 | Types of Fuel. There are
three types of fuel which are commonly found on cruising sailboats.
Propane: Is most universally available and is a explosive
gas which sinks to the lowest level of the boat. If you are not
careful, this gas can collect in the bilge.
Natural Gas (CNG): This gas rises and is thus safer to use.
It is available in some US marinas.
Alcohol: This is a liquid which is less explosive than CNG
and propane.
However, it produces a cooler flame and takes longer to cook.
The stove shown on the right is a gimbaled propane stove and oven which
will swing and keep level as the boat heels. When at anchor or at
a dock, lock the stove to prevent it from swinging.
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| How to work a CNG or Propane stove
To ignite a burner, do the following:
1) Make sure the stove's burner control knobs are turned to the
off position.
2) Turn on the gas tank's valve (often in a compartment accessed from
the cockpit).
3) Turn on the solenoid switch (picture on the right).
4) Light a match and place it on the stove's burner.
5) Turn on the stove's burner control knobs.
To turn off the stove, do the following:
1) First turn off the solenoid. (If you are leaving the boat
or will not use the stove for a long period of time, turn off the gas tank's valve
).
2) Allow the stove's flame to burn out.
3) Turn off the stove's burner control knobs. Be sure to do
this, if you do not you will spill gas into the cabin the next time you
turn on the solenoid.
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| How to work an alcohol stove.
Alcohol stoves require preheating to vaporize the fuel. Perform
the following to ignite an alcohol stove:
1) Pump the tank and then open the tank's valve to allow alcohol to flow into the burner cup.
2) Close the valve and then light the alcohol in the burner cup to preheat the burner.
3) As soon as the alcohol in the burner cup has burned off, turn
on the the tank's valve to release more fuel and light the vaporized
fuel at the burner.
To turn off the stove. Turn off the alcohol tank's valve and
release the remaining pressure.
Note: In case of fire, keep water next to an alcohol stove.
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| Refrigeration
Cruising sailboats are almost always equipped with an icebox or
refrigerator. Both often open from the top to help conserve energy.
The opening for the refrigerator can usually be found on the galley's
counter top. There is a drain to remove excess water in the
bottom of the refrigerator's well. A foot pump to remove the water
is often found nearby.
The refrigerator is the appliance on the boat that consumes the most
energy and can quickly drain a battery. If you are using a
refrigerator on a cruise you should do the following:
1) Do not operate when under sail alone. Only operate when the
boat is using shore power or the engine is running.
2) When anchored or sailing be sure to have the battery switch to
"1" or "2" and NOT "ALL". This will prevent the
draining of all the battery power if the refrigerator is inadvertently
left on.
3) Placing ice in the refrigerator before you leave port will help
to conserve energy for the first one or two days of the cruise.
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