Cheap Stoves

[AlanM6]

Been browsing for a reasonably priced stove and came across these in Machine Mart

are they suitable for a narrow boat can I fit it myself or do they have to be fitted by a specialist.

 

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/cast-iron-wood-burning-stoves-2

[Guest]

Been browsing for a reasonably priced stove and came across these in Machine Mart

are they suitable for a narrow boat can I fit it myself or do they have to be fitted by a specialist.

 

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/cast-iron-wood-burning-stoves-2

 

I don;t think our Morso is specifically stated as being suitable for narrowboats but rather (as these are) suitable for small rooms.

 

As for fitting yourself - as long as you can adhere meticulously to the fitting instructions and have all the required tools.... you should be fine...

[Artimis]

Cheap chinese stoves such as the ones in machine mart are a waste of money. They will mis shape as they heat up and smoke will leak out and air will get in and you wont be able to control the fire over night.

The casting will distort and door seals wont seal etc

 

A squirell from Limekiln is less than twice the price and will last 20 years if you look after it

 

But, you pays yer money and takes yer choice.

[ian fleming]

Cheap chinese stoves such as the ones in machine mart are a waste of money. They will mis shape as they heat up and smoke will leak out and air will get in and you wont be able to control the fire over night.

The casting will distort and door seals wont seal etc

 

A squirell from Limekiln is less than twice the price and will last 20 years if you look after it

 

But, you pays yer money and takes yer choice.

 

Have you actually experienced these problems ? Surely they must have the same problems used in the home ! Do they not conform to required EEC manufacturing standards?

Kind regards

Ian

[Thewatchmaker]

Have you actually experienced these problems ? Surely they must have the same problems used in the home ! Do they not conform to required EEC manufacturing standards?

Kind regards

Ian

 

My 'orrible cheap Chinese stove works fine, no leaks stays in all night no problem. All for less that 200 quid and it looks good too!

 

[

Edited October 10, 2010 by Thewatchmaker

[Ark Right]

I don;t think our Morso is specifically stated as being suitable for narrowboats but rather (as these are) suitable for small rooms.

 

As for fitting yourself - as long as you can adhere meticulously to the fitting instructions and have all the required tools.... you should be fine...

 

Fitting instructions...... as long as you can assure a minimum 4 metre high flue ...... you should be fine

[Artimis]

Have you actually experienced these problems ? Surely they must have the same problems used in the home ! Do they not conform to required EEC manufacturing standards?

Kind regards

Ian

 

I didnt need to thankfully, my mate bought one and thats what he had.

 

I dont see it matters where one is used, home or boat, its the stove, not the location

[Guest]

Fitting instructions...... as long as you can assure a minimum 4 metre high flue ...... you should be fine

 

Is there an echo in here?

 

Didn't I just say that fitting needs to adhere to the instructions - if they specify a particular flue height so be it, if you can't achieve this (assuming this is specified in the instructions/specification) then simply adhere to it.

 

If this is not practical on a NB then don;t fit.

Edited October 10, 2010 by MJG

[blackrose]

I fitted a Machine Mart stove on my last boat. It was actually not too bad for the money, but the castings are cheap and there's a fair chance it will be cracked before you even get it out of the box. I had to rummage through a few boxes in the shop before I found one that wasn't damaged in some way.

 

Personally I'd buy a better quality stove.

 

Have a look in the archives - there are plently of threads with advice on fitting stoves.

Edited October 10, 2010 by blackrose

[alan_fincher]

As for fitting yourself - as long as you can adhere meticulously to the fitting instructions and have all the required tools.... you should be fine...

The problem is that I doubt there is a single stove marketed from the humblest Chinese pot-belly up to the mightiest Morso, where it would actually be possible to meticulously follow the instructions, if it were a narrow boat it was going in.

 

Hence, (apart from any new regulations), it's always a compromise, and an inexperienced amateur doing the compromising could do something that is inherently unsafe.

 

I have not seen many cheap stoves I would be very happy to install anywhere, let alone in the typically more problematic environment of a canal boat.

[deletedaccount]

Look at the boatman stoves. Great combo of looks, quality and price.

 

At only 225 quid it's a massive bargain. Mine's great.

 

http://www.boatmanstove.co.uk/main.htm

[Athy]

You beat me to it! I was about to mention the Boatman, made specifically for use in boats and at a manufacturer's rrp of £225, or a bit more with a back boiler. It's British too, made in Lancashire.

My experience of Clarke's has been good - I have one of their battery boosters for starting my engine on cold days - but I haven't tried their stoves.

[Tim Doran]

The machine mart stoves have small windows, with a squirrel you dont need a TV. It is very useful to see how the fire is buring without opening the door.

 

Tim

[AlanM6]

Thank you for the link to Boatman stoves that is just what I was looking for, wondering now if I should to go for the back boiler option to heat the rads or keep them as a seperate system with the Eberspacher, (if I ever get the bloody thing working).

[Canal Shop Man]

Cheap chinese stoves such as the ones in machine mart are a waste of money. They will mis shape as they heat up and smoke will leak out and air will get in and you wont be able to control the fire over night.

The casting will distort and door seals wont seal etc

 

A squirell from Limekiln is less than twice the price and will last 20 years if you look after it

 

But, you pays yer money and takes yer choice.

A Squirrel from anybody is still a stove which will fall apart after a few years, especially if not looked after carefully! I know, I sell the spare parts at their extortionate prices. I have also had two squirrels in the past, both of which have been cracked! They are good stoves when in good condition, but a waste of money for the quality of the material used.

[Chertsey]

A Squirrel from anybody is still a stove which will fall apart after a few years, especially if not looked after carefully! I know, I sell the spare parts at their extortionate prices. I have also had two squirrels in the past, both of which have been cracked! They are good stoves when in good condition, but a waste of money for the quality of the material used.

I agree, Warrior had a Squirrel fitted when we bought it and it was in a terrible state. It couldn't have been more than ten years old as that was the age of the boat then. I have no experience of the cheaper stoves, but I would caution against taking the view that the Squirrel must be better just because it's reassuringly expensive. I've never understood how they've managed so comprehensively to stitch up the canal boat stove market. They're too big for many boats as well.

 

Now, an Epping on the other hand... painfully expensive, but a joy (almost) forever.

[alan_fincher]

A Squirrel from anybody is still a stove which will fall apart after a few years, especially if not looked after carefully! I know, I sell the spare parts at their extortionate prices. I have also had two squirrels in the past, both of which have been cracked! They are good stoves when in good condition, but a waste of money for the quality of the material used.

Interesting observation !

 

Everyone seems to rate Squirrels, but you keep hearing of broken ones, and expensive repairs.

 

Instinctively the stoves made by welding steel, rather than casting iron seem to be the ones with less problems to me, and I don't really understand why more are not made that way ?

 

Is it just an appearance thing, or are there other reasons why people accept the problems of cast iron ?

 

I'd give a recommendation for Villager stoves, but for the crap and unreliable way they try to hold the front glass in place, which is a joke, (but easily worked around if you are not too fussed by appearance).

[GeoffS]

I sell the spare parts at their extortionate prices.

 

I have a brand new Squirrel base plate if you or anyone else is interested in buying. I bought it for a company to replace a broken one but they let me down and I eventually decided on a totally new stove.

[KeithL]

Been browsing for a reasonably priced stove and came across these in Machine Mart

are they suitable for a narrow boat can I fit it myself or do they have to be fitted by a specialist.

 

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/cast-iron-wood-burning-stoves-2

A while back i went into my local machine mart to look at the stoves, and they didnt seem very well made at all, bought a smal 5kw stove from b+q in the end £190, but much better quality.