Which Stove

[Nathan90]

Hello there everyone

 

I am wondering what multifuel range to install into my narrowboat, We would like to be able to cook, heat water and provide heating from it and we are split between a rayburn range and a steel construction range like the bulgarian prity. Does anyone have any views or experience on these ranges and any advice they could spare. we would need it to be very economical to run.

With the steel ranges I am not sure if you can keep them burning constantly like you do with the rayburn does any one know? I have heard that rayburns are hardwearing from some, but also that cast iron stoves can have probs that steel don't, i.e cracking.

 

I am also not sure about the huge weight of a rayburn apposed to its steel counterpart. We are having the boat rebottomed so we are already going to have alot of extra weight on her I wondered if a rayburn on top would be too much. This may sound completely rediculous but we are not very experienced so please bare with us!!!

 

If you could spare any of your knowledge it would be greatfully appreciated.

What do you recommend?

[stagedamager]

I have a Prity FGW15 which we are installing in Judith Ann, not fired up yet, but even if it only lasts 15 years, price wise you would be able to afford a few for the price of a Rayburn IMO!!!!!

Dan

[Nathan90]

Yes we can definately not afford a new rayburn, it would have to be an ebay!!! Let me know how your Prity works. Would you leave yours on constantly?

[stagedamager]

probably not, they are quite meaty for a boat, and as we're not liveaboards, we'd only light it as and when. It will certainly be more than adequate for what we need!!

Dan

[wandering snail]

We've a Sigmar which cooks, heats and provides hot water and we are very pleased with it. Can be left on all the time but also heats up quickly to cook with if let out in the summer. It is diesel only tho so doesn't fit all your criteria.

[fudd]

Hello. We are installing an Esse Lionhearted in our boat. I am in the process of dismantling it because it is 20 mm too wide to get through the doors of Hunter. I must say, it is an extremely well fabricated piece of kit. It's not cast but made from 5 mm plate and blasted to give it the texture of cast. I can't see it having the problems people have been having with cast stoves, cracking and soforth but we will see. It's not cheap but we hope it will do all it says it will. But at £10 per kilo it had better be. It weighs 360 kilos so it might give you something else to worry about. Good luck anyway. Steve P.

[Nathan90]

Thanks for your info steve, I love the esse range but yes it is wayyyyy too expensive for us. !!!

[micky44]

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15492.0 quite mixed reports !

[Nathan90]

Yes you are right Mickey44, very mixed reviews, thank you for the link though, I think ill try to find some more pages like that with peoples experience of the cooker. Thank you.