Denatured Alcohol

[teejay]

Can you get methylated spirits in Spain? I am thinking of taking the gas cooker out and replacing with a spirit stove.

Thanks

Terry

[teejay]

The reason I asked this question is simply because the gas bottle on this boat sits right behind the cooker!!!! There is no vented gas bottle locker and I don't think there is anywhere to fit one. This scares me witless and I am thinking of alternative forms of cooking appliance. So I am wondering if you can get meths in any quantity and secondly how does it compare to gas i.e. Speed of cooking and temp.

Regards

Terry

[JeanneP]

Sorry I didn't answer this when you first asked, I'll try to make up for it this time.

1. *Methylated Spirits is also Denatured Alcohol. *The reason I mention this is because lots of places, and I'm sure that Spain is one of them, might tell you they don't have it because they don't call it Methylated Spirits. *Denatured Alcohol is used just about everywhere, and so you just need to know the various terms for it. *You might look in your dictionary for "el alcohol desnaturalizado" or perhaps "el alcohol del metilo". *Methyl alcohol.

2. *I can't find a comparison on the Internet, so I am relying on memory (not necessarily so great, I'm afraid), but I believe that LPG/Butane burns hotter than alcohol, and it isn't necessarily significantly safer than propane (except that it doesn't explode, of course!).

3. *Your big problem is the storage of the gas bottle. Australian regulations require that the bottle be mounted on the outside of the boat away from any hatches, usually, I notice, on the aft rail. *If that is not acceptable to you, is there any place that you can put a prefabricated locker for the propane bottle? *Supplier of propane accessories

How about CampGas bottles, small butane/propane bottles you return empty and pick up new full ones in the EU? *Not quite so large and bulky, easier to make a safe place for them.

Not knowing what kind of boat you have, I can't come up with more ideas, but most boats have found some way to safely carry propane, even on small boats. *Some things to think about, anyway.

[MMNETSEA]

Hi TJ,

Good info from JeanneP. Neither methylated spirits or denatured alcohol give enough heat to compare that from LPG - Butane/Propane.

You mention that you have a Colvic 26 - these UK built boats used to fit the Plastimo 'Atlantic'

2 burner stoves with oven and grill. If you are in the UK here is the website who carry spares etc for that gas stove - click HERE Might be worthwhile talking to them.

Certainly, want to get the gas bottle out of the saloon. See if you can run a gas hose from the stove to one of the lazarettes in the cockpit and make sure that the hose is certified for propane and that it has a current date.

[Nausikaa]

Terry,

Have you conidered paraffin / kerosene stoves? Taylors in the UK do a lovely range of these. Aside from looking good the fuel is safe and available everywhere planes fly. You will however need a little meths or a gas torch for starting up.

Aye // Stephen