did once overheat the stove when experimenting with it so I have seen what happens when the pressure valve releases, would not want this to happen again, but my thinking is that as long as the stove is properly fettled and I don’t let it overheat it is as safe as anything else out there. So my questions are: Am I missing something about the inherent danger of the stove? What should I look for that might indicate potential failure? Should I renew the gaskets etc on a regular schedule? The aluminum stabilization plate might be an effective heat sink? I have read that one way to prevent over heating is a water bath around the tank, this could be accomplished with my galley box setup by simply adding some water to the tray it nests in, does anyone have any experience or insight into actively cooling the stove to prevent over heating? Any other suggestions to enhance safety? My galley setup is designed to work with a gas stove with an adapter on the canister to allow it to lock into the stabilization plate but I’ve come this far with the trusty 123r and don’t want to change if I can be sure of its safety. Thanks you in advance for your thoughtful responses
Beautiful and imaginative set-up! I'm not much of a boater myself. While white gas would be a very bad choice in an enclosed galley space, in your open dingy with the system you have worked out, and your long experience with the stove, I think it should continue to work well. 'Water-cooling' the tank would be needlessly complex and I think superfluous. The main danger under your circumstances with white gas would be fuel handling and spillage. My supposition is that you have that well under control. Others will have other views to offer. Welcome to CCS. Great way to introduce yourself!
Yes, well done. Gas and kerosene float on top of water, so they can continue to burn even after spraying water on a gas or kerosene fire. That said, as said above, it would be if you spill fuel that that problem would arise. Alcohol is diluted by water.
That is something to consider, might get a little fire extinguisher to keep handy when fueling or otherwise, haven’t spilled any fuel yet but don’t think I would light stove if I did
JW; Welcome to this Forum! I agree with previous comment about your Galley box (which can't help but remind me of a pirate's treasure chest, but I expect that was planned and not unintentional!) and presentation being one of the best ways to introduce yourself to this forum! The picture of the pasta on boil and bottle of vino at the ready tells a great story! Whether on two wheels or under sail, the SVEA will continue to serve well. Cheers from Connecticut!
@JW Arthur I agree with @Majicwrench, exceptional! Modestly understated, but an uncommon combination of functional with aesthetically very satisfying. Great work. Welcome to CCS.
That galley box is absolutely gorgeous! I too think you have things under control. I was thinking something simpler, that if you had too much pressure, you could pour water onto the base of the stove to reduce the temperature and therefore the pressure, but not soak the whole stove. I wouldn't want you to wreck your meal. I do think a fire extinguisher is a good idea. Even if not needed by you, it may be just what someone else needs in a powerboat someday. Although I have yet to use a fire extinguisher, I am a firm believer in them.
Thank you all for your kind words, it has been fun to keep this stove central to my enjoyment of the outdoors: Tents, boots and packs all wear out but it just keeps going. Will get a small ABC extinguisher to keep on hand, one that will survive in salt water.
Very clever and well executed kit right down to the Aero Press coffee maker. Have a love for my old Svea and good coffee too.
Your galley is both elegant and functional. You have long experience with the stove, and with proper maintenance, you should have no problems operating it on your classic boat. You have dealt with the tippy-ness problem of the Svea 123 with the cleaver keyhole locking feature, and the metal lined base will contain any spillage. With a functional gasket on you Sigg type fuel bottle, I can see no real fire hazard, though it is a good idea to carry a fire extinguisher. Well done. I particularly like your design for the 'fiddle' / pot support. Show us more photos of the boat and her fittings, please, and welcome aboard. Paul
Thanks again for all your helpful and kind comments, good for peace of mind. Here are some pictures of GINGER the boat in question: These are from the coast of Maine, the Chesapeake Bay and northern Michigan. The last two show her setup for camp cruising, you can just see the red thermos in my hand full of freshly brewed coffee made with my trusty SVEA 123r and Aeropress as I get underway for the day’s journey past one of my cruising buddies in another boat after we had enjoyed breakfast rafted up. Also one with boom tent deployed. The boat is a Cat Ketch designed in 1889 by the great American Yacht designer NG Herreshoff for his personal use a day boat on Narragansett Bay. I built it from plans redrawn from the originals by Doug Hylan of Brooklin Maine.
That’s rather a classy vessel, and a beautifully executed galley box too. I concur with the others, it’s surely no more dangerous than an outboard, probably less so. The fire extinguisher is a good idea, but it probably always was, stove or no.
Howdy, JW! (@JW Arthur ), Welcome to CCS, Good Sir!! What a wonderful and whimsical first post, and a great introduction!! Your Ginger is lovely, and appears to be "Yare", and ready to go on any adventures you'd care to enjoy with her! Sweet Bride and I love your little Galley Box! It's well thought-out, and everything is in it's place, just as it should be on such a lovely craft!! Back when we used our 17' Alumacraft canoe on a regular basis (when we lived in Minnesota), we kept our Coleman Peak 1 Model 400 in a waterproof bag on board. Sad doings, compared to your first class Galley!! Thank you for sharing your excellent system, and lovely gear with us, and again, welcome to This Ship of Merry Pyros!! Hope to see you often! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
